Asking the clergy about summer dress codes

As the weather gets warmer, the natural inclination is to wear less. How does that jibe with worship service? This week clergy discuss the issue.

Pastor Joseph Cedzich, The Sheepgate Assembly Church, Baldwin:

I wear a suit and tie but tell people to come dressed comfortably. We don't insist on people coming dressed up, but also don't want them to come as if they're dressed for the beach. Shorts are not acceptable.

Women wear dresses or slacks, and men wear slacks. We try to maintain a genuine reverence through our attire. We want to remain casual, but there is a line. What you wear can affect your spirituality or the spirituality of someone else.

There is a balance, and we don't want to be extreme either way. We don't want you to come all trussed up so you aren't comfortable. But, inappropriate attire can be distracting to others. We all need to dress in a modest fashion that doesn't bring attention. We're here to bring attention to the almighty.

And while what you wear might not disrupt your spiritual experience, it could disrupt someone else's. In the New Testament (1 Corinthians 8), Paul says there are things that do not bother him, but it will affect others, so he does not do those things because those newer in the faith may be affected. We have to be mindful of such things today. You don't want to dress in a way that is distracting.

Rabbi Stephen Karol, Temple Isaiah, Stony Brook:

We have a fairly relaxed dress code the whole year, not just for the summer. When I think of a dress code for a synagogue, there are two ways to look at it: anyone who sits in the congregation and anyone who steps on the bimah.

For Friday night sabbath, when someone may be asked to participate at the last minute, we are more lenient. We don't forbid someone from wearing shorts or jeans.

And the dress code is a little different for those people who walk in off the street. We don't want a guest to hesitate about coming to service because they may not be appropriately dressed.

When it comes to a bar or bat mitzvah on Saturday morning, we have a different criteria. Usually, we've had a conversation with the parents and with the child about what is appropriate. People who are going to participate or be honored know there is a particular mode of dress.

As the rabbi, I would love to see more people come to this temple, so I don't want to restrict people in what they're wearing. On the other hand, people need to understand that houses of worship have a natural sense of what is appropriate.

We as clergy have to respect the fact people have other things to do and other places to go. But people also must have a sense of respect for the nature of our sanctuaries.

The Rev. A.G. Chancellor III, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Medford:

Although Scripture doesn't dictate how one must dress for worship service, I'm of the belief that we get dressed up for the things that are important to us. A young person doesn't wear shorts and a T-shirt to the prom because it is a special occasion. Worship is a special event in our lives, and our clothing should reflect that.

I'm also a lawyer, and judges don't let you come into their courtroom dressed in just any way. You come in a suit and tie. What you wears says, "I think what I'm going to be involved in is important."

The Bible says we're not like everyone else. So why would we dress like everyone else? But, if we have someone new come in to worship with us and they're not appropriately dressed, I wouldn't say anything. We'd welcome them. But, if you keep coming back and continue to be inappropriately dressed, someone would say something eventually.

I generally would address the concept of proper attire from the pulpit. But the older women of the church, we call them the church mothers, would probably pull the person aside and speak to him or her.

How one dresses is also important because you don't want what you're wearing to become a stumbling block for others. What you're wearing has no bearing on your salvation, but what you're wearing shouldn't distract from the message of salvation.