Ministerial Dress (South Africa)

Following a statement of the theology of worship, the author explores the priestly tradition and the synagogue tradition, one favouring vestments the other less so. He surveys practice since the Scottish Reformation and notes the lack of uniformity. He looks in more detail at specific items of dress: cassock, girdle, preaching gown, shirt/collar/bands, academic hood, preaching scarf, stole, cap. The symbolism of clerical dress is explored and the paper concludes with a discussion of the issues raised in modern times and whether there is an ultimate requirement around which agreement might be reached.