Guest Author: Cowboy Hats or Roman Birettas? Reforming Academic Habits
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It seems that some people are concerned about our new habit of wearing cowboy hats during academic ceremonies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The complaint is that wearing a cowboy hat is somehow undignified and inappropriate.
Please realize that the mortarboard that most modern academics wear as a hat actually derives from the medieval Roman Catholic priesthood. You see, in the Middle Ages, every university student was also a cleric, in the lower orders of the Roman priesthood. The biretta/mortarboard identified one as part of the lower Roman clergy, and the birettas became more colorful as one rose higher in ecclesiastical rank (for instance, purple for bishops, scarlet for cardinals).
Please realize that the long colorful cowls that we wear over our robes are actually hats, too. Yes, the cowl and the robe with the long sleeves were originally part of a monk’s habit. You see, in the Middle Ages, not only was every university student a cleric, but most were simultaneously under monastic vows. The cowl was used to cover one’s head in the cold and damp weather in Europe, and the long sleeves were handy for carrying such things as writing paraphernalia and one’s lunch.
Now, honestly, what is more relevant and dignified in a Texas free church setting: A cowboy’s hat, reflecting our ministry to and identification with our people? Or, a priest’s biretta, indicating we are ontologically superior to our people? Is it not part of our Baptist Reformation heritage to alter mere trappings as we see fit? We are neither in Roman orders nor under Roman custom. We are Southern Baptists, and as free churchmen, we are free to reform our customs and habits as we deem fit.
We are Southern Baptists in Modern Texas, not Roman Catholics in Medieval Europe, and we will wear common cowboy hats rather than exalted sacerdotal birettas, in honor of our great free churches and in order to identify with our great people.
In Christ,
Malcolm Yarnell
51 Comments
January 17th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Malcolm,
Why don’t you guys just wear baseball caps in honor of our great American pass time? We both know “you ain’t no cowboy.”
You could also serve apple pie and drive chevys in the parade.
Just raggin’ on you, brother. You guys just wear what you want. Just teach them to preach the Truth in season and out.
cb
January 17th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Malcolm,
One more thing,
Tell those boys;
VOTE HUCKABEE, FIGHT ABORTION.
cb
January 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Malcolm,
I read about this on the Dallas Morning News religion section. Who would really care? I really enjoyed the history lesson and it makes me think maybe we as Baptists should completely shake off the cloak of Rome altogether (literally).
It seems strange to me that anyone would really be interested in what ya’ll wear. It would appear to be people who are more concerned with external and temporal rather than internal and eternal. What difference does a hat make?
Blessings,
Ron P.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:05 am
i think yall should wear overalls instead of robes as well.
david
January 17th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Dr. Yarnell,
I agree with Brother Ron P. You have certainly set the record as we see what this regalia all means.
Blessings,
Tim
January 17th, 2008 at 11:21 am
The connection may be with a lost culture. I didn’t see the article, but would venture to say a “cowboy” or western section of the population would be interested. And if we can do away with some tradition, is that a bad thing?
I think not.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Perhaps I missed something . . . being that we are indeed a free people (hallelujah!) is the President of SWBTS requiring his faculty to wear the aforementioned cowboy hats? What if you wanted to test the waters of freedom and refuse to wear a cowboy hat? Required, and that may be written or unwritten. Just wondering. Thanks.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Malcolm,
Having spent some time in Texas (SWBTS ‘99), I think it’s great that you guys are doing something indigenous to the culture.
Les
January 17th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Brother Heath,
I do not believe that Dr. Yarnell is advocating an individualistic type of freedom (individuals are free to do whatever they desire regardless) but is advocating a freedom on an organization.
Blessings,
Tim
January 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I fear you are missing the glaringly obvious difficulty that cowboy hats are extremely parochial and no more relevant to the rest of the world than a bunad or tracht. The reason academia uses Medieval costume is because that was the source of contemporary western academicia of which SWBTS is allegedly a part.
Cowboy hats suggest the Seminary has no meaning beyond Texas; when I studied there as an overseas student I would have been horrified at this idea.
Oh, and after Mr Yarnell’s limited history lesson, you might like to look up the rather more definite associations of the word ‘Seminary’.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Dr. Yarnell,
Does the wearing of black felt cowboy hats deny the sufficiency of Scripture? Since this is not included in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, should we first have a vote of the SBC messengers on this matter?
I always heard the graduates wear square hats so they could not wear them backwards during graduation.
