Disposal of Vestments

[Steven W Bohler]

What do you do with old vestments that are no longer fit for service?

[Dave Likeness]

Old vestments may be sent to the Concordia Historical Institute on the campus
of  Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  They will then catalogue the vestments
for the years they were in service at  a particular parish.

[Steven W Bohler]

Old vestments may be sent to the Concordia Historical Institute on the campus
of  Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  They will then catalogue the vestments
for the years they were in service at  a particular parish.

Really?  They want sweat-stained or worn-out or torn vestments for cataloging?  I can't tell if you are serious or trying to be funny.

[D. Engebretson]

I haven't faced this, but one option might be to do as one does for a worn out flag that must be retired: burn them.  It would avoid simply placing them in the trash, or repurposing them in some other less-than-sacred way (some vestments from my previous parish, I was told, were repurposed into doll clothing). 

[Richard Johnson]

Hmm. . . I'm a pretty "high church" kind of guy, but it has never occurred to me that there is something "sacred" about vestments that would call for some reverent kind of disposal.

[Donald_Kirchner]

As a tangent, I have chasubles of every liturgy color and a couple of very nice copes. All in nice condition. If interested, PM me, and I'll send you pics. Otherwise, I'm putting them on eBay. Or, if there is a recently ordained pastor lurking, PM me, and I'd be happy to gift you the chasubles.

[Steven W Bohler]

Hmm. . . I'm a pretty "high church" kind of guy, but it has never occurred to me that there is something "sacred" about vestments that would call for some reverent kind of disposal.

When I did a Google search, I did not find much from a Lutheran perspective but I did see these: https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/disposing-of-blessed-objects.html  and  https://spokanefavs.com/ask-an-eastern-orthodox-christian-disposing-of-vestments/   

The bottom line is I have several albs that are really not useable any more, as well as some stoles (the stoles belong to the church).  And I wasn't (and am still not) sure of how to dispose of them. 

[J. Thomas Shelley]

As a tangent, I have chasubles of every liturgy color and a couple of very nice copes. All in nice condition. If interested, PM me, and I'll send you pics. Otherwise, I'm putting them on eBay. Or, if there is a recently ordained pastor lurking, PM me, and I'd be happy to gift you the chasubles.

I will be facing a similar decision...I'd like to give the best to a Western Rite Orthodox mission. 

If by God's grace and the benevolence of the Eparchal Synod I am ever Ordained to the Priesthood there are a few copes which could be converted into philoneons and a few stoles which could be similarly converted.   But the rest...gotta find a good churchly home where liturgical use can continue, whether Orthodox or Western, machts nicth

[Dave Benke]

At some of the Roman Catholic churches in NYC, the chasubles of departed priests are mounted in the office area with their names and term of service on a plaque beneath.

I received a red cope from Almy which I used at ordinations; it was given to me by my predecessor, Rev. Dr. Jim Zwernemann.  And I gave it to my successor, Rev. Dr. Derek Lecakes. 

In terms of used albs, etc., they can be disposed, and there could be prayers spoken as those garments are taken out of service.

I have a really large collection of chasubles, copes and other garments that were given to me having been used by the Rev. Charles Werth, then the assistant to the chaplain at Valparaiso.  I am still using them, but they're of first quality and I'd prefer they remain in service to Lord and Church.

Dave Benke

[Padre Emeritus]

As a tangent, I have chasubles of every liturgy color and a couple of very nice copes. All in nice condition. If interested, PM me, and I'll send you pics. Otherwise, I'm putting them on eBay. Or, if there is a recently ordained pastor lurking, PM me, and I'd be happy to gift you the chasubles.

Great idea!  I live in Mesa, AZ.  Phoenix is one of our suburbs and the Valley is quite expansive.  On that note, I would be honored to gift my chasubles to a new, or one renewed by the Evangelical Catholic expression of the Lutheran/Catholic faith.  I have some interesting chasubles that have been a treasure to me.  The reality is that I will never rest in these fine Eucharistic vestments.  The most I can get away with is an alb and stole....otherwise it seems to be "more welcoming" to preach and preside in street clothes.  Even a clerical collar is now seen as "off-putting"

I WANT MY OLD EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC EXPRESSION OF THE FAITH BACK!  OK, I am back and OK now.....

Anyway, contact me if you would be interested in more details.  I haven't taken pictures of them yet, but I will if the recipient prefers,

God bless you in His grace and mercy and joy!

[J. Thomas Shelley]

I WANT MY OLD EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC EXPRESSION OF THE FAITH BACK!  OK, I am back and OK now.....

Swim the Bosporus....it never departed from the East bank!

[D. Engebretson]

Even a clerical collar is now seen as "off-putting"

I would like to explore this further, but I will start a new thread on the off-putting reaction to "catholic" vestments and clothing so as not to derail this one.