For Ortonville resident Jim McGuire, dressing for his position as greeter at the Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene means sporting a short sleeve shirt and a pair of suspenders.
However, McGuire did not always dress so casually on Sunday mornings.
‘I used to be a sportcoat, dress shirt and tie guy,? recalls McGuire.
But one day, McGuire heard some of his fellow church members commenting about the way a member of the congregation came dressed each week for the service, wearing a string tie and more casual clothes. The conversation was held loudly enough for the both the man and McGuire to overhear, and implied the man was less of a Christian for dressing as he did at church.
At that moment, said McGuire, he decided to wear suspenders to church if he felt like it, as a statement that the clothes on one’s back reflect little about the intentions in one’s heart.
‘When people think in terms of dress, they’ve lost the meaning of it,? said McGuire.
McGuire is not the only one who is no longer bowing to the idea of putting on one’s ‘Sunday Best.?
Moreover, many area church officials say they are just glad to have people attend, regardless of how they are dressed.
‘We have an approach of ‘come as you are?,? said Karl Zeigler of the Goodrich United Methodist Church, 8071 M-15 in Goodrich.
And while Zeigler acknowledges some members still prefer a more traditional style of dress, he finds the change to be more an issue of culture than respect.
‘It does represent a significant change in dress from a quarter of a century ago,? said Zeigler. ‘I think it’s generally culture that has changed. We dress more casually at work, and schools are more casual.?
Sister Joan May, of St. Mark’s, 7296 S. Gale Road in Goodrich, agreed.
‘I think we all dress down now,? said May, adding that, regardless of dress, ‘I’m happy they’re here.?
Pastor Debbie Line of Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, 3050 S. Sashabaw Road in Brandon Township echoed comments on the changing nature of society, but said she still dresses up for church’a habit she developed growing up.
As a child, ‘I never went to church without a dress and patent leather shoes,? recalls Line. ‘We dressed well to go to church because we believed how we dress impacts how we act. I still try to dress in what I feel is appropriate to come to church.?
However, Line stressed she in no way has a dress code for her congregation. In fact, said Line, some of the most passionate members of the congregation, the church youth, often come dressed in blue jeans.
‘Their blue jeans and t-shirts are much more welcome than not having them here,? said Line. ‘Come however you are, I want you here. They don’t love the Lord any less because they have blue jeans on. They absolutely don’t. I want the heart things to matter.?
Some, like Pastor Dave Gerber of Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene, feel the casual atmosphere of a church can encourage people to be as much themselves inside the church as outside.
‘Clothing says so much about the individual,? says Gerber. ‘You can’t judge a person by their clothing. I invite everybody to church and if they say, ‘I don’t have any church clothes,? I say, ‘Honest, you’ll feel comfortable.? We just try to be welcoming.?
Pastor Mark Wentzel of Atlas Community Baptist Church, 9430 Perry Road in Goodrich, said his congregation also strives for an atmosphere of acceptance.
‘We’re not trying to create a feeling where you have to be a certain way, dress a certain way, to belong,? said Wentzel. ‘It’s a very open, welcome atmosphere.?
‘I think on any given Sunday, we may have one or two people out of 500 in a suit,? said Wentzel, adding he does not think the casual dress in any way imparts a lack of respect to the church.
And while none of the religious leaders interviewed said they would ever ask someone to leave the church because of how they were dressed, nearly all expressed concern over modesty when dressing for church.
‘The only thing that I would say is inappropriate is when it starts getting to modesty issues. Obviously, you wouldn’t wear a bikini to church,? said Wentzel.
‘We just ask that people dress decently,? said May. ‘Not in shorts or play clothes. We ask that they would remember just basically, ‘Where am I going?? and ‘Would this be appropriate for where I am going, because we are going to worship God and we’re in the presence of the king.??
To cope with clashing ideas of just what is appropriate attire in which to worship, some churches, such as GUMC and SLUMC, offer one service that is more traditional, and one which is more contemporary. Others just witness as members of their congregation arrive dressed in everything from dresses and suits to blue jeans and flip flops. All said regardless of garb, they’re glad to see them in the seats.
‘Church is not what it was in the ?50s or ?60s,? said Line. ‘It’s just not. I think we as a church have to always look at what is around us, not necessarily become where we’re at, but meet others where they’re at.?
Gerber agreed.
‘If anybody’s going to talk to them about how they should dress for church, I think it’d be God. God accepts us right where we are. It’s not about clothes. He doesn’t expect us to clean up before we come in. It’s not about clothes, it’s about heart.?