1 May 2025

When I was ordained, the Church of Scotland was not as generous towards ministers in terms of providing carpets etc for their manses.  As a young married couple, we had very little financial resources so the purchase of gowns would have been very difficult.

Fortunately, in those days, it was still the tradition for a congregation to purchase the cassock and Geneva  gown for its newly ordained minister. When I was inducted to Forth:St. Paul’s I was given a cassock which I wore for my ordination and a  gown which was formally presented to me at the reception by the senior elder.

I no longer have that cassock but I still have the Geneva gown. It has been a reminder to me not only of my first charge in that mining community but of belonging to something much bigger than myself and that generous congregation. It was a reminder that I belonged to the whole Church and was called by God to serve.

For some people the black robes are austere. Some have chosen to wear  blue or maroon or sometimes white which has strong historical roots. But for me, the black robes have been a reminder that I have been involved in work of a very serious nature. Ordained ministers are  stewards of the mysteries of God.

I have been chastened in the pulpit to be more serious about my preparations and not to climb the pulpit stairs with my black Geneva gown without having read and studied the text and reflected on the Word in the context of my parish and world.

Wearing my black robe at Sunday worship has also chastened me to live a more circumspect life, to be as worthy as I can possibly be to hold this office within the Kirk and to take upon myself the mantle of humility that God’s work may not be hindered by my misdeeds and inadequacies.

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