If Harry Potter Was a Pastor, What Would He Wear? Reflections on Clergy Robes
When I worked in the music office at St. Olaf College, the favorite part of my day was watching the new conducting students come in to purchase a wand — I mean, baton. I say, “wand” because the scene always reminded of the Hogwart’s students’ first trip to Ollivander’s wand shop in Harry Potter.
I’ve been investigating my own wand of sorts for a few weeks now: a clergy robe. Chalk the experience up to something they didn’t teach you in seminary. Not that I’m particularly surprised. What’s more bothersome, I suppose, is that we didn’t really even talk much about robes at all, let alone visit a wand/robe shop as a class and discover with what robe our magic thrives.
When it comes to robes, there’s two big questions that face a new PC(USA) seminary graduate. First, should one purchase a robe at all? Does one even want to wear a robe for leading worship in the first place? And second, what type of robe is best — the traditional black Geneva gown, or the uber traditional white alb? I’ll take the questions one at a time.
First, whether to wear a robe at all. One of the beauties of Presbyterianism is that it allows pastors wide latitude in many decisions, particularly regarding how to lead worship. There is a Book of Common Worship published by the denomination, but some pastors have never used a thing from it in all their years of ministry. Similarly, some pastors wouldn’t be caught dead leading worship without a robe on. They might think that street clothes draw the congregation’s attention to the wrong thing — the latest suit fashions or tie choice rather than the worship of God. And indeed, what a preacher wears does send a certain message and can draw undue attention. I think of the youth conferences in Montreat this summer. Most preachers wear jeans and casual shirts. I think they’re trying to say to the youth, “Don’t you worry, I’m hip, I can bring the word to a youth conference.” If the same preacher preached on Sunday morning, though, I imagine s/he might wear a robe.
Some pastors I know don’t wear robes because they don’t want to indicate they serve an office or do anything more special than the other folks in the congregation. On the other hand, I know some female clergy who very intentionally wear robes and clergy collars to worship so that the congregation fully recognizes and respects them in their office of minister. And then there’s preachers who take off their shoes to preach — but that’s another post.
Second, if one decides to wear a robe, the choice of what robe to wear is not simple either. Some Presbyterian pastors I know favor the white alb, or cream alb, because of its plain nature and historical connection to baptism. Wearing an alb could not only draw attention away from street clothes, but to our common baptismal identity. Or, a black Geneva gown reminds us of our denomination’s Reformation roots. After Martin Luther’s denial of the pomp and grandeur of the Roman Catholic services of his time, John Calvin continued the thought by wearing an academic gown, a plain black robe worn by university graduates. Such a gown pointed out one’s education, one’s knowledge of the word and ability (with the Spirit’s help, of course) to lead a congregation thanks in part to one’s significant theological education. Also, I suppose, the academic robe was worn by lawyers and judges and professors and the like so it communicated some sort of parity among those professions (I’m mostly guessing, there, but it sounds good, right?).
This only scratches the surface of robe choices, and I won’t opine on stoles or crosses or the relative monopoly of CM Almy on clergy attire and church vestments. But now that I think about it, maybe I don’t blame seminary as much for not hosting wand/robe discussions when I was there. We were plenty busy at the time, and they did give us the resources and teach us how to think critically about just this type of issue. And for that garment of critical thinking and awareness that I will always wear, I’m thankful.
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I wear a Geneva gown in the winter and an alb in the summer. I’m a woman and because we don’t otherwise have uniforms, I wear a robe. I’d probably wear a robe in the winter if I were male and maybe a suit in the summer.
I’m a Presbyterian from birth. We wear Geneva gowns. Period. (It’s the education thing.) I think it’s much like the Amish. Our dress is stuck in a prior century and we have changed. The Geneva gown is no longer the usual garb of the university; they have changed; we have not.
I was lucky. While I was interning, the church secretary mentioned that she was going to take her husband’s Geneva gowns to the Clothes Closet. I spoke up quickly and told her that I would be honored to wear his gown. He was short and I like an ankle length gown, so it turned out to be an almost perfect fit.
If you buy a robe, buy a plain one, not one of those funny ones with the things that look like a stole running down the front.
And an alb will be cheaper. (Mine was on sale for $120).
Robes are handy for covering a multitude of things, like less formal dress, and for occasions like memorial services and weddings when often as not those who request the services want/need/expect the pastor to robe up. I’m comfortable in robe or not, but the custom of most places I supply preach is for robes and I honor their custom. Plus, as a woman, don’t have to worry much about the whole skirt/modesty bit with longer draping.
Don’t by the most expensive, I like microfiber and simple and two pockets – don’t forget pockets!
Thanks, Joan. Don’t know about the theological significance of summer/winter garb, but it sure makes sense practically! Also a good way to switch things up, I think.
