LONDON - The Church of England on Wednesday rejected a change in its dress code which would have allowed clergy to wear casual clothes at some services.
The decision by the governing General Synod upheld the canon law requiring ordained ministers to wear a robe — either a surplice or an alb — with a scarf or stole at Holy Communion, marriages, funerals and Sunday services.
Bishop of Winchester Michael Scott-Joynt said relaxing the rules on dress would be a sign of a "loss of nerve" and a "capitulation" to the spirit of the times.
"I think that it will have its effect on parishes and clergy who still wear robes and judge it not only right but entirely reasonable and I think it will suggest that in some way such people are behind the times or less effective," Scott-Joynt said.
The proposed change originated at Holy Trinity Church, a growing parish in Southwell, near Nottingham in central England.
"The proposals were not about allowing shell suits in the sanctuary," said Andrew David, speaking on behalf of the Southwell Diocesan Synod.
He said the church wanted a more liberal interpretation of the wearing of vestments for certain services.
He was supported by Peter LeRoy, of Corston in western England, who said: "Like it or not the medium is the message — for some people vestments or robes can speak of a tradition-bound church in a time warp."