What if ministers dressed like P.E. teachers?
My friend and ministry colleague Tiff Austin posted this little musing on Facebook recently and I think it deserves a repeat:
The beauty of this is how she phrased it. It’s not about what ministers wear. It’s about how people would perceive the church differently.
Thoughts?
P.S. Speaking of clothes and expectations…I also came across this nugget of absurdity on a church website. It’s a description of what Sunday Morning is like at the church. I’m not telling you the church or location, but you know who you are… (And we wonder why people find the church unwelcoming and out of touch?)
Really?
I am guessing that you dressed up somewhat for the last wedding or funeral you attended. Were you “out of touch”? Then why did you do it? Because you felt the weight of the occasion. Someone getting married or dying is temporary and a vapor in comparison with coming into the presence of the living God who self-identifies as a consuming fire.
(For full disclosure) I don’t attend a church where everyone dresses up. However, for you to question the sincerity of those people’s dress who do is just as prejudicial and close-minded as they would be to judge yours. By the way, statistically the churches who take God’s worship more casually have a far higher turnover/burnout rate than those who dress up.
Oh, one more thing. Why the fancy stained-glass window as the header of your blog? Why not McDonalds arches or the stained urinal of a public restroom or a mechanic’s workbench with a half-naked girl on his calendar? Because exteriors matter. Is wearing khakis more important than a heart inclined to serve God? Not even close. But exteriors matter as you know by even the header you chose.
Thanks for your comments, Thomas. Nice to hear from you again — those TCU days were 15 yrs ago!
I agree with you, that “exteriors matter,” which is why I re-posted this great thought. I’m not trying to judge what pastors wear. I am wondering how people might view the church differently if we expected our pastors to dress differently.
Our culture tends to equate suits and ties (and golf shirts, pantsuits, heels) with power, wealth and success. And yet our churches preach a Jesus who sides with the the poor and overlooked. There’s a cognitive dissonance there.
Geez Matt, what horrible deed did you do to Thomas at TCU to provoke such an impassioned and unforgiving response 15 years later.
Anyways, I find this to be an intriguing thought. I envy traditions that have a “work uniforms.” For examples, many Mainline Protestant and Catholics wear the collars, and I see a lot of Disciples in their academic robes. I like the idea of a “work uniform” by those uniforms have a lot of baggage that I don’t suspect will be helpful in serving a new generation. Vice versa, I don’t think the answer is cultural camouflage. Don’t dress like a farmer if you aren’t a farmer, Don’t dress like a mailman if you aren’t a mail man. Don’t dress like a …… well, you get the point.
What is it that the pastor does? Then what should the look be to match the purpose? Rob Bell is a great dresser. He had knowledge that was artistic, a spice to life kind of knowledge, and he dressed accordingly.
With that said, improving conditions for the poor takes money. It doesn’t take “stupid money.” That is to say, economic development in a neighborhood isn’t something that any third grader could do with their parents check book. It’s takes “smart money.” Educated, experienced professionals to strategically invest in Christian ways that help the poor. Many times these professionals have a work uniform that is a suit and tie.
The piece you cited was not what what was casual or serious- it is what do we believe about the Incarnation. If Jesus really pitched tent with a mechanic would he wear a suit from Jos. A. Bank? Or a shirt with his name above the pocket “Jesus.” What does it mean to incarnate with the custom and cultural habits of people the way that Jesus did- language, dress, music, etc?
Churches that “dress up” having a lower burn out rate have never met the United Methodist or Episcopal Church. I am sure there are some gathered pools of PCA and Anglican Churches that do- but that is a remnant of what once was, not people engaging culture and hanging out at the laundry mat for Jesus.