I would say, however, that university garb does end up looking real like Geneva gowns, if not the same. It’s just that they don’t wear them as much, I suppose. At St. Olaf, though, most profs had their gowns in their offices for special processions and the like.
Now re the gowns with the fancy other fabric down the front, I think those are traditionally Wesley gowns — or at least that’s what the websites call them. I know lots of Presbyterians who love them, actually — and who says we don’t change
Thanks for your good words.
At Sewanee, they have an “Order of the Gownsmen,” an honor society which recognizes academic achievement with academic robes for its members. Many of the robes are passed from friend to friend or parent to child, and the initials of the various wearers are embroidered on the back. The students really do wear the robes to class too… And since we’re talking of Harry Potter, he and his friends wear academic robes to class too! Neither Hogwarts’ nor Sewanee’s robes are as fancy as the academic regalia of our CTS profs, or what I imagine the profs at St. Olaf had, but the tradition is obviously still alive in some places!
Adam, I’m surprised you didn’t mention that Scottish pastors often wear cassocks: An ankle-length garment with a close-fitting waist and sleeves. The ones I saw were often funky non-liturgical colors too: dark aqua, gray, but also greens and blues, although I rarely saw stoles.
I don’t wear Geneva gowns bc I don’t wear black. I do robe on Sundays 9 months a year bc I know that folks are assessing what women wear differently than men (“I would NOT have worn those shoes with that dress!”) I don’t typically robe for our Wed service which is more casual. I have a cream alb my mother made for my ordination and a white robe from Womenspirit that is designed accordingly.
One other significant reasons I robe is so I can wear artwork in the form of stoles and my one scapular. Gospelcolors makes fabulous work! I love integrating many forms of art in worship and what we wear is one more canvas.
Can what you wear to lead worship be determined on what the worship service for the day is? If the message/theme/sermon is intended to be intimate, if you’re going for a “priesthood of all believers” emphasis or something, or if the message is to be easily grasped or have practical implications, is there a certain mode of dress that is better than another? If you’re illustrating a major doctrine of the church, taking on a more prophet role in critiquing our nation or our culture, or if you’re challenging the congregation to move in a new way, is there another mode a dress more appropriate?
Are there times when, as preachers and pastors, we need to convey more of the “office” and other times when we need to appear more like a brother or sister in the faith? Or can we constantly do both simultaneously? How does our dress affect that?
Thanks for you continually stimulating thoughts Adam!
I hear you, Andrew, but I think this could get awfully confusing. It also would draw the attention of the congregation, again, to what the pastor is wearing. I’d prefer that to be more of a given, or something that doesn’t get in the way at least.
I serve a hyphenated church, Truckee Lutheran-Presbyterian Church (PCUSA/ELCA) and have an Alb, and 2 Geneva Gowns (both on ebay for under 50 bucks and 20 bucks in alterations), one black and one white. I wear the Alb mostly, it is traditionally more ecumenical in nature and fits with our congregation (also cooler in summer, I wear shorts and flip flops underneath). At times I have worn the Geneva gowns, mostly for all presby worship or the white one for a presby wedding where they request it.
Keith Jones posted an awesome link on facebook to a good write-up of such issues:
http://www.yourwebpress.com/sites/firstpresbyterian/view/143
Thanks Keith!
My new favorite blog — Bad Vestments
http://badvestments.blogspot.com/2009/08/rainbow-warrior.html
Always good for a laugh and some theological reflection on why and how we robe up.
I had a friend who, wearing an academic robe, scared a child who thought the minister was really Darth Vader. Only wears albs now.
I wear albs for 9 months, stole over hawaiian shirts and Birks in summer. Interesting thoughts.
I have two Geneva gowns, one black with black panels, which I wear most Sundays, and the other gray with red panels, which I wear for Holy Communion and Baptism. I wear a collar and, on special occasions such as ordinations, I also don preaching bands.
I won’t wear a stole. To begin with, there is, historically speaking, a sacerdotal connotation to the stole that I personally think is out of keeping with Reformed theology and liturgical tradition. (I know there are those who disagree, and I accept that.) My other objection is that what was originally intended to be a relatively simple vestment signifying the yoke of Christ has become something that can be seen in literally every color of the rainbow, and often replete with butterflies, flowers, children’s faces, and all manner of other “art.” The point of all this is . . . ? Call me a curmudgeon, but there’s something to be said for simplicity.
What an interesting discussion! …and the Harry Potter analogies/references are just plain fun. For those looking for stoles that are a little different than the norm in seminary bookstores you might be interested in what we offer at CarrotTopStudio.com. We see the stole as being a visual connection using color and symbols to those that you minister to. Peace!
There are lots of super children’s shoes around at the moment, designers seem to recently found a creative spurt. I am especially liking Italian Lelli Kellys.