Seriously, I enjoyed your article. It is good to hear from you. Either way is fine with me.
Sincerely,
David R. Brumbelow
January 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
When I was seventeen, I wore a cowboy hat to a rodeo in Pecos, Texas…..does that count? It seemed to make me appear taller. (little man complex)
Sometimes traditions are not all that bad though.
Interesting post,
Chris
January 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Good idea… my daughter and son in law aren’t going to their graduations because they can’t afford the $600 to hire the gownsand mortar boards.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
What does it matter if they wear cowboy hats or not? I do not think you have to give an apology for the wearing of cowboy hats Dr. Yarnell. Even if I thought it was silly, it would not matter.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
As a SWBTS graduate and a 6th generation Texan, I was embarrassed by the wearing of cowboy hats. It was nothing more than a publicity stunt, in my opinion.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I think if the faculty were forced to wear cowboy hats then that is tacky and embarrassing. I’m sure not all faculty are Texans and certainly most or none are cowboys. I think eschewing traditional regalia because it is too Roman Catholic borders on the ridiculous. When will the SBC realize that our identity is not defined by being “not Catholic”. And are cowboys; real cowboys, taken as a whole throughout history, morally and theologically superior to Roman Catholics?
That said, if the majority of the faculty simply thought it was a good idea, I’d say go for it. But honestly the reasoning I’ve heard seems faulty.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I started typing a few comments, but it kind of grew out of control, some I’ve placed them on my blog:
http://walkingtogether.typepad.com/walking_together/
Here’s the last bit of my own thoughts, such as they are:
Here’s the deal: traditional academic dress, which pretty much every high school in North America displays in their graduation ceremonies, which pretty much every college uses in their commencement ceremonies, which probably the majority of Southwestern students (I know nothing of what students from other cultures outside of the U.S. wear at their ceremonies…but I’m going to bet that there too it’s not cowboy hats) and Southern Baptists in general are accustomed to, used to, and associate with such events, is much more relevant than cowboy hats.
Let’s just call this what it is: “Don’t Mess With Texas” run amuck in what used to be the world’s largest Southern Baptist seminary.
Not that I really care…
January 18th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I graduated in Italy. In a room of the University of Genova a commission of professors said to me: “your exams are good [enough]. Your thesis is good. You are graduated in physics. Dismissed.” That was all. I have see those graduation ceremonies with colourful gowns and hats only at the movies. Be sure, they are typically American, al least Anglo-Saxon.
But if you want to get rid of all these RC things, why not start with the ‘Gregorian’ calendar? The Eastern Orthodox Churches do. In fact, the RC pope Gregory XIII, for whom it was named, introduced this caledar on 24 February 1582 by papal bull Inter gravissimas.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Like it or not, the Catholic Church built Western Civilization.
Just chuck it off the chuckwagon, boys.
Yeehaw.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Where is a cowboy hat mentioned in sacred scripture?
For that matter, Texas isn’t mentioned either. Get rid of both as contrary to scripture and the mere inventions of fallen man.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
To All,
It seems this comment stream is heading in a direction that seems to miss the point of Dr. Yarnell’s post. The point of the post was to give a historical background to the practice, in order to remind people that as a free church institution one did not have to follow historical protocol. Some have gone to graduation exercises, which the hat wearing is not even spoken about. We are speaking about a convocation that is beginning the 100th celebration year. This seminary is closely associated with Texas. Therefore, I really do not have an issue with this practice during the convocation.
Blessings,
Tim
January 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Unfortunately, when one “frees” oneself from historical protocol, the substitution is often silly.
Sacred events, such as graduation, should never be silly.
“There is a world of difference between being a fool for Christ, and just plain being foolish.”
January 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
“free church institution”, interesting. Remember there is only one Church and it can be recognized by its four signs; One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
Will Baptists stop being Christians when they realize how the books of the New Testament were chosen?
January 18th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Derrick,
Did you mean to say Catholic or catholic? There is a huge difference.
Blessings,
Chris
January 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Tim, actually the comments are a perfect reflection of Dr. Yarnell’s comments (and Mike captured it perfectly): they are simply illogical and intellectually shallow.
While you’re at it, you should simply ditch the whole idea of a seminary or university–another Romish invention!!
As Luther himself said, “Reason is the devil’s whore,” and it “must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed.”
January 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Chris,
It is catholic.
Cowboy Hats V. Roman Birettas.
Very interesting conversation.
