Posted on 07/11/2017 9:05:06 PM PDT by marshmallow
Clergy have been given the go-ahead to ditch their robes and dress down for services following a vote by the church's General Synod.
Priests should be allowed flexibility to wear what they want to make the church more accessible and relevant to the modern world, members said.
This means that clergy are now officially allowed to lead services in casual clothing such as jeans and trainers.
The changes would help the church by "reflecting the way society has gone in the way of informality", said Leyland vicar Alistair McHaffie.
He also pointed out that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had led the charge by wearing unorthodox footwear to the York-based synod.
Mr McHaffie said: "Years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury would wear sensible black shoes at General Synod - and I've noticed this weekend our Archbishop is wearing a pair of blue trainers."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I like my doctors to look, dress and act like doctors, my priests to look, dress and act like priests.
The uniform is mostly symbolic, but it performs a service and is a visual cue to all. To go full on ‘dress-down’ seems to be the wish of someone wanting to hide their presence or timidly approach their duties. Most of us do not want the priest to ‘blend right in’ with everyone else in every way.
Certainly not during the service.
Tennies aside for health reasons, an Angelican priest conducting an hour long service in Saturday-chores clothes seems akin to a judge tossing his black robe as meaningless.
They can wear dresses and ankle socks Monday to Saturday for all I care, but for one hour a week, maybe 3 at the most, there should be at least some semblance and reminder of dignity and respect when addressing and acting in the name of The Almighty.
If the vestments become more important than the Gospel, they may have a point.
But dumping vestments seems to me to be decreasing the impact of the Gospel in most places. Instead of treating Christ as important, it’s... something else.
People will end up joining the Catholic Church if this new rule passes. Vestments are a definite part of Catholic theology.
The Church of England has fewer than a million of its members at services on any given Sunday, and its membership decline is so steep through deaths alone that it may cease to exist in 20 years. Having a magnificent Anglican service led by a priest in jeans and t-shirt, or having an Archbishop who looks like he is ready to head out to walk the mall, is certainly a bold move to address the crisis.
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