I finished facilitating my last Bible Study series at St. Columba this week. The most recent series focused on Paul, and specifically his letter to the Galatians. I love that book–for both it’s simple/difficult message of freedom, unity, and Christ’s benefits.

One of the Galatians study activities was to speak of what it means today, that Paul writes, “There in no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all are one in Christ.”

I put “What does being one in Christ mean?” up on the board, played a song, and asked folks think for a few minutes, and then we had a discussion.

In the back of my mind during the discussion was this darn clergy collar question. I first took up the question back in November when I launched this wordpress blog. That post, “Coping with the Collar ” still gets a good number of google hits.

Over six months later, with a fair amount of reflection, I still have the same view that on the whole, I’d rather not wear a collar every day, since on the average, I think the collar closes as many doors as it opens. Here’s my most recent anti-ish collar thoughts.

First, I’m not a big fan of ordination–ok, CPM don’t freak out. What I mean is that I’m especially cognizant of how an overly high view of ordination conflicts with Paul’s description of the gifts of the body in Ephesians, or our oneness in Galatians. When we say “priesthood of all believers” but give ministers special benefits, undue respect by virtue of their office, and treat them with an especially friendly attitude that should be given to all our sisters and brothers, I get a bit nervous of what our actions communicate. Ordination does not mark a specialness above any other who is in Christ, and I get bothered when it’s treated as such.

So wearing a collar, which says to some “look at me, I’m a professional Christian unlike you” may send the wrong message. Rather than a servant’s uniform, the collar today can be seen as a uppity uniform. Worn with a nice suit, it communicates a certain air of authority and expectation of respect. I’m projecting hugely, of course, but this view is the one I discern, mostly from those outside of my congregation. Societally, the church is seen as a bit too sure of itself, a bit crusty perhaps, a bit set in its ways, and my perception is that the collar only affirms this negative set-apartness.

Second, and perhaps more important for me, is that a collar functions by putting up a visual clue that encourages prejudgment. When I wear a collar, I feel like my uniform is saying, “You may speak to me, but you may only do so realizing who I am.” A fake must-speak-kindly-as-I’m-speaking-to-the-minister develops.

Heck, one way to put it is to say a collar is un-American. Rather than being judged by the content of one’s character, one is judged by the ordination process of one’s denomination.

I want to be able to speak for myself. Sure, I’ll do so aware of my calling, but hopefully out of humility. I want to be judged as a clean slate. Sure, I know folks will judge me by my clothes, whatever they are, but I’d rather be judged on my basic polo or shirt and tie than a collar which says so much to so many that is out of my control.

I know there are many strong and positive reasons for wearing a clergy collar, as my previous post points out. But after months of daily wearing, I’m still not convinced of its value as an everyday must-wear uniform.