Pastors and vestments

The “stance” we have is that this is a matter of Christian freedom. Christian Worship: Manual, the companion book to Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal, explains that Lutheran pastors, historically, have worn vestments for several reasons: “to identify him as the called spiritual leader of the congregation,” “to remind the congregation that its pastor serves as God’s representative,” and to connect to “the legacy of the church” (pages 98-104).

The resource that I cited puts your question into perspective when it states: “In all aspects of the church’s life of worship, artistic propriety and legitimate tradition must take second place to the proclamation of the gospel and the gospel’s glorious freedom. In the final analysis the Lord Jesus will not be so concerned about either the type of vestments or the kind of liturgy Christians use. He is concerned only that we worship the Father ‘in spirit and truth’ (John 4:23).”

Pastors and congregations will want to work together when thinking of changing customs and practices.