At Providence the elders wear white robes. This is a shift from the traditional Calvinist black robes used by pastors for hundreds of years. Why the change to white robes? Paquier summarizes well our sentiments:
The Genevan gown, this anti-liturgical, secular vestment, which appears in the color of the shades of darkness, this clothing which is comparable to the sack cloth and ashes of mourning in the old covenant, is the negation of the right of the church to rejoice and be consoled in the presence of the heavenly Bridegroom. Perhaps for the synagogue, in its tribulation, to wear such a vestment would be the normal thing. But in modern Protestantism it is a depressing sign that we are not more aware of the nuptial joy of the Eucharist and that we do not believe in the victorious struggle Christ led against the world (Dynamics of Worship, p. 138).
Uri — The REs, too, or just the TEs?
Ah, good question. Since I am not in the PCA any longer, this question would not apply, but I’d say only TE’s as they are fully invested in the work of the church and fully paid by the church. Exceptions, of course, may arise. For instance, Jim Jordan is ordained, but he no longer pastor, so he only wears the robe when he preaches at Providence. However, in our case, since Providence’s constitution is a two-office constitution, then all elders must wear the robe.