Thoughts on Clerical Collars For protestant Clergy

[PastorSherm]

Lutheran,Anglican, and some methodist pastors wear clerical collars. A few other denoms and non denom ministers also wear them. Several pastors within my denom also wear them. I was a little hesitant when I first became ordained, I decided to buy a shirt and clerical collar. I started wearing it and found I had people approaching me who never knew I was a pastor before, asking questions and asking for prayer. I always thought those that wore it seemed to want to draw attention to themselves. I've come to realise that i was wrong. I am ordering a couple more in different colors. I wanted to get your thoughts about Protestant ministers who wear them.

 

[P_G]

I will wear one if I am doing a service at a conservative church (Prespyterian, Methodist, AME Zion) or if I am visiting elderly in the hospital that I do not know or other formal occasions where it seems appropriate.

I would suggest not wearing Black shirts this is very much the domain of Catholic Priests. Also Red carries the connotation that you are a Bishop in some denomonations.


Pastor George

 

[PastorSherm]

LOL I actually bought a black one with a collar insert. First people assumed I was a priest, then they saw my wedding ring and got a really confused look on their face..you are right..i had to keep saying..I'm a Protestant pastor. I think the next ones I get..will be neck band collars and not neck inserts..also thinking about wearing purple or blue instead of black.

 

[P_G]

I have a purple one and a white one that I like a lot it is pretty understated

PG

 

[Highland Watchman]

I have a black one. I actually didn't need it for the church that I was just at, but I bought it because I got involved in an inner city church, and the pastors of that church asked that clergy wear clergy colours, so that you are recognized as such. There are two rival gangs who have representatives coming to this church, and they wear their colours, so yeah...

As far as colour is concerned, I don't think it's a big deal. The red might throw people off into thinking you are a bishop, yes, but I do kind of like the black myself. I do not have the problem of people getting confused over my marriage. Rather, people get confused over my age, as I am only 24, and to some, I look like I'm 19 or 20. Mind you, to others I appear around 28 or 29... so yeah... Seeing one so young in a clerical collar does cause a few double takes here and there.

 

[benedictine]

Some Lutherans wear blue. Anglican/Episcopalian priests and Deacons wear black, bishops wear purple.

 

[PastorSherm]

what do you think? Neck band or collar inserts?.... LOL there should be a clergy fashion page LOL

 

[benedictine]

When I'm ordained, I'm going to get neck bands, rather than collar inserts.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I know in Orthodoxy, priests are always supposed to be wearing a special garb in public. Protestants as a whole have no standard, but wearing something like the Lutherans or Anglicans is probably the best route to take.