Priests must buy their own vestments

[Albion]

I just wondered what the rational might be for telling them to buy their own stuff. Older priests in our diocese were not directed to do this, though some of course acquired things along the way.

Seems apparent to me. When those older priests were ordained, the church was in a quite different position. It is now losing 1000 members a week and many dioceses are broke or nearly so. Where does one begin to cut corners? Selling church property. Laying off staff. Reducing travel. This vestments issue probably is just one way among many that the bishop decided to do it.

 

[ebia]

I haven't seen one of those... The Bish of Cy + Gulf has a screw-together wooden one for the same reason.

It might be screw-together, I'm not sure. I've not seen it taken apart, but you got the idea.

 

[ebia]

What would be really cool would be one with a sword inside!

They might not be happy about taking it on an aeroplane then!

 

[Timothy]

It might be screw-together, I'm not sure. I've not seen it taken apart, but you got the idea.

Hehe. The advantage of being the organist when the bishop was visiting was that I got to see him put all his gear together. He admitted that he got stopped routinely and asked what it was through customs...

My favourite story about a bishop is the one who was visiting a church. The kids went out and made paper mitres for themselves as they were told about bishops, and he insisted that he was given one of the ones the kids had made and insisted then on wearing it for the rest of the service... I'm just trying to remember who told me that.

Archbishop Sentamu once shocked a local anglo-catholic curate by removing his mitre mid-service and complaining that it was 'too hot, he'd wear it once he'd cooled down a bit'... the church had their heating on full, as I recall, this being England...

 

[ebia]

Hehe. The advantage of being the organist when the bishop was visiting was that I got to see him put all his gear together. He admitted that he got stopped routinely and asked what it was through customs...

We've only had the bishop once in his official capacity since we became a parish, and that was to inagurate it - when he makes it up here he's mostly busy with our neighbouring parish.

My favourite story about a bishop is the one who was visiting a church. The kids went out and made paper mitres for themselves as they were told about bishops, and he insisted that he was given one of the ones the kids had made and insisted then on wearing it for the rest of the service... I'm just trying to remember who told me that.

That's the kind of bishop I could relate to.

 

[PaladinValer]

Hehe. The advantage of being the organist when the bishop was visiting was that I got to see him put all his gear together. He admitted that he got stopped routinely and asked what it was through customs...

Well, its a huge province. A pity he doesn't have like a card he can simply flash and breeze through.

My favourite story about a bishop is the one who was visiting a church. The kids went out and made paper mitres for themselves as they were told about bishops, and he insisted that he was given one of the ones the kids had made and insisted then on wearing it for the rest of the service... I'm just trying to remember who told me that.

Awww. That's cute! I like that.

Archbishop Sentamu once shocked a local anglo-catholic curate by removing his mitre mid-service and complaining that it was 'too hot, he'd wear it once he'd cooled down a bit'... the church had their heating on full, as I recall, this being England...

England? Cold? How much white stuff do you all get?

I wouldn't have been bothered personally. I may be Anglo-Catholic, but I believe God favors health more than pomp and circumstance. If the good Archbishop was hot, I'd hardly bat an eye and offer to quietly slip out and get him water.

 

[MKJ]

Seems apparent to me. When those older priests were ordained, the church was in a quite different position. It is now losing 1000 members a week and many dioceses are broke or nearly so. Where does one begin to cut corners? Selling church property. Laying off staff. Reducing travel. This vestments issue probably is just one way among many that the bishop decided to do it.

But she'll have to sell the vestments that are there to make any money off of them, and I doubt the parishes would agree. The priests are in parishes that already have vestments, why would they need their own???