Does the pastor wear a tie to church?

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Here is a burning issue -- does the pastor of your church (it may be you!) wear a tie to church?

[Mark Metcalfe]

Here is a burning issue -- does the pastor of your church (it may be you!) wear a tie to church?

My pastor wears a tie; the associate staff members (2) do not (almost never).

[Monty Stewart]

A pastor on the Hawaiian Islands does not even wear a tie to weddings or funerals. It is great!:basic03

[John R. Williamson]

What's so wrong with a tie? I am on my way to a wedding and have one on now and it seems to be o.k.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

A pastor on the Hawaiian Islands does not even wear a tie to weddings or funerals. It is great!:basic03

Ha -- but it is obligatory that you wear one of those flowery shirts, right?

It's just as bad.:)

KIDDING!!

[Bruce Carriker]

My pastor is a woman. She never wears a tie. She does, however, wear a clerical collar.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

My pastor is a woman. She never wears a tie. She does, however, wear a clerical collar.

That's the second to the last option. :basic01

[Monty Stewart]

Ha -- but it is obligatory that you wear one of those flowery shirts, right?

It's just as bad.:)

KIDDING!!
You're right! And if it's a special thing like a wedding, there's the lei to add to it:fav18

[Jenny Mitchell]

Being female, I don't wear a tie - and I don't wear a clerical collar. I have, however, been known to wear something a little odd - the remote microphone on a leather cord around my neck. You see, remotes were designed with men in mind - they assume you wear either a belt or have pockets for the base, and many women's clothes have neither. So I would say that the well dressed female pastor wears a microphone!

[Barbara Moulton]

Being female, I don't wear a tie - and I don't wear a clerical collar. I have, however, been known to wear something a little odd - the remote microphone on a leather cord around my neck. You see, remotes were designed with men in mind - they assume you wear either a belt or have pockets for the base, and many women's clothes have neither. So I would say that the well dressed female pastor wears a microphone!

You are right there. I have that problem at one of the funeral homes with their remote mike.

I do wear a clerical collar when I do a funeral or wedding. No other time.

Our present church is pretty casual. Carl wears a tie during the winter months, not during the summer.

And I have been known to wear pants Horrors!

[Mark Bolerjack]

As a pastor, I would wear a coat every Sunday morning with either a tie or a mock turtle neck. Most Sunday evenings I would wear a shirt and tie, but not a coat. Other times, no tie.

As a staff person now, I will sometimes wear a coat, but often not. Most of the time on Sunday mornings I wear a tie, but sometimes not. All other times, no tie. Sometimes, even jeans with a nice shirt. Last Sunday, it was black jeans, white mock and a bright red sweater. We were not going home after service, so I wanted to be comfortable for the whole day.

When we go back into the pastorate, I probably will continue with what I do now.

[Jenny Mitchell]

Oh, pants - horrors! I'm so offended. LOL.

I bought some leather lacing cord - the clips on the remote work great on it, and it's sturdy enough that if I catch it on something, it doesn't break easily. I take it with me wherever I go to speak, just in case I need it. It's got to be about the ugliest necklace ever created, but it works.

[Michael B. Ross]

I once read the history of the Free Methodist Church. The "Free" in their denominational name refers mostly to their stand against the selling and buying of pews in the church. Seats in the sanctuary should be "free," at no cost.

They also began their denomination with an emphasis on "dressing down," as opposed to "dressing up." So, they intentionally dressed down in order to identify with and hopefully attract the poor and the common.

I have believed for many years that what a minister wears is not insignificant. There are settings and worship times in which a robe or a collar is most appropriate. In many situations, however, including Sun a.m. worship, the pastor's casual wear is appreciated as well as symbolic. I think many of us baby boomers appreciate a pastor's "dressing down."

Here is a burning issue -- does the pastor of your church (it may be you!) wear a tie to church?

[Paul Whitaker]

Interesting.

Why is it that most of the 'class' collegiate basketball programs have coaches and assistants who wear ties? Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Iowa... etc. It seems they want to be seen as "in the business of winning".

It seems the pastors want the people to feel more 'casual' so that's the way the pastors dress.

The fans at those basketball schools are VERY casual. Consider the Duke "crazies". The coaches' dress does not affect their choice of clothes.

It does bother me when the some pastors wear shirts that are not tucked in when the shirts were designed to be tucked in.

