Lutheran Pastors

[UBERROGO]

Is it common for a Lutheran pastor to wear a cross like the ones the Eastern Orthodox wears? I saw my g/f's parents wearing one the Sun before last and didn't get ot ask him.

[IowaLutheran]

I assume you mean what is referred to as a "pectoral cross"? I've seen a few pastors wear them, but normally I just see Lutheran bishops wear them.

[QuiltAngel]

Usually the Pastor wears a cross that he chooses, one that he likes. They usually have a reason why they prefer the one they wear. We don't have a set style that all Pastor's wear.

It would be interesting to find out why he chose that one.

[DaSeminarian]

Usually the Pastor wears a cross that he chooses, one that he likes. They usually have a reason why they prefer the one they wear. We don't have a set style that all Pastor's wear.

It would be interesting to find out why he chose that one.


Even though I am only a Seminarian, I have 3 different pectoral crosses that I rotate. Two of them given to me by my wife for my birthday last year. The one I like the best is called the Jerusalem Cross. It is an older cross but it is very nice. I also have a cross that has the life of Christ painted on it and another small simple wood cross that one of the parishioners in my fieldwork church made and gave to me.

The cross is the chief main symbol in our faith. It is what Jesus hung on to die for the sins we commit daily.

But the cross can be worn by laity as well. It is not a symbol only for Pastors to wear. I had one when I was confirmed 31 years ago.

[KimLCMS]

Our church has a large cross of this type at the front of our sanctuary.

[DaRev]

Every Lutheran pastor that I know wears a pectoral cross. There are a multitude of varieties. I have three. One os the LCMS cross (logo), one is a cross with Luther's rose in the middle, and the one I wear most frequently is a crucifix.

[Studeclunker]

This is interesting. Why is it called a pectoral cross?
Bethany Lutheran Church in Norco, CA used to have a crucifix type cross with Jesus in royal robes and crowned (gold not thorns) suspended over a purple drapery. This was originally located behind the altar. When the sanctuary was remodeled after the ELCA merger, this cross was moved to the entry and a plainer one was erected in it's place over a faux SG window. The new one was more... modern, um, attractive, brighter? I don't know, it was a subjective thing. The chapel seemed much brighter than before. I suppose it had to do with the dark curtain being replaced with the light box behind the new faux window. Also, the old coloured glass windows were replaced with this same faux stained glass. It really brightened up the room.

[DaRev]

This is interesting. Why is it called a pectoral cross?

It is worn on a chain around the neck long enough that the cross hangs about in the center of the chest. This is where the pectoral muscles are located in the chest.

It's an anatomy thing. :P

[dinkime]

our Pastor wears a plain cross (from what i can tell) that is large

i want to get an Eastern Cross when i am in Ukraine over the summer to hang on my wall because i like the symbolism

[QuiltAngel]

My husband's parents gave him one when he went to Seminary, he also has the LCMS one and over the years members have given him different ones.

On one of my trips to Mexico, I purchased a crucifix to hang on the wall in his study.

[Studeclunker]

Some of those Mexican crucifixes can be... gnarly.:eek:

[QuiltAngel]

Yeah, I know, this one wasn't which is why I purchased it for him.