Why I Wear a Collar
I’m not a particularly controversial person. I don’t like conflict. I detest the church’s innate talent for turning mole-hills into mountains. Yet one aspect of my existence regularly brings raised eyebrows and confused looks….I wear a clergy collar.
When I was first ordained, it was my earrings that people were confused with (although, as I suspected would be the case, it’s not at all uncommon now - even among my colleagues). Now, it’s my collar. Back then, I made a conscious decision that, whenever I was “working,” I’d wear a shirt and tie (or suit). I decided thus because I knew my youth and appearance required a certain amount of off-setting if I was to function as a “real minister.” I also felt that T-shirts suggested a certain lack of respect for my role in church (and since I don’t like “polos,” there weren’t many other options.) Now, although my receding hairline overcomes the former “youthful appearance” I still believe T-shirts are inappropriate for “work.” Remaining options: a) continue wearing shirt and tie, b) wear a collar.
I stuck with the shirt and tie thing for about 5 years despite a certain distaste for the idea that I consistently looked like either 1) a lawyer, or 2) a business “professional.” About a year ago, I decided there was reason to change…..the reason? General Synod.
Odd, huh? General Synod convinced me to wear a collar instead of a shirt and tie? Yep.
I can pinpoint the exact moment. It was about 1/2 way through the trial of Norm Kansfield. I looked up front and saw the accusers. I could have been one of them. Like them, I wore a white shirt, black pants and dark tie — the only distinction between us was my sandals….We could have been Mormon missionaries!
It was there and then, that the “message” of semi-business attire bothered me enough to change. (Perhaps more on that some other time!) I didn’t want to be that. I also didn’t want to continue giving my congregation tacit approval of the idea that the church ought to be run like a business. The obvious answer, then, was to move to wearing a collar (which, although a surprise to many mid-westerners, is not at all unheard of in the reformed tradition.)
What did my congregation say? Well, for the most part they either a) approved, or b) dealt with it. No one went openly ballistic. Of course, I explained a little of the history and some of my reasons so as to assure them it wasn’t just a whim or a grab for authority.
What have I learned? A lot! Especially….
1) People who don’t know me assume I’m Catholic, and in SW Michigan that means they don’t know what to do with me. (Also, when I’m carrying our daughter, or with my wife, they become utterly confused!)
2) People who know me a little wonder if it’s a power grab or if I’m a wanna-be Catholic (neither of which are the case)
3) People who know me well have grown used to it.
4) Hospitals never question why I’m there or who I am.
5) When I was a kid, a collar was something of a wall…now it’s more of a bridge. I have more and more interesting conversations with “strangers” than ever before.
6) The only people I’ve found who absolutely hate it are those who either a) ignorantly hate Catholics, b) simply hate change, for any reason (neither of whom I have any desire to worry about).
So, when push comes to shove, why do I wear it? That’s simple:
1) It honors my office and calling
2) It does not promote the often unhealthy conflation of church and business
3) It tells “strangers” something about me that often leads to enjoyable and otherwise-unlikely conversations
4) It suggests a certain amount of ecumenism (not mentioned about above, but true)
5) It’s convenient when I’m visiting or calling
6) It’s easy (I never have to worry about my wife shaking her head because I wore a tie that didn’t match), and
7) The arguments against it have not been convincing.
I’m not out to convince others to do the same (although, I think my reasoning would be applicable to others), but that’s why I do what I do 
Grace and Peace,
`tim
3 Responses to “Why I Wear a Collar”
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May 11th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
I do not wear a collar, nor have I even considered it. But I very much resonate with your reasoning. It honours your calling and it does not confuse the church with a business.
Perhaps our General Secretary and his staff would do well to wear a collar.
Thanks for a wonderful post.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:44 am
I have always worn a collar to exercise my “priestly” functions–leading worship and visitation, particularly. Of course, I grew up in the East, with pastors who wore collars. I do it for most of the reasons you gave, Tim, plus:
1. It reminds those who see me that I am there not just as ME, but in a particular role, on behalf of Christ and Christ’s church.
2. It reminds me of those same things. I wear a collar, not a tab, and I can always feel it around my neck, at least a little bit.
3. Nobody ever THINKS about stopping me from going where I need to go in hospitals and nursing homes.
4. I have never really liked ties.
Now, those who have seen me at General Synod have seen me in ties–bow ties, to be precise. This dates back to my service on the Synod of New York staff, when it was made clear to me that staff people wear ties (they did back then). The bow ties are, for me, the last bastion of rebellion against long ties. Now, when I am regularly at GS as moderator of the Commission on History, it seems appropriate to wear ties as part of my role, and in solidarity with Rett Zabriskie.
Now that Zabriskie will probably not be coming to GS, and in light of RogueMonk’s comments, I wonder about wearing collars to GS. Hmmmm . . . It could be quite an interesting statement.
By the way, there’s a great place on-line to get fabric collars (the plastic ones give me a rash) that hold up well and starch nicely and are very economical: Deacon Sil’s Homiletic Resource.
May 20th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Thanks for this, Tim.
I also appreciate the rationale, have heard the argument from other Reformed quarters, though I don’t plan to go collar soon!