The most 'different' attire was the pastor who wore the shirt without tucking it in.. He had on a sport coat which did not cover the bottom of the shirt.

I know I'm getting old. I need to shut up.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Neckties are just traditional...serve no useful purpose whatsoever. Too bad it is a tradition that did not die long ago.

One campmeeting, years ago, the speaker was W.E. McCumber. The first service he walked to the platform without a tie. He announced that he arrived for the week and had forgotten to pack neckties. He then announced that he did not want anyone lending him ties or buying ties for him. We all laughed and he preached the entire week without a necktie on. I do not think anyone noticed.

Now, many of our evangelists at campmeeting are more casual. Even in airconditioning, a suit coat and tie are very warm on the platform. Some of them do not wear jackets, either.

Barb

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

The most 'different' attire was the pastor who wore the shirt without tucking it in.. He had on a sport coat which did not cover the bottom of the shirt.

I saw the same thing at a Gaither Homecoming concert. Some of the Gaither Vocal Band, the Booth Brothers, and maybe another group had members dressed like that. I didn't care whether they wore a tie or not, or whether they wore a sports coat or not, but to wear a dress shirt not tucked in with a sports coat just looked silly to me.

Then, Signature Sound Quartet comes on stage with their hair purposely messed up and wearing ties with great big knots - but only reaching the middle of their chest. They sang great, but their looks were very unprofessional in my opinion.

So, I guess I am out of touch with what is "cool" too.

[Carol Lombard]

Our former pastor sometimes wore a tie and sometimes (in the mornings on Sunday), would wear the turtle neck shirt under a suit jacket, which I thought was quite becoming. I like to see those on the platform dress nicely. I think pant suits - or something of the like for women are great - I don't like to see women in front on the platform with a skirt above the knee. But I go to church to worship God - not the pastor nor the worship team. I pray for those up front to present something to help me and others grow - or to awaken me on the inside. It's like the music - is it lifting up God? or is it lifting up the "I".

A thought - how is it people get dressed in their best for job interviews, for work, dinner engagements - but want to wear their sloppy clothes to worship?

[Walter Palmer]

our pastor wears a tie on sunday morning and to district meting where dresssed up and spiffy is "excected." but you ought to see the ties he wears. i challanged him onc eto wear ond of his sunday best ties to dist assem. he says "no way." hey we are only talking about loony toones or charley brown or some such character.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Tie Joke:

A fellow shows up for Sunday morning church, but the usher stops him. "Sorry, but we are trying to upgrade the church a bit, and the church board has a new policy that all men have to wear a tie."

The guy is angry, turns around and walks out the door. He is getting into his pickup talking to himself, "No tie -- who ever heard of having to wear a tie to go to church. I've been attending this church for years, now they won't let me in and I'm not going to let them get away with it."

He rummages around in the back of the truck and finds some jumper cables. He ties them around his neck and walks back into the church. Says to the usher, "So, how's that? Now I have something around my neck. Can I come in now."

The user looks at the jumper cables and says....







"Okay, just don't try to start anything."

[Charlene Clevenger]

Our pastor wears a suit and tie in the traditional service, then the goes in his office and changes into a denim shirt with the church logo above the pocket for the contemporary service. About a month ago he broke his arm. He found out the first Sunday that's it's difficult to tie a tie with a broken arm, so for a couple of weeks he wore a mock turtleneck. I guess he got the hang of it, because he's gone back to wearing ties.

[Charlene Clevenger]

Another tie joke (or, at least a cute story).

A little boy and his mother were sitting in church one Sunday morning. When the offering plate came by the boy took off his clip-on tie and put it in the offering plate.

"Why did you do that?" asked his mother.

The boy ansered, "The pastor said to give our ties and offerings."

[Cindi Hammons]

Our pastor wears a tie most of the time...even on Wednesdays. Occassionally he wears a collarless shirt (which looks good) or a sweater (but usually with a tie under). One time the platform was so hot that he removed his jacket. He jokingly said that he hoped nobody had a problem with that. Well, one octegenarian former pastor's wife in a loud stage whisper said that she thought it was terrible! He left off the jacket. So that some would get off his back, we even had to write a church policy that the pastor does not have to dress formal and can dress casual at church activities. He will not wear shorts...even to play ball...and only within the last 5 years started wearing jeans. I know this is in respect for the elders. If he never wore a tie again, it wouldn't hurt my feelings. Ties do not effect his sermons or make me listen better or make the whole room more spiritual.

