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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: On the Wearing of Clericals
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Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356
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Posted
Not necessarily, not for everyone. As we have seen, clericals can be precisely a way of ensuring that vocation knows no boundaries, by making that vocation visible to all.
Posts: 6498 | From: Y Sowth | Registered: Jan 2008
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
I imagine him having a props assistant and dresser back there to get him from one costume to another in double-quick time.
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Zacchaeus
Shipmate
# 14454
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
A friends Husband married their daughter in full robes, then changed to be 'dad' for the reception. HE marked thechange in role from priest to dad somewhere between church and 'do.'
Posts: 1905 | From: the back of beyond | Registered: Jan 2009
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
would love to belong
You've shot yourself in the foot: ANYONE could quote:
... identify herself as vicar of St Shiptus or wherever...
but without the clerical collar how to know?
As Jade said, uniform can be useful.
What exactly have you against clerical uniform?
You can buy a clerical shirt on the internet for a start. There's no law against anyone buying or wearing one: ,I've got one and no questions were asked. In fact in one coastal town in Devon a guy did just that. Everyone knew him there but just imagine if he moved somewhere else.
Secondly I shouldn't a uniform to prove who I am. The way I behave and/or my character should demonstrate it.
Thirdly some people may be attracted to clerical garb but an awful lot are put off by it (those who have been abused in churches as children or adults for example). A lot of people's opinion is driven by what is reported or by the way it's reported: cassock wearing vicars are more a figure of fun I popular culture than they are a source of comfort. In this case, culture drives reaction/response.
Fourthly - and this is sad - the collar is an attraction to a certain kind of wearer. They love the kudos it brings and the fact that they are different. They might claim to want to be a servant but they fall a bit short of the mark cos they're a bit caught up in the uniform.
Yes I do have a collar and in certain circumstances - visiting prisons, hospitals late at night it can bring a certain amount of recognition. In most other circumstances I don't wear it and won't wear it - but then again my view of ordination to the priesthood is rather low: I believe we're all ordained at conversion and if the "priest" is to wear a uniform, we should all do it so people can see all the possibilities of help around them!
Mind you Mrs EM does think I look nice in my black shirt and collar .... so perhaps another reason to dig it out?
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Zacchaeus:
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
A friends Husband married their daughter in full robes, then changed to be 'dad' for the reception. HE marked thechange in role from priest to dad somewhere between church and 'do.'
He's always both dad and priest - so why the fuss?
If he can switch roles like that, then I'm not entirely sure he qualified to do either
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356
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Posted
And you are of course both a minister of religion and the husband of Mrs EM. But when you and Mrs EM are enjoying yourselves in bed, are you there primarily in your capacity as minister or as husband? And when you are administering the sacrament to her (if you do), are you doing so primarily as husband or as minister? It is perfectly in order to switch the role which you primarily emphasise at any given time- and as I hope my examples sugeest, there are times when it would be rather inappropriate, if not downright kinky, not to.
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My beard is a testament to my masculinity and virility, and demonstrates that I am a real man. Trouble is, bits of quiche sometimes get caught in it.
Posts: 6498 | From: Y Sowth | Registered: Jan 2008
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Ferijen
Shipmate
# 4719
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
quote:
Originally posted by Zacchaeus:
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
A friends Husband married their daughter in full robes, then changed to be 'dad' for the reception. HE marked thechange in role from priest to dad somewhere between church and 'do.'
He's always both dad and priest - so why the fuss?
If he can switch roles like that, then I'm not entirely sure he qualified to do either
Because, even if not ontologically possible, sometimes you want your Dad just to be Dad.
(though I had a civil ceremony so none of that problem)
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Albertus:
And you are of course both a minister of religion and the husband of Mrs EM. But when you and Mrs EM are enjoying yourselves in bed, are you there primarily in your capacity as minister or as husband? And when you are administering the sacrament to her (if you do), are you doing so primarily as husband or as minister? It is perfectly in order to switch the role which you primarily emphasise at any given time- and as I hope my examples sugeest, there are times when it would be rather inappropriate, if not downright kinky, not to.
Well it's a post modern world and if it's true for you (laughs) ......
Oops got that a bit wrong didn't I. Administering the sacrament isn't quite how Baptists see it - more like sharing Christ with friends and blessing/being blessed. I don't administer more than anyone else does.
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356
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Posted
Fair enough! I mistook your denomination, but imagine yourself in a role that is specifically ministerial (in your own church or another), and you see my point.
