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 Does it Matter How the Preacher Dresses? (L) |
Old Time Country Preacher |
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Mat |
I read the article a about a week ago and it brought to mind that the concept of a religious uniform is alive and well. The "code" is not a standardization nationally look, rather it is a regional and faith tradition based.
Here in Charleston, SC, the clerical collar shirt is very prevalent, and in some ways expected. For church services the full "regalia" (robes, collar and cross) is in use by many denomination. The collar and suit for formal setting outside the church, and for daily wear the collar shirt, khaki pants and deck shoes (no socks). The type of collar matters, with the full white collar on a black (or color) shirt being used by churches such as Anglicans, AME, and other non-Catholic formal churches, and many independent African-American churches. The white tab collar is more the province of the Catholic church, but you do see it across the board on special occasions.
Suits are big with Baptist, Methodist and mainline Pentecostals, and always acceptable in the community and civic setting.
The Hawaii shirt and jeans or khaki uniform of so many ministers across the country today, is found, as is the t-shirt, shorts and sandal uniform of the non-conformist, who of course are conforming to their role models.
The business casual look is very acceptable these days, with a sport coat added for more formal events.
Judging by the effectiveness of preaching the Gospel in this area, perhaps the John the Baptist/Elijah uniform is need to standout. However, with the heat and humidity around here the camel skin and leather would be a problem, especially when you go to the beach.
Mat
PS Don't get me started on the "cowboy boots and camouflage" uniform wearing pastors. |
Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1994
3/16/16 7:30 am
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bonnie knox |
| I tried to follow the logic of the comparison to newscasters. He noted male newscasters, but I wonder if he thinks female preachers should dress like the female newscasters? |
[Insert Acts Pun Here]
Posts: 14803
3/16/16 7:35 am
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diakoneo |
| I think anything can be overdone. The idea of dialing it up, to me is the main point. Seems that in our push to be "relevant" dialing down(way down) dress really doesn't make sense. In the push to be relevant by dress some have mistakenly made what we wear the issue, rather than finished work of Christ. |
Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere
Posts: 3382
3/16/16 8:33 am
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Patrick Harris |
I don't think there is a hard fast rule or a one size fits all.
A couple of times a year I get to speak at my friends church in NC on Sunday morning and I typically dress up; dress pants, dress shirt, suit jacket. It's what they are used to seeing each week from their pastor.
However, if I were to speak at my own church, it would probably be in jeans and a shirt with everyday shoes. They are used to my pastor wearing a shirt and jeans every week. He's a great communicator though, so no one is probably focusing on what he wears as much as his message. |
Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1323
3/16/16 12:58 pm
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c6thplayer1 |
| Yes. they should dress in a respectable manner. I remember going to a church once when a new pastor was being introduced by the organization. A lot of great things said about him. Then he walked up on the stage with his shirt tail half out on one side. Cant remember if he had a tie on but I do remember he looked like a total slob. |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
3/16/16 2:41 pm
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Old Time Country Preacher |
| c6thplayer1 wrote: | | Yes. they should dress in a respectable manner. I remember going to a church once when a new pastor was being introduced by the organization. A lot of great things said about him. Then he walked up on the stage with his shirt tail half out on one side. Cant remember if he had a tie on but I do remember he looked like a total slob. |
I agree, C, some a the dress down gang look slobbish. I got no problem with casual, business casual or business professional, but the hip hop look what's been slept in fer three days is ridiculous fer a man a God. |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 15570
3/16/16 4:27 pm
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Cojak |
From a personal viewpoint Yes, I like to see a minister dress-up some. No tie is okay with me, but I like neat sports clothes if not a suit.
When I was a real pastor I always wore a suit and tie on Sunday AM. The other services it was sports clothes.
That is only a personal opinion. What ever works to keep folks in church is fine with me. At least in church they can hear the WORD. 
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jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/ |
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Posts: 24285
3/16/16 9:19 pm
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Old Time Country Preacher |
| Tom Sterbens wrote: | | I have always been fascinated with the note that the 24 elders around the throne are largely transparent in the function of worship - that is, you hear them but don't really see them |
But I bet ever one a the 24 had on a two piece suit, white dress shirt an matching necktie. |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 15570
3/17/16 12:48 am
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| Mississippi River Rule |
famousflavius |
| East of the Mississippi River the dress code is more traditional. The farther West you go, the more relaxed the dress code gets. By the time you get to Hawaii, you can wear flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt. |
Golf Cart Mafia Soldier
Posts: 2447
3/17/16 8:43 am
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Link |
| bonnie knox wrote: | | I tried to follow the logic of the comparison to newscasters. He noted male newscasters, but I wonder if he thinks female preachers should dress like the female newscasters? |
If preachers dress like newscasters, should they wear a suit coat and tie and a pair of shorts? I hear some newscasters have done that.
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Acts-perienced Poster
Posts: 11849
3/17/16 9:53 am
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Link |
Any time I've preached or taught at church or on community television in recent years I've probably been wearing an aloha shirt or something that would pass for it. Some of the liturgical churches and traditional Protestant churches have vestments in Hawaii. But it seems like most Pentecostal pastors wear aloha shirts and things like that. The Filippinos would wear suits or sports coats with slacks and ties and really dress up. Samoans dress up but the men wear something that looks like a skirt.
