Worst Ever Vestments? You be the judge
Catherine Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal
Church USA, has taken to wearing vestments that can only be described, in my opinion, with one word: hideous. Here are a couple cases in point. I was reading an article just now about how Pope Benedict XVI is reviving classic vestments, with all sorts of speculation about the meaning of that. One can only but assume Schori, a well known advocate of gay and lesbian "rights" in the church knows she is making a statement by wearing a mitre that is in the gay rights "rainbow" colors. I think this outfit tops this other one. But, to be fair, let's also have some photos of 
men wearing hideously ugly vestments. Do you have examples that compare, or beat, these? Send them on in and I'll post them.
I think I am about to be sick.
Posted by: Christopher Esget | April 19, 2008 at 09:48 PM
To paraphrase Carly Simom :
They are so vain, they probably think your post is about them
LPC
Posted by: L P Cruz | April 20, 2008 at 05:14 AM
'Send in the clowns. There ought to be clowns' didn't mean in Divine Service.
These aren't vestments so much as sandwich boards. They might as well read 'Eat at Joe's' or 'I'm a loony.' Or 'Let me tell you about me...'
Posted by: Susan Robbins | April 20, 2008 at 06:43 AM
The most hideous vestment I ever saw was of Pope JPII. They had a display at the Milwaukee Museum of Art a few years back on the Vatican, and it had a bunch of vestments. One of them was a shimmering neon purple that would have fit very well in Mama Mia. I'll see if I kept the picture.
Posted by: Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn | April 20, 2008 at 07:50 AM
The multi-religion stole you posted reminds me of the bumper sticker with the one word message - "CoExist." Paul, you can buy yours here. Unfortunately, it does not come in guy and lesbian rainbow colors like the stole. If this is not Satanic then what is?
http://www.stampandshout.com/shop/bumper-stickers/coexist.php
Posted by: Bruce Scarbery | April 20, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Wow. Looks like something out of Willy Wonka, or worn by the Covenant in the Halo game series.
Posted by: Christopher Martin | April 20, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Wow. Looks like something out of Willy Wonka, or worn by the Covenant in the Halo game series.
Posted by: Christopher Martin | April 20, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Ah, yes. ++Jefferts-Schori and her lovely oven mitt. I follow a conservative Anglican blogger, and he had a heyday with the Archbishop's striped get up. Ouch.
Posted by: Elephantschild. | April 20, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Fortunately, in the Missouri Synod branch of Lutheranism this could never happen because generally speaking, there is an aversion to vestments. Perhaps we could see some liturgical polo shirts posted.
Posted by: Mark Loest | April 21, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Yup. Those are bad. Give me a Hawaiian shirt any day.
Posted by: wcwirla | April 21, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I can say i have seen it all, but i've seen worse in the WELS. Pastors wearing white geneva gowns with stole and cinture.
Posted by: parishorganist78 | April 21, 2008 at 02:54 PM
A few years ago the Denver Art Museum displayed pieces of their extensive ecclesiastical vestment collection, some of which are from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Sadly, their current website does not have the collection online. If the DAM's black chasible with the phoenix rising from the ashes is ever missing, well, you will all know where to look. Here is the one example they have on their website:
http://www.denverartmuseum.org/explore_art/collections/objectDetails/objectId--104875
Posted by: Pastor Shawn L. Kumm | April 21, 2008 at 04:34 PM
I thought ministers wear vestments to symbolize that the man is suppose to be hidden or so as not to attract attention to themselves.
It is funny, such vestments give a reverse effect. Kinda false humility to me.
LPC
Posted by: L P Cruz | April 22, 2008 at 07:15 AM
I think that the operative expression should be: "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
However, it appears to be: "For I decided to know nothing among you."
There is a sense of the holiness (separate, complete, unblemished) of the message that should be delivered by these people. The robe provides a context for that message; some of these robes seem to connote goblins, witches and wizards. The message gets distorted by the carrier (L P Cruz's comment) since there is no serious interest in letting the Spirit of Christ speak through the pastor.
In Christ,
Gleason
Posted by: Gleason Snashall | April 24, 2008 at 02:47 PM
So THAT's what became of the coat Joseph was wearing when he was sold into slavery in Egypt.
Posted by: Bob Waters | April 28, 2008 at 05:10 PM
If that is so, no wonder they threw him into a pit.
Posted by: Ibanez Eric | April 28, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Well, we know that the devil perverts whatever is from God, so why would he not continue in this nonsense?! Not that I'm saying that the choice of colors for the church year are handed down by God, but it seems if these libs are going to continue to spew their false teachings, i.e. on homosexuality, it only figures that they'll also make a display of them by wearing such "costumes"!
Posted by: HB | May 02, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Caroline Cannonball, the ever irreverent Roman Catholic blogger, held a Ugly Vestment Contest awhile back. Check out all her references.
http://thecrescat.blogspot.com/search/label/Ugliest%20Vestment%20Contest
I am quite partial to the flamin' Don King mitre. http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/solekat205/ugliest%20vestment/andrewssubmitarinze_0.jpg
Posted by: Dixie | May 03, 2008 at 09:25 AM