I think, BTW, that Charles Kingsley and his wife did play submission games that had a bit of a priest/ penitent element. But then I do think that that's a bit kinky (if you are actually a priest).
[ 03. September 2013, 09:38: Message edited by: Albertus ]
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My beard is a testament to my masculinity and virility, and demonstrates that I am a real man. Trouble is, bits of quiche sometimes get caught in it.
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
On the subject of clergy identifying themselves, I'm reminded of the moment in one of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologues:
quote:
This [vicar] was a young fellow in a collar and tie, could have been anybody.... I said, 'How do I know you're the vicar, have you any identification?' He shoves a little cross round the door. I said, 'What's this?' He said, 'A cross.' I said, 'A cross doesn't mean anything. Youths wear crosses nowadays. Hooligans.' ... I was still a bit dubious, then I saw he had cycle clips on, so I let him in.
Clericals (in the sense of a plain, dark, fairly formal outfit, with a plain dark shirt with white clerical collar) are an admirable thing. Like any uniform, they identify you (without having to resort to crosses and cycle clips). What's more, they identify you from a distance - so if someone wants either to talk to you or avoid you, they can. They also - when worn without flashy or colourful accessories - are the opposite of power dressing: they conspicuously fail to say that you can afford more stylish or expensive clothes than whoever you happen to be talking to. They're a good way of avoiding questions like, "What shall I wear today?" or "Does this shirt go with these shoes?" They're plain, modest, and, like Coco Chanel's little black dress, appropriate for any occasion.
Do I wear clericals on duty (as a hospital chaplain)? Absolutely. Do I wear them when officiating in church? Yes. Do I wear them while walking down the street to and from work? Yes. Would I wear them to a family funeral where I'm not officiating? Well, I wore clericals to both my parents' funerals, because I knew my being ordained had made them very proud and happy. Would I wear them to go to the cinema or do some gardening? No. I wear them in any situation where I think it appropriate I should be identifiable as a priest, bearing in mind that that isn't what I do, it's what I am.
(Clericals also have the advantage that, if you habitually wear them when on duty, you become invisible when you're wearing "ordinary" clothes. I've stood within ten feet of people who know me well, and they've looked right through me because I wasn't wearing clericals. Works for nurses too, apparently.)
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
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Zacchaeus
Shipmate
# 14454
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
quote:
Originally posted by Zacchaeus:
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
A friends Husband married their daughter in full robes, then changed to be 'dad' for the reception. HE marked thechange in role from priest to dad somewhere between church and 'do.'
He's always both dad and priest - so why the fuss?
If he can switch roles like that, then I'm not entirely sure he qualified to do either
I think Albertus answered that one - sometimes it is about the focus of which role is uppermost. You attend your daughter's wedding as a dad, you officiate as a priest.
Posts: 1905 | From: the back of beyond | Registered: Jan 2009
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Campbellite
Ut unum sint
# 1202
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Rev per Minute:
I should probably stick to what my wife tells me!
Always good advice.
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I upped mine. Up yours.
Suffering for Jesus since 1966.
WTFWED?
Posts: 12001 | From: between keyboard and chair | Registered: Aug 2001
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Barefoot Friar
Ship's Shoeless Brother
# 13100
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Posted
Last night before retiring for the evening, Mrs. Barefoot and I had a quick discussion about when to wear clericals. I proposed essentially what L'Organist suggested, and she quickly accepted.
Thanks again for the helpful suggestions.
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Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. -- Desmond Tutu
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Carys
Ship's Celticist
# 78
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Posted
My extended family has this debate between an Anglican priest (who wears clericals) and a URC minister who hates them. I remember the Priest arriving at a family dinner on a Sunday straight from work and being crticised by the Minister for the garb. Minister's spouse pointed out that Priest had come from work.
MInister sees them as a barrier and clericalist whereas Priest (and that's where my sympathies lie) sees them as a uniform and an identifier. I remember on one occasion being a pub with the priest and being accosted by someone else in the pub who asked 'are you nun?' which led to a very interesting conversation about faith that wouldn't have happened with the collar.
I suspect if Priest were going to a funeral of someone in the family on the side of the Minister would not wear clericals if not doing something to maintain the piece though their instinct may well to dress formally for that occasion (which is clericals).
