Here’s an interesting question from a sweetie headed guy of the cloth!
Hello, PeaceBang! I appreciate your blog so much; when I made the transition from youth pastor to senior minister, I was convicted by your comments, and purchased an entirely new wardrobe for ministry. I appreciate your help in presenting a more professional presence, thus freeing me up to do the work of the ministry. [You are so welcome, E! How nice of you to tell me this! - PB]
My question is this: I’m a bald man, and often wear a fedora to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. But the fedoras I own don\’t look ”right” with liturgical garb (for when I’m doing a graveside service, for example).
Are there any suggestions for a Protestant minister’s headwear that will look in keeping with ministry, but not let my head freeze?
Thanks again for all your insights!
What a great question, E! And I have absolutely no idea! I’m actually sitting here trying to remember if I’ve ever seen a Protestant minister in a hat at a graveside service and I can’t remember any time. It may be that the instinct is to uncover the head as though one is in church, which feels right to me, but must the clergy risk pneumonia in order to cut a respectful figure? I always wear a hat in cold weather and it really is tricky choosing one that is generic and formal enough not to distract.
So what are your options?
The “Father Guido Sarducci?”
Seriously, I do think a kind of modified Galero might be appropriate in some ministry settings but probably not yours, although I don’t know where you live.
Here’s Father Anthony Hopkins in one that’s very handsome, although he’s a priest and you’re a mainline Protestant. Clash of cultures.
How about the Full Zwingli? Now there’s a shout-out to your Protestant origins!
This little cap is worn by married Coptic priests. See what Google can do for you?
But really, I’d love to open the conversation to our other male readers who have heads and who live in cold climates. What do you fellas wear, and is a formal fedora totally out of the question? It reads as far too businessy to me, while this English cap feels like it could be fine for a country pastor in a woold overcoat, worn with clericals.
What do you say, cookies? I don’t think I’m helping our querent very much, as he specified that he is dressed in liturgical garb, and I am thinking of the many ministers I know in low church traditions who wear a suit and clericals to a graveside service.
I have seen a black wool fedora or a black or dark grey wool driving cap on my liturgically inclined male colleagues at gravesides, and commend them both.
Hmmm. Just trying to picture something suitable, I could actually see the “Father Hopkins” option with a Geneva gown, or a similar type of robe. I also wonder if a coat and collar might be more practical to allow for hat options, if that’s available to him.
I actually have between wondering the same thing for female pastors – not necessarily in liturgical garb but to look professional when out and about. It has been around zero here lately and a brimmed hat gets caught by the wind and blows away. Everyone seems to have the flu so staying as warm and dry as possible seems a good idea but what kind of hat works with a black knee length London Fog wool coat and will stay on your head?
I agree with Jean. My husband wears a black fedora with his black wool overcoat or black trench coat when officiating graveside in lousy weather.
I too am questioning what “liturgical garb” we are talking about. If we are talking about full vestments, one of the historic shapes may be best, but if we are in an overcoat and collar, a more modern shape seems appropriate. (Perhaps what our gent needs is to purchase a new, more formal fedora, if the real objection that the ones he currently owns are not quite “it.” This is like shoes for women, there are more factors than just “black high heel” which effect the “read” of the overall look, especially if impeccable formality is the requirement of the day.)
It’s a bit high church, but how about a black biretta? If you’re feeling adventurous (or it’s very cold indeed) perhaps a fur almuse? If not, maybe a yarmulke like the pope?
My personal choice for a cold weather bonnet is a black cloche with an appropriate pin as trim.
+Pat
I’ve never seen them worn, but the vesting room in the Episcopal church where I serve on altar guild does have at least a couple of birettas. The long black capes are worn at the gravesides, and they always seem to be covered with dog hair when you need them……