Why 27 books in the New Testament and not 127?
January 18th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Would SWBTS graduates be more interested in being identifies with Jesus or Texas? Perhaps graduates should ditch the hats altogether . . . or would they rather wear the only “hat” we see Jesus having worn in scripture, i.e. the crown of thorns?
This is silly.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
As someone who was undoubtedly Protestant once said, “all hat, no cattle.”
January 18th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Thanks Derrick,
I thought that was what you meant….
Malcolm,
….seems you kind of opened a can of worms on this one. You guys better be careful, you might get labeled as liberal
This hat thing is kind of like wearing high heels to play basketball…. I guess it can be done, but sneakers probably are more traditional and give more value in the turns. Fortunately, the decision on this one does not have heavenly ramifications.
Back to the Rodeo,
Chris
January 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
yeeeeeeeeeehaw! it’d be great to see dr. patterson ride into the ceremony on a white horse.
i’m all for the grads wearing overalls.
david
January 18th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
The Outpost fascination with the cowboy hat thing was ridiculous.
Dr. Yarnell’s apparent belief that their fascination needed a “response” is here, equally ridiculous.
As a Missions Professor who has participated in convocations and graduations wearing my regalia, my only question in the midst of this is . . .
WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?!?
More than 900,000 people have gone into eternity without Christ in the past week, and we are taking sides and wasting time declaring “positions” about cowboy hats?
This whole conversation is a microcosm of all that is wrong with us.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Being a cowboy myself leads me to say go ahead. I would much rather be able to wear my hat then those stiff and unsightly mortarboard hats. Maybe I can wear one when I graduate in May.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
just as a bit of further amusement, did y’all know that the new cardinal of the Southwest, the Cardinal Daniel Dinardo of Galveston Houston was given a Cowboy hat biretta as an elevation present? and no, I’m not kidding. Kind of ironic given the university switch, to escape papism the university adopts cowboy hats, but the papists have already done so
January 18th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
So, this isn’t a joke? They really did this? Just where do you put a tassel on a Stetson?
Mamas, don’t let your babies go up to be Baptists . . .
January 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Brother Joel,
You said; “WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?!?” If that is the case, why so many comments?
It does appear that many are doing all they can to paint Dr. Patterson as some illogical demagogue that should not be in the position he holds.
If the cowboy hats are a non-issue, why are so many making such an issue out of it? Dr. Yarnell merely points out the historical evidence behind the current head gear.
Also, as a missions professor, isn’t there something about indigenous ministry that is affirmed here? It seems that those who are calling for doing ministry in an indigenous manner, one that is traditional in most approaches does something like this and is regarded as pulling a “publicity stunt.”
Blessings,
Tim
January 19th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Wow. That’s funny. I’m actually not sure what I find more entertaining that A) the seminary does this, B) there is articulated position about it, or C) that it is because it’s too Catholic. I feel like we’ve gone back in time a couple hundred years with those kind of claims.
I can understand, in an odd sort of way, the Seminary’s desire to reflect local culture/custom but it is rather odd to do so at the sake of general academic culture and custom (or perhaps it is simply a reflection on the role of the academy within the seminary). Furthermore, cowboy hats? Only in Texas… and that’s why I’ll never move to Texas.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
IIawhsoj,
I no longer live in Texas,…but in all actuality “Cowboy Hats” are very practical tools. Now that might be an interesting study. The real and practical use of Cowboy Hats.
Blessings,
Chris
January 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Cowboy hats are passe. Here’s the new trend.
http://sbctoday.com/2008/01/17/guest-author-cowboy-hats-or-roman-birettas-reforming-academic-habits/
January 19th, 2008 at 11:57 am
New trend is actually here. Sorry.
http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/archives/008633.php
January 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
All sides to this issue need to remember the main thing. That the Word of God, missions, evangelism, church history, music, pastoral ministry are faithfully taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They are sending ministers around the world. And all SWBTS professors believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. That is a great thing no matter what you wear on your head.
I do have one final question. What field of study should have rattlesnake hatbands?
David R. Brumbelow
January 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Domenico,
I thought an Italian institution would be a little more traditional than you described. At my alma mater, the University of Oxford, it’s all about the tradition. The graduation ceremony is about 1.5 hours long, and conducted almost entirely in Latin. There’s even a wardrobe change for the graduands, and not a cowboy hat in sight. In a country that has gone through several periods of anti-papist fervor (burning people at the stake or hanging them is pretty fervent), I think Oxford of all places would have been among the first to cut ties with papist traditions. It’s pretty hard to cut ties, however, with Western Culture, despite what you think about ancient Greece and Rome.