Personally, I find the idea of a priest in a tie weird, because if the occasion is formal enough for a tie, it's formal enough for clericals
Carys
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O Lord, you have searched me and know me
You know when I sit and when I rise
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Carys
Ship's Celticist
# 78
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I understand that when our bishop officiated at his daughter's wedding, he did so in full episcopal fig., then scuttled into the sacristy and emerged in a morning-coat to join the procession down the aisle.
I imagine him having a props assistant and dresser back there to get him from one costume to another in double-quick time.
Wouldn't that be a couple of vergers?
Carys
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O Lord, you have searched me and know me
You know when I sit and when I rise
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
I was once in a group who were being trained to lead discussion groups. There were two priests in the group who wore clerical collars. The woman training us suggested to them that they not wear clericals to the training sessions because other people might hesitate to argue with them.
The next session one priest came in a sport shirt, but the other wore his collar. When it came time for him to practice leading the discussion, he firmly steered it to the place where he thought it should go. It was a great way to make sure that no one confronted him with ideas he'd never considered.
Moo
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Kerygmania host
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See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
If he can switch roles like that, then I'm not entirely sure he qualified to do either
Er, what? We're always switching roles. When I used to be a fire fighter I didn't say Mass in a breathing apparatus. Nor did I make love in it - not in ecclesiastical robes, either. When the liturgy of marriage is over the liturgy of party begins.
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
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John Holding
Coffee and Cognac
# 158
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Posted
Last Sunday in August was the local Pride Prade. Our parish had a banner for the first time and we marched with the other Anglican parishes. Our rector had to search for a clerical collar -- I don't think I've ever seen him in one before -- because he wanted to make the point that he was clergy, and that clergy were marching in the parade. One or two other priests were also collared, but most -- 6-7 -- preferred to be unidentifiable.
So I guess if you want people to know you're ordained, wear it. But be careful about why you want people to know you're ordained. There are bad reasons as well as good ones.
JOhn
Posts: 5929 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: May 2001
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Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Zappa:
...When I used to be a fire fighter I didn't say Mass in a breathing apparatus. Nor did I make love in it - not in ecclesiastical robes, either. ...
What opportunities you have missed! There are people who pay good money to be able to do that sort of thing.
[ 06. September 2013, 04:00: Message edited by: Albertus ]
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rexory
Shipmate
# 4708
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Zappa:
Though I'm not sure if I'm on duty when in bed with kuruman.
Only if the phone goes! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Our first words on getting to heaven will be "Ohhh!", with an air of "Now I understand!" - CS Lewis, via Philip Yancey, "What Good is God", 2010
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Oferyas:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
My wife wants it to be a job so that boundaries are clear, I want it to be a vocation.
Thank you for this neat summary of the dilemma I have faced for more than thirty years.
What of the vocation to marriage?
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a theological scrapbook
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Plique-à-jour
Shipmate
# 17717
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Posted
Neither a cleric nor married to one, but wanted to third Albertus and Pyx_e's points about the use of clericals.
Walking to church one evening, I saw the priest from a neighbouring church, who had agreed to stand in for ours while he was away, crossing a busy city road in a scarlet cassock with matching biretta. It was a wonderful sight. Priests should be immediately recognisable. Yes, if we're believing Christians, we may well need to identify them as quickly as we would a police officer or medic.
And if they represent an oppositional consciousness - which I think they arguably do in 2013 Britain, regardless of political orientation - then all the better that they do it conspicuously, unignorably. Both to embolden those of us who share that oppositional consciousness, and to remind and attract others.
[ 06. September 2013, 20:31: Message edited by: Plique-à-jour ]
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
quote:
Originally posted by Oferyas:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
My wife wants it to be a job so that boundaries are clear, I want it to be a vocation.
Thank you for this neat summary of the dilemma I have faced for more than thirty years.
What of the vocation to marriage?
I wear a wedding ring, I strive to be faithful and loving, I can't do it without God's grace .....
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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would love to belong
Shipmate
# 16747
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Posted
Pixie, do you utter profanities at home or from your pulpit(is that the right word in Anglicanism or should it be altar?). Just wondered how you reconcile your vocation with what you do on here (not of course that you are not fully entitled to say on here exactly what you want) . How would you answer a charge of hypocrisy from one of your delightful parishoners? Genuinely like to know.
Love and a big hug
Wltb
Posts: 331 | From: Lost and confused | Registered: Oct 2011
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by would love to belong:
small farting noise......
Anyone else hear that? Dammit I can hear farting noises. Zap you been giving your dog cheese again?
