When I moved back to Idaho and continued to wear the collar, I can only remember about two or three questions or comments over the course of almost 10 years.

One of those questions was which Catholic parish I ministered in, something like that.

And the other question is what was wrong with my shirt? Introduction. If you've seen old pictures or videos of me, you'll notice that for about 12 years I wore a clerical collar

fairly regularly and preached in a white robe with varying colors of stoles for the liturgical

seasons. So it's a reasonable question to wonder why I don't anymore. A few disclaimers. First,

let me make a few disclaimers. I actually like the idea of a

distinctive clerical uniform. Doctors, law enforcement, and mailmen and UPS drivers all have

uniforms, and I think that ministers of the gospel are public servants that rank above UPS drivers

and mailmen.

The question is whether there is such a uniform readily available to Protestant reformed and Presbyterian pastors.

Second, I don't have any problem with my friends and fellow ministers in the CREC who wear

collars and robes, assuming they generally agree with the concerns I raise below, but find that they

don't apply to their situations and ministries.

I've heard some great stories about pastors at airports and other public places, having

some wonderful opportunities to pray for people and share the gospel.

I suspect that the uniform works in some places, and maybe for some people, better than others.

Some history and concerns.

However, I'm not convinced that the uniform is always doing what it is intended to do.

Let me explain.

When I first started wearing a collar, I was going to seminary and pastoring in South Carolina,

and I wore it for about two years down there.

I bet I averaged a question or conversation a couple times a month in coffee shops and out and about in

...