Beauty Tips for Ministers
Because you're in the public eye, and God knows you need to look good.
Meredith, Call Me!
June 30, 2006 on 2:35 am | In PeaceBang Personal |Alert reader Sarah informed me that the author of a piece on NPR’s “All Things Considered” today might have been referring to THIS VERY LITTLE OLE BLOG in her discussion of clergy fashion.
After having heard the essay, I think the author has actually been reading a different clergy fashion blog, but I thank Sarah for referring me to the Reverend Mrs. Gudger Raines’ essay, which made me bite my nails in anxiety.
Meredith, honey, CALL ME! If you think that showing some of your “rounded bare shoulders” in the pulpit is going to help your West Viriginia Methodist congregation grasp the incarnation more fully, girl, you’re going to be out before you ever get IN!
If anyone knows Meredith, please refer her to me. We need to talk about sleeves, and about West Virginia.
The essay is here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5522718
Doesn’t she just sound like the most earnest, gee-whiz new seminary graduate you ever heard? What a darling gal. Lord have mercy: let’s hope we get to her in time.
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Ha! I wondered about that myself, but what do I know about methodists, or either of the Virginias? I hope you can perform an intervention!
Comment by LaReinaCobre — June 30, 2006 #
More on Meredith: Before she entered seminary, she was the subject of several features because she was traveling around the US visiting seminaries or churches.
Comment by LaReinaCobre — June 30, 2006 #
As I can recall, Morgantown, W VA has a mix of people and as such is not overly conservative in general. However, someone must find the new Rev. quickly! And not just for the sake of fashion. She needs a copy of “Sex in the Parish” by Karen Lebacqz and Ronald G. Barton or some such for additional thought about the ways clergy determine how to be sexual beings in relation with their congregation.
I enjoyed her essay with her willingness to reflect on the potential (for good or ill) of clergy to embody (literally) the teachings of a faith. Always worth the effort to compare with more recent experience.
Comment by jinnis — June 30, 2006 #
So in less than a month I will be preaching from the pulpit for the first time.. As I am not clergy yet… I assume its inappropriate for me to don a robe.. so then the question is what should I wear… suit skirt.. I am only a senior in college so I don’t want to look to hold.. but i am rather endowed lol so its hard to find a balance when i shop in bigger sizes… And since i dwell in oklahoma, th\e land of conservatives.. i am at a loss.
-April
Comment by Anonymous — June 30, 2006 #
A frequent commenter on my blog pointed out to me that the story *might* have been referring to my post from about May 28. I think she *might* be right.
Judge for yourself…
Comment by cheesehead — June 30, 2006 #
Dear April,
I’d say of course, wear a robe. Function determines dress. Go for it. The robe I mean. It’s the stole that’s the sign of ordination, not the alb or geneva gown or academic gown or cassock and surplice or whatever robe your tradition uses. But see what our fashion eminence Peacebang says.
Enjoy!
Caroline Divine
Comment by Caroline Divine — June 30, 2006 #
Dearest April,
From the tone of your inquiry, I don’t think you have the confidence to wear a robe just yet. Let that come later, but as Caroline says, you may wear a robe before ordination if you would like to.
If you’re a busty gal and fear that a suit bottom might swim on you if it fits on top, I suggest a suit jacket with a bright collared blouse underneath (in a beautiful blue or green color, perhaps), a non-flowy skirt, and a pair of sturdy but beautiful heels. Most pulpits are designed for men, and therefore are too high for the average American woman.
Many suits are sold as separates and you can buy one size for your top and another for the skirt. Go to a nice department store and ask for help! That’s what they’re there for! Don’t forget that you can have things tailored, and if your weight doesn’t fluctuate too much, now is the time to invest in one smashing preaching ensemble.
Stay away from browns and tans, and stay away from cheap fabrics.
Feel free to send me a photo or an e-mail at lunadiva@msn.com if you’d like more personal ministrations.
Good luck, dear.
Comment by PeaceBang — June 30, 2006 #
Cheesehead, you might indeed be right! I KNEW it all sounded familiar!
Comment by PeaceBang — June 30, 2006 #
Hello, everyone! I am Meredith of the bare shoulders. I have no idea what my new church’s website url is, so I googled myself hoping to find it, and look what else I found! I was indeed responding to what I saw on cheesehead’s blog, which I read religiously hoping for some inspiration.
So sleeveless is not the way to go? So far, no criticism about my shoulders, but I do get quite a few comments about high heels. Apparently, I’m tall enough as it is.
So what can you all tell me about West Virginia, women clergy and women clergy in West Virginia?
Comment by Meredith — August 2, 2006 #