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
No.
But to be honest you don't come close to deserving my mediocrity never mind my best.
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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would love to belong
Shipmate
# 16747
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Posted
You're a man of few words, Pixie, most of them Deeply Profound.
Do you think the Church of England should be disestablished?
Posts: 331 | From: Lost and confused | Registered: Oct 2011
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
Start a thread in the right place and maybe I will tell you.
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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would love to belong
Shipmate
# 16747
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by would love to belong:
You're a man of few words, Pixie, most of them Deeply Profound.
Do you think the Church of England should be disestablished?
well, that was a conversation stopper. Hosts, can we close off this thread now? I think its done.
Posts: 331 | From: Lost and confused | Registered: Oct 2011
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
Enough, already.
Instances of C8* violations will be notified to the Admins.
All of you just step away from the keyboards.
*look it up, WLTB.
Firenze
AS Host
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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would love to belong
Shipmate
# 16747
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Posted
Thanks Florence, I'm done here. Don't want to break The Rules. Apologies for any violations on this thread
Posts: 331 | From: Lost and confused | Registered: Oct 2011
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by would love to belong:
Hosts, can we close off this thread now? I think its done.
Outwith your posts, it's a perfectly valid and interesting discussion on the semiotics of clothing in the life of clergy. I see no reason whatsoever to close it.
Firenze
AS Host
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by would love to belong:
No worries Flo.
And another courtesy we use is to employ either a Shipmate's name or the initials thereof. But I expect you knew that.
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Plique-à-jour
Shipmate
# 17717
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by would love to belong:
How would you answer a charge of hypocrisy from one of your delightful parishoners?
The charge itself would be hypocritical, and I've never met an Anglican unbalanced and/or Pooterish enough to waste people's time in that way. Have you ever met any Anglicans? Have you ever met any Christians?
[ 06. September 2013, 22:40: Message edited by: Plique-à-jour ]
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:
... if you habitually wear [clericals] when on duty, you become invisible when you're wearing "ordinary" clothes ...
Especially in secular situations. One of my colleagues in the choir said that she spent ages wondering who the vaguely-familiar-looking gentleman she saw at the airport was until it dawned on her that it was the (then recently-elevated) Bishop, but in mufti.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Thyme
Shipmate
# 12360
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Posted
LOL! I had a similar experience. I left early morning prayer with a friend. The church was in the sort of neighbourhood where it is common to encounter the homeless/drunks/mentally ill wandering around at that time.
So there was this scruffy looking bloke across the road waving and grinning like a maniac...
So we ignored him. I am well practised in street smarts in these situations.
Several days later I realised it was the Diocesan Bishop ( a Lord, not just your common garden variety Bishop) who I met regularly at another church. I apologised to him claiming bad eyesight ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif) He had been on his way to an early dentist appt at a surgery in the area.
But although I didn't wear a uniform, I did have to wear smart business clothes at one point, and several times went completely unnoticed by colleagues in shops etc when in my casual 'baglady' clothing.
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The Church in its own bubble has become, at best the guardian of the value system of the nation’s grandparents, and at worst a den of religious anoraks defined by defensiveness, esoteric logic and discrimination. Bishop of Buckingham's blog
Posts: 600 | From: Cloud Cuckoo Land | Registered: Feb 2007
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Plique-à-jour:
Walking to church one evening, I saw the priest from a neighbouring church, who had agreed to stand in for ours while he was away, crossing a busy city road in a scarlet cassock with matching biretta. It was a wonderful sight.
Wonder is one word: bizarre is closer to the mark for most non Christians. Most would probably see the biretta and cloak as fancy dress and not uniform. Shirt and collar ok, anything else probably posing.
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
quote:
Originally posted by Plique-à-jour:
Walking to church one evening, I saw the priest from a neighbouring church, who had agreed to stand in for ours while he was away, crossing a busy city road in a scarlet cassock with matching biretta. It was a wonderful sight.
Wonder is one word: bizarre is closer to the mark for most non Christians. Most would probably see the biretta and cloak as fancy dress and not uniform. Shirt and collar ok, anything else probably posing.
Partly, But that is because we have allowed these things to become a figure of fun by becoming parodies of our self. I don't hear too many people giggling when Desmond Tutu wears fancy dress, or when El Papa wears his, because they have grown into the mana (dignity) these garments can convey. Can - not ipso facto do, but can.