Did Jesus wear a suit? Did we wear the cultural equivalent? He apparently had a nice robe. How were his disciples dressed? Do we really think they 'dressed to impress?' When Paul washed up on a shore somewhere after being shipwrecked, was he 'dressed to impress.'
John the Baptists wanted the one with two cloaks to give one to him who had none. Neither one would end up with a special cloak to wear only to religious meetings if that were the case.
The only passage I can think of that really relates to the topic is the one that would rebuke followers of Jesus who would despise a poor man who comes into a meeting in vile raiment.
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Acts-perienced Poster
Posts: 11849
3/17/16 10:08 am
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Cojak |
Culture and up-bringing will fit in somewhere. It is unavoidable.
Some wonderful Christians, lumbermen and farmers attend a country COG at Nealsville, NC(probably many other places). You would insult these people if you were to show up in torn jeans and a t-shirt to minister. Just thinking out loud. 
_________________
Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/ |
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Posts: 24285
3/17/16 2:06 pm
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Eddie Robbins |
| I remember my Dad talking to my Mom about wearing a colored shirt instead of a white one. It was a pretty big deal in the early 60s. |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 16509
3/17/16 3:09 pm
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Nature Boy Florida |
Why do preachers where jeans in the pulpit?
Most jobs above minimum wage don't allow jeans - and the reason is it doesn't look very professional - so why did that become the hip preacher standard?
Because the Christian artists all wear jeans?
Why isn't business casual the standard?
If you wanted to look like the minimum wage guys - put on a garbage collectors jump suit or something. Or a McDonalds uniform.
Why jeans?
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Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going today! |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 16646
3/17/16 3:27 pm
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Patrick Harris |
| Nature Boy Florida wrote: | Why do preachers where jeans in the pulpit?
Most jobs above minimum wage don't allow jeans - and the reason is it doesn't look very professional - so why did that become the hip preacher standard?
Because the Christian artists all wear jeans?
Why isn't business casual the standard?
If you wanted to look like the minimum wage guys - put on a garbage collectors jump suit or something. Or a McDonalds uniform.
Why jeans? |
First we don't have a pulpit, we meet in a converted office building.
On any given Sunday out of the 400 that attend 390 of them are wearing jeans. It's the normal wear for the group that gathers with us each Sunday.
The pastor wears jeans and a shirt but their just plain ole jeans not fancy or designer.
Our church tells people don't worry about what you are wearing just get dressed and come to church. Seems to work, we're growing by leaps and bounds and people are being baptized every other week.
So why jeans, probably because it helps to alleviate some of the fears of people who wouldn't normally come to church about what to wear.
As far as wearing jeans to work, that may have been true a few years ago but not today. I worked for a Fortune 500 company and jeans were acceptable wear, even for managers. |
Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1323
3/17/16 3:48 pm
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Old Time Country Preacher |
| Nature Boy Florida wrote: | | Why do preachers where jeans in the pulpit?...If you wanted to look like the minimum wage guys - put on a garbage collectors jump suit |
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Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 15570
3/17/16 4:00 pm
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Nature Boy Florida |
Thanks Patrick.
The warehouse meeting room makes it make sense
And - Nothing wrong with jeans in its place
However,
I also work for a fortune 500 company.
We have casual Fridays - where jeans are encouraged - but they are discouraged other days - although not banned.
Whatever happened to dress for success?
Should our preachers wear middle of the road attire - instead of jeans?
Or does church once again become disconnected from real life because church it is so casual but real life is a little more formal...and the preachers in jeans are just as out of touch as when they put on leisure seats to be cool. Those preachers thought they were "with it" too.
Not dogmatic on this - just mostly curious - why was jeans decided on?
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Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going today! |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 16646
3/17/16 4:03 pm
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georgiapath |
| Nature Boy Florida wrote: | Why do preachers where jeans in the pulpit?
Most jobs above minimum wage don't allow jeans - and the reason is it doesn't look very professional - so why did that become the hip preacher standard?
Because the Christian artists all wear jeans?
Why isn't business casual the standard?
If you wanted to look like the minimum wage guys - put on a garbage collectors jump suit or something. Or a McDonalds uniform.
Why jeans? |
Or worse yet, jeans with a suit coat. |
Acts-dicted
Posts: 7604
3/18/16 9:24 am
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| Does your congregation care how you dress? |
Ernie Long |
I didn't read the article, but from reading the comments of others it seems we are wearing what the world expects us to wear.
On Sundays I wear a suit with tie. My congregation wears whatever they roll with... jeans, dresses (women), and in the summer some wear shorts (men). From their comments to me on Sundays, it makes them feel good that they see me wear a suit.
My thoughts is wear what will represent the one I am sent to represent without my clothes bringing attention to myself. I am bringing the word of God to a people that are tempted everyday, who feel they fail in some way or another and need to hear that our savior loves them and is with them in all things.
I think of an attorney in a court room. The client doesn't care what they wear, but cares about the words he speaks. |
Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1050
3/18/16 11:00 am
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