We believe that the real Faith is the main for believer, same for both people and clergy. Because of it, the vestments for clergy is not a big deal, and we no need to follow the kind of vestments of the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, we should have easier but effective vestments for all the clergy, depend of the position of the person.
We believe in “high church”, what mean three steps of the clergy: deacon, priest (pastor) and bishop.
Pastor or priest with assisting deacon or few deacons holding the main role in his community. Pastor is not ordained priest, and we are believe that each priest is a pastor, but not all pastors are priests.
Few communities in one region, or city, or country, can be managed by provost. The position of provost can be taken by priest, and provost is just administrative position. Priests, pastors and deacons should follow the provost.
Bishop is the higher position in the IELC. Bishops manage provosts and all the clergy. They receiving requests of communities and ordaining elected pastors to deacons and priests. They also can suspend anybody of the clergy if have a reasons for it and received requests from communities. Bishop is there where is the people. And bishop providing education, always control the purity of the belief.
Elected pastors’ casual wear and their vestments shows their status in their community. Since they can only to call Mass without sacraments and rituals, they are holding temporary position between people and clergy. So, they wear casual clothes outside the church, black cassock with roman collar and preaching bands with stole inside the church. At the day of election his community lays hands on him, pray and wear the cassock and stole on him, which means the start of his way as a clergy. Within one year he should receive proper education and then to be ordained to deacon, then to priest.
Deacon is the first step of the ordained clergy. Outside the church he wearing white shirt with roman collar. Inside the church it’s white cassock with roman collar and preaching bands with deaconate stole. Deacon is usually temporary position. Deacon is ordained by bishop elected pastor who can assist to a priest, and prepare himself to become a priest.
Priest is the second step of the ordained clergy. Outside the church he wearing black shirt with roman collar. Inside the church it’s black cassock with roman collar and preaching bands with stole. Some priests also can wear clerical crucifix. Priest must be ordained by bishop from a deacon.
Provost is the priest but on the higher administrative position. Outside the church he wearing black shirt with roman collar and clerical crucifix. Inside the church it’s white cassock with roman collar and preaching bands with stole and clerical crucifix. Provost receiving blessings from bishop to receive his position.
Bishop is the third step of the ordained clergy. Outside the church he wearing red shirt with roman collar and crusifix. Inside the church it’s black cassock with roman collar and preaching bands with stole and clerical crusifix. Possible to wear mitre. Bishop can be ordained only by other 2 or 3 bishops.
Archbishop is a presiding bishop who are the main manager of the church. Archbihop wears a bishop’s ring.