I have to say, though, as an observer of his blaséness the immediate past archbishop of Sydney, Mr Jensen conveyed, that a collar or collar and tie struggles to convey any message beyond "I sell used cars"
[ 07. September 2013, 08:31: Message edited by: Zappa ]
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
Posts: 18917 | From: "Central" is all they call it | Registered: Sep 2004
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
quote:
Originally posted by Plique-à-jour:
Walking to church one evening, I saw the priest from a neighbouring church, who had agreed to stand in for ours while he was away, crossing a busy city road in a scarlet cassock with matching biretta. It was a wonderful sight.
Wonder is one word: bizarre is closer to the mark for most non Christians. Most would probably see the biretta and cloak as fancy dress and not uniform. Shirt and collar ok, anything else probably posing.
You're assuming that 'most non Christians' would respond to clericals as your kind of Christian responds. My experience is that non-churchgoing Christians, secularists, and people of other faiths are either not bothered by a person in clericals or else downright pleased to see one.
[ 07. September 2013, 08:36: Message edited by: Amos ]
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
I remember the vicar of a village church in Essex coming along to the local pub after Sunday morning service still dressed in his cassock. Nobody batted an eyelid.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
As ever most of the no-vote here is from a section of the church which "protests too much." It is not that they don't get it, it's that they don't want to.
Fly Safe, Pyx_e
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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Sir Kevin
Ship's Gaffer
# 3492
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Zacchaeus:
A tangent but I used to be in parish with a strong RC base, the RC parishioners used to moan that the nuns didn’t wear the habits anymore, so they didn’t know who they were!!
I know my nuns at church: they're old and they're Irish!
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If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Writing is currently my hobby, not yet my profession.
Posts: 30517 | From: White Hart Lane | Registered: Oct 2002
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Augustine the Aleut
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# 1472
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Posted
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Originally posted by Amos:
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Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
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Originally posted by Plique-à-jour:
Walking to church one evening, I saw the priest from a neighbouring church, who had agreed to stand in for ours while he was away, crossing a busy city road in a scarlet cassock with matching biretta. It was a wonderful sight.
Wonder is one word: bizarre is closer to the mark for most non Christians. Most would probably see the biretta and cloak as fancy dress and not uniform. Shirt and collar ok, anything else probably posing.
You're assuming that 'most non Christians' would respond to clericals as your kind of Christian responds. My experience is that non-churchgoing Christians, secularists, and people of other faiths are either not bothered by a person in clericals or else downright pleased to see one.
My experience here suggests that there is a divide between English Canada and French Canada. In the latter, the response is about equally split between benign ("I didn'ny t know that they still did this") and hostile. In the former, generally curious with a certain amount of looking-away-quickly, although people of other religions tend to view clerical dress favourably. I did have a Jewish friend ask, when seeing a priest in cassock, cloak and Canterbury cap at a funeral, if that was a Lubavitcher Anglican.
Posts: 6236 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: Oct 2001
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Rowen
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# 1194
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Posted
In my tiny remote rural Australian village, nobody wears clerical dress.
Not me, the Uniting Church woman minister.
Nor the Catholic or Anglican priests.
Nor the Assembley of God minister, not that AoG usually do.
Nor the nun, for that matter.
On my part, UCA clericals are rare. As for the priests, some do and most round here don't. Even the Anglican bishop...
Something about Oz maybe?
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"May I live this day… compassionate of heart" (John O’Donoghue)...
Posts: 4897 | From: Somewhere cold in Victoria, Australia | Registered: Aug 2001
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Amos
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# 44
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Posted
Yes, but you get to drive a distinctive, easily identifiable car, if I recall correctly.
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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SvitlanaV2
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# 16967
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Posted
Rowen
Maybe in a small village everyone knows who the different clergy are anyway, so they have no need to announce themselves by wearing special clothes.
Posts: 6668 | From: UK | Registered: Feb 2012
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Rowen
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# 1194
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Posted
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Originally posted by Amos:
Yes, but you get to drive a distinctive, easily identifiable car, if I recall correctly.
Oh yeah, my car is a huge four wheel drive, supplied by the denominational body that put me here, covered with enormous and distinctive logo stickers.
Everyone knows me and where I go and how I drive... Especially in the small towns I frequent.
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"May I live this day… compassionate of heart" (John O’Donoghue)...
Posts: 4897 | From: Somewhere cold in Victoria, Australia | Registered: Aug 2001
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