Lutheran Vestments in Modern Times: Legacy Lost, or Pomp and its Circumstance?

Abstract

David P. Arndt explores the historical and theological significance of clerical vestments within Lutheranism, tracing their origins from ancient Roman attire to their symbolic use in the early church and subsequent evolution. The essay examines the tension between tradition and change in modern Lutheran worship, particularly within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), where vestments like albs and cassocks are reemerging amid longstanding use of the black Geneva gown. Arndt details the origins, symbolism, and current usage of various vestments, arguing that their reintroduction can enrich worship by emphasizing the pastoral office over personal identity. He concludes that vestments, though adiaphora, carry deep liturgical meaning and can serve as tools for education and spiritual edification when properly understood. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)