Peace out,
Wayne
January 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
You are doing something that reflects the culture of the school, and innovation is always a part of academic dress. At Berkeley, my alma mater, we generally follow the American adaptation of British academic dress. I think our Oxfordian friend is right, of course, but a little lunacy is always appropriate in academia. Besides, who knows more about Western culture than Texas Baptists! Ain’t a rodeo within 1000 miles of Oxford.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:37 am
Tim,
Sorry for the delay. It’s been a busy weekend.
You simulutaneously miss, and make, my point. I’m not taking sides in this debate, simply lamenting that it is taking place at all. It is absolutely silly to “attack” the seminary, or P.P. on this issue. On that point you and I are in agreement. Perhaps I should re-word my question to “WHO SHOULD CARE?!?!?!?!?”
At the same time, it is equally silly to “defend” the seminary/P.P. on this issue. For one thing, cowboy hats are not “indigenous” to any academic environment, even if that environment is in Texas. And honestly, is Malcolm actually contending that all this is about a reaction to the “Catholicity” of academic regalia?
Let SWBTS wear cowboy hats, or turbins for all I care. My earlier lamentation was due to the fact that in a global environment where nearly 1 million people die and go to hell every week, the denomination with the largest missionary force is staking out “positions” and posturing over cowboy hats. It seems like whatever the issue, you guys are going to stand with Yarnell and some other guys are going to stand with Ben Cole. Meanwhile, it is likely that the majority of Southern Baptists who are even aware of this silliness are looking at both sides saying “what is wrong with you people?” At least, that is my current attitude.
If you don’t find that fact to be silly, ridiculous, and a total waste of time on BOTH sides, I”m not sure what else there is to say.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
This discussion is important because every time Christians do silly things, we alienate large segments of the population who might otherwise be more open to the Gospel.
Western Culture is important because, at its best, it reflects the truth, goodness and beauty of the Creator.
We are called to wisdom.
We were commanded to love God with all of our minds.
We were not commanded to lose our minds in ten-gallon hats, or otherwise.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
To ‘Dominus Illuminatio Mea’
Unfortunately there is some sloppiness in graduation here in Italy, mainly because of the heavy influence of ‘1968′ and also because of an overreaction to the uniforms imposed by Fascism in the past.
My point was that gowns and hats are simply part of today customs. I must say that at the University of Oxford they can be traced back to the foundation’s times. In more recent Universities they are just colourful celebrations of young people, I am sure, unaware of any historical link.
I would like also to say that referring the label ‘Catholic’, intending RC, to the medieval customs is anachronistic in some way. At that times, there was one only Latin Church, at least formally, and Catholic means simply universal, and for this reason perhaps implying also orthodoxy.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Brother Joel,
I believe if you re-read Dr. Yarnell’s post he doesn’t really “stake out” a position for Cowboy hats as much as he give historical evidence as to the reasons for the regalia. I do not believe he is putting down the catholic background of the regalia as much as he is offering a definition as to the reason for openness in wearing cowboy hats instead of mortar boards.
I agree that it is plain silly to be in the discussion in the first place. However, this silliness did not begin here, this is just a response to the absolute childishness of putting down everything SWBTS and Dr. Patterson. After awhile even water that drips in the nostril will drive one crazy.
Blessings,
Tim
January 21st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I don’t think SWBTS or Dr. Patterson can claim martyrdom on this issue.
They did something stupid. This affects the whole church, because of the media attention.
It’s not time to dig in your heels. It’s time to take off the cowboy boots (and hats) and act like well-educated Christians.
Sophistication may be the most ignored evangelistic tool today.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 am
Now there will be a “hat” war among the SBC seminaries: cowboy hats at Southwestern, coon skin hats at Southeastern, St. Louis Cardinals hats at Midwestern, cut-out basketballs worn for hats at Southern, just Mardi Gras beads down in New Orleans, and at west at Golden Gate…maybe they will shed all the clothes and reconnect with the summer of love!
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
mike,
i dont give two flips about sophistication. why should we be concerned with sophistication? and, do you really think that being sophisticated will result in winning more people to the Lord?
david
January 27th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I am shocked, shocked, to discover that those wearing cowboy hats at a graduation don’t give “two flips about sophistication.”
July 29th, 2008 at 8:25 am
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