It's too bad some folks are so tied up in such things! (pun intended)

Cindi H.

[Sharon Isley]

The pastor doesn't wear a tie...but the pastor's husband usually does. :)

[Gina Stevenson]

Our pastor wears a suit and tie in the traditional service, then the goes in his office and changes into a denim shirt with the church logo above the pocket for the contemporary service. About a month ago he broke his arm. He found out the first Sunday that's it's difficult to tie a tie with a broken arm, so for a couple of weeks he wore a mock turtleneck. I guess he got the hang of it, because he's gone back to wearing ties.

... or else his wife has learned how to tie ties, eh? ;)

[had to learn to tie them in HS, because the drill team wore them w/uniform]

[Hans Deventer]

The user looks at the jumper cables and says....

"Okay, just don't try to start anything."

LOL!

[Jon Twitchell]

I wear a suit & tie just about every Sunday morning. I wear jeans and a t-shirt just about every other day of the week. I wear a clerical collar when I do certain visiting - hospital, jail, families in crisis (or getting married) that I don't know as well.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Not trying to be critical or smart, but I really do wonder what the "no answer applies" are about. The responses range from "always wear" to "never wear" and include "woman not wearing."

The only reason I can think of for "no answer applies" would be that the person has no pastor.

Can anyone think of another legitimate reasons to say "none applies"?

[Mike Norris]

...We have two morning services.....the first one is contemporary in style....the second is more traditional . I dress casual in the first service ( obviously , no tie ). In the second....I wear a suit ( and a tie!!! ) .

[Donna Beukelman]

Very interesting and funny thread. Being in Arizona, wearing a tie to church is not even considered. When a snow bird visits wearing a tie or even a jacket without a tie, he stands out like a soar thumb.

I'm sure in some areas of the country, ties are the norm.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Very interesting and funny thread. Being in Arizona, wearing a tie to church is not even considered. When a snow bird visits wearing a tie or even a jacket without a tie, he stands out like a soar thumb.

I'm sure in some areas of the country, ties are the norm.

QUESTION: What do people wear to church?

You post made my mind wonder if people wore shorts in the hottest of temperatures.

Smiles,

[Gina Stevenson]

'Just had a memory pop up while reading this, Donna. When it actually got a bit cool sometimes in the winter out there, Danny would dress up ... tie included, sometimes.

However, in the summer, he would just as likely look like he was living in Hawaii ... thinking of this one particular shirt I really liked. ;)

~~~ former desert-dweller, missing the Arizona weather here in Michigan!

Very interesting and funny thread. Being in Arizona, wearing a tie to church is not even considered. When a snow bird visits wearing a tie or even a jacket without a tie, he stands out like a soar thumb.

I'm sure in some areas of the country, ties are the norm.

[Cindi Hammons]

I looked around the sanctuary this morning. We had a fairly small crowd...maybe around 100. The pastor had on a tie, the worship leader had on a tie and the "head" usher had on a tie. Most of the other guys had on sweaters, sweatshirts, long-sleeved tee-shirts or polo shirts. No women had on a tie.:basic03

I wore tennis shoes.

Cindi H. who played the keyboard this morning wearing white Keds.

[Donna Beukelman]

[QUOTE=Edith S. Thurmond]QUESTION: What do people wear to church?

You post made my mind wonder if people wore shorts in the hottest of temperatures.

Edith...Absolutely!!! In Phoenix it is HOT! Lots of men wear shorts (some year round), and fewer women also wear shorts. People wear what they feel comfortable in to worship. Some more business dress, some very very casual.

Donna

[Stan Hall]

Our pastor almost always wears a tie on Sunday mornings. Sometimes on Sunday or Wednesday evenings, but often more casual for the evening services. I also wear a suit and tie on Sunday mornings but he and I are about the only ones who do.

[Wesley Smith]

I quit wearing ties to church several years ago. My motivation for quitting had a lot to do with trying to make non-church-type-folks feel more comfortable. In that attempt, I found that I raised a lot of attitudes on the parts of died-in-the-wool, long-term Nazarenes. Two birds with one stone! These days...sporty casual...describes the way I dress and the way I like my staff and lay leaders to dress.

Friend,

Wes

PS. I do wear a suit and tie to most funerals, leading to my statement to my people...you don't want to see me in a suit. It probably means you are very, very sick!