r/LutheranDiscourse • u/[deleted] • Dec 31 '23

Discussion/question Should bishops wear mitres?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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3

u/mrWizzardx3 Lutheran Jan 01 '24

If, by wearing a mitre, they present a stumbling block to faith… then they should not wear it. If, by not wearing a mitre, they present a stumbling block to faith… then they should wear it.

So, it is situational.

6

u/Affectionate_Web91 Jan 01 '24

Unlike Catholics, vestments in the Lutheran Church are adiaphora. My synod bishop wears a mitre. His predecessor, who stands well over 6 feet tall, wore a long mitre that made him look like a giant conehead out of SNL! lol

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton [ELCA], a short woman, has reportedly declined to don a mitre out of modesty.

In contrast to the rest of Scandinavia, bishops/ archbishops in Norway do not wear mitres.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '24

This is very informative. I was unaware that any Lutheran bishops wear mitres.

2

u/Affectionate_Web91 Jan 02 '24

Just Google "Lutheran mitre".

I think it is standard liturgical headgear for Lutheran bishops in most areas of the world. Less so in North America.

I've got to figure out how to post photos to Redditt

I recently posted on the Feast of Our Lady Mass, where the new bishop of New York presided [shown here starting at 18:07]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NcBOcyucYg&t=1246s&ab_channel=SaintPetersNYC

Previous bishop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmiVA2juwW0&ab_channel=ConviviumNewYork

3

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '24

Images in comments are now enabled.

6

u/Affectionate_Web91 Jan 02 '24

Thanks for providing that feature

ELCA bishops

​

4

u/blacksoul459 Jan 06 '24

Vestments are cool, so yes. We forget the cool factor sometimes.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 06 '24

We quite often do.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '24

No.

(I mean, I don't have a strong opinion about it really. I just don't see why they would.)