Robes

[FR7 Baptist]

I was wondering what is the usage of robes in your church.

In my church, the minister wears a white baptismal gown while baptizing people, as do the people being baptized. During the non-baptismal parts of the service, the preacher wears a regular suit and tie. Normally an assistant pastor baptizes people. So while my pastor doesn't wear a robe during the service, I do.

That's because I'm in the Chancel Choir. We got new robes today. We wear black robes with a blue and white pennant stole, and, for the men, a white cutaway shirt collar, unless we're already wearing a white shirt. The old robes were tattered and at least fifteen years old. I love dressing up in a long, flowing, choir robe for church. They really look nice. Of course, on Sunday mornings I wear a suit to Sunday School and hang up my jacket in the robing room before the service. One time in high school I was on our mock trial team and I got to wear a judicial robe because I was being a fake judge.

So, what do you do in your church? Are there any churches represented on here where the pastor wears a pulpit robe. I know such Baptist churches exist.

 

[dh1948]

I don't care for robes, but their use or non-use is not a hill upon which I choose to die.

I have worn a robe twice in 37 years. Both times it was for a wedding (at the bride's request) and borrowed!

The last church I pastored purchased new choir robes when we built a new facility. The choir wore them a few times before deciding they didn't like wearing them. They received no argument from me nor the Minister of Music.

For me, robes conjure up an image of high-church which I detest. If high-church is your preference, have at it. You won't get any criticism from me.

 

[preachinjesus]

We are a more informal church so there are no robes at any part of the service. Mostly people wearing an assortment of outfits from casual to business casual (we don't regularly see anyone in a suit.)

When we do worship tunes with our choir they wear color coordinated tops and black pants. The worship team and musicians wear what they choose, with some advice from our team coordinators.

Robes are fine if that is your context. We have never really done it. Good discussion topic.

 

[gb93433]

Robe wearers keep robe makers in business. Other than that they help churches waste money on robes rather than other things that can be used to serve people.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Robe wearers keep robe makers in business. Other than that they help churches waste money on robes rather than other things that can be used to serve people.

I don't really care for robes, but I do have friends who are are Baptists pastors who wear robes in the pulpit.

You can certainly try to make an argument that robes waste money that could be used for other things, but you could also make the argument that robes eliminate some of the need for a larger wardrobe of suits for the pastoral staff (which could certainly be considered a waste of money).

So it depends on your attitude and practice with robes... Robes could be a very wise investment.

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

The church I served as pastor for 18 years had a tradition of a robed pastor, plus candles, liturgical colors, and some use of the liturgical year. I was glad to continue and even extend that tradition by wearing a liturgically appropriate stole and a pectoral cross and making more extensive use of the liturgical year. We also robed one of our children each Sunday so that s/he could serve as an acolyte to light the candles and receive the offering plates.

All this while the church's racial makeup went from all white to nearly all African-American. We knew that we were a niche church, but that is a good thing in a city where there are hundreds of churches.

 

[annsni]

No robes in the 15 years we've been at this Baptist church other than the white robes for those getting baptized and for the children at Christmas.

 

[BobinKy]

I like the seasons of the church year and changing the colors of robes and other vestments marks the transition from one season to the next. Robes also take the focus off of the preacher's tie, which sometimes can be quite loud.

...Bob

 

[mets65]

I don't prefer them, but to each his own when it comes to that.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Robe wearers keep robe makers in business. Other than that they help churches waste money on robes rather than other things that can be used to serve people.

Agree with you and the same goes for suits and ties!!

 

[mets65]

You know I'm personally not a suit and tie person but I do enjoy that there are some out there that hold to that tradition. Just as long as it doesn't cause to them to become judgemental or prideful.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Choir robes, baptismal robes we use both. The preacher gets to decide what he wants to wear while baptising. Some have worn robes some haven't. What the current one wears, I don't know. The baptismal pool is above and behind the choir loft and us choir members can't see it!

 

[Jerome]

...they help churches waste money on robes rather than other things that can be used to serve people.

That sentiment is straight from the Bible:thumbs::

John 12:5
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

 

[drfuss]

We used to have robes for the choir. It was decided by the Pastor last summer that there would be no more robes for the choir. The choir is someshat elevated above the plarform; and without the robes, we have had some interesting sights.

Without the choir robes, women can dress to attract attention to themselves. Having choir robes perhibits showing gaudy dressing.

With the accompanying change to contemporary music, the choir has gotton smaller. I suspect they want to get rid of the choir and just have only about 6-8 backup singers.

 

[Tom Butler]

We have a rack full of robes, but sort of phased them out several years ago. Not a peep of protest.

 

[Jim1999]

I like a Geneva gown for preaching. I was used to wearing a gown as an Anglican Chaplain in the military. Then I also wore a clergy collar. Some objected to both and I didn't wear either in churches that objected.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[David Lamb]

The church I served as pastor for 18 years had a tradition of a robed pastor, plus candles, liturgical colors, and some use of the liturgical year. I was glad to continue and even extend that tradition by wearing a liturgically appropriate stole and a pectoral cross and making more extensive use of the liturgical year. We also robed one of our children each Sunday so that s/he could serve as an acolyte to light the candles and receive the offering plates.

Robes for the pastor, candles, liturgical colours, stoles, acolytes - all that sounds very much like the sort of thing that happens in parish churches (Church of England) here. Don't get me wrong - I am not judging, just asking: did you or your church have a biblical basis for doing those things?

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

Robes for the pastor, candles, liturgical colours, stoles, acolytes - all that sounds very much like the sort of thing that happens in parish churches (Church of England) here. Don't get me wrong - I am not judging, just asking: did you or your church have a biblical basis for doing those things?

More of a historical basis than an explicitly Biblical one. But I suppose one could argue for this array on the basis of the picture we get of the Temple priesthood. Clearly not what was going on in the NT ecclesia, but represents the development of years of Christian practice. Yes, we did look something like the Episcopal Church -- the Anglican communion in the USA. But we used colors, not colours! :applause:

 

[TomVols]

I think Lloyd-Jones advocated a robe for clergy to highlight the distinction between clergy and laity in NT (Something most Baptists will absolutely kill you over)

 

[jaigner]

All the church choirs I've directed or sung in have worn robes.

As far as ministers, I've seen both.

I kind of like it, but it's not a big deal. I do think it's good for them to have a dress code and for the choir to be robed.