The things that are worn!

Clergy shoes, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

WORN: DDW Sept 29 challenge by Anniemay

These are the shoes of Deacon Mary Anne, who enjoys shocking me with her quietly outrageous footwear. Last week we discussed this and I gave her carte blanche to wear anything she liked "except for hightop basketball sneakers." These aren't hightops, but they do bear a striking resemblance to sneakers. They were a bargain she found this week and couldn't resist. I wonder if I'm the only one who notices. I like to keep a close watch on Mary Anne's shoes.

Catholics and Anglicans (known in the U.S. as Episcopalians) pay a great deal of attention to what is worn. There are special vestments and special colors for every liturgical function and order. The one thing that doesn't get talked about a lot is shoes, probably because men's shoes don't offer that many choices. Traditionally, priests wore black suits, black shirts with white clerical collars, and black shoes. In the Roman church they still do, though many priests now wear civvies when not on duty.

In 1974 the first women were ordained to the preisthood in the Episcopal Church. Later came women bishops, and today the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (similar in office to the primate of any country in the Anglican Communion) is a woman. There ensued a great brouhaha over what shall be worn.

Women, clergy or not, do enjoy their dress-up. Were dangling or flashing earrings appropriate at the altar? What about bracelets and rings? Some priests wore red nail polish and others red shoes! These issues have concerned women seminarians, probably more than their parishioners.

Deacon Mary Anne, in her cut-off high-tops, told me that she thinks church should be not only reverent but fun. She is going to be a priest next year, and I suspect we will see more fun from that source as time goes by.

Sorry to be behind on viewing and comments, but I am worn out. Perhaps the relentless rain and sudden cold snap have done me in. Hope to catch up with you soon.

(iPhoto straightened, cropped, b&w, vignette.)