Growing up, even as a child in grade school, I (and all the other children) always wore suits to church. It was a very conservative church. Back in those days, all the men wore suits, and the ladies wore dresses and hats. The pastor alway wore a robe (no collar, just a tie).

Now, many, many moons later, I still attend the same church. But what I wear has changed dramatically. Now, I wear a sport shirt, black jeans or dockers, and some rockport shoes. No tie. Ocassionally, I will wear a sport coat (the leather one is my favorite, but I also have a salt/pepper tweed). But I only wear the sport coat when I am not playing the guitar to any extent (the buttons would damage the guitar, and also be heard hitting the back of the acoustic guitar). Ocassionally I stop in after work for some church business wearing a suit, and people are shocked to see me dressed up/cleaned up.

Others in the church range from suits to casual clothes. One time, we had a couple come in with the leather riding jackets. We are pretty flexible. Our pastor only wears a robe on formal ocassions like the ordination of deacons or elders. Mostly he wears a sport coat and tie, and we are encouraging him to even skip the coat once in a while.

What goes in your neck of the woods?

k_enn

Our pastor normally has a shirt and tie on.. Sometimes he wears a jacket and sometimes he goes without a tie. Sometimes his shirts are short sleeve and sometimes they are long and I don't think it matters one little bit.

The only time the dress code at a church becomes a problem is if you become a distraction to other people. I think this is very much a personal conviction much like the tattoo thread. My church has no regulations on dress code. Obviously we wouldn't appreciate it if people show up in very provocative outfits or anything that is mocking Christ or other people in the church. I wear shorts to church during the summer. However, when I speak at church I wear dress pants and a dress shirt (sometimes with a tie). I don't think that everyone needs to do that but when I speak at church I know that God is using me in a place that is held with authority and I feel that I should dress the part. I think God would use me even if I wore shorts and He would give me the words to speak if I had my motorcycle gear on but I am personally convicted not to do so when I speak. This weekend I am speaking on our youth retreat and I will not dress up because I think the topic and the youth that will also be involved permit a dressed down approach and style of language.

Sorry for the long post. Bottom line.. ask God and don't stray from what you learn in scripture.

I agree on a "code"......I see many different levels of dress at church. From suits and dresses to jeans (nice ones) and sweatshirts. (and a LOT of Ravens jerseys during the fall and winter months!) And I think everyone looks comfortable and happy in their own skins, no matter what they have on. And then there's "that girl"...the one that walked by in a short, tight, revealing dress. I was embarrassed at how long MY gaze stayed with her....I can only imagine the struggle the men had as she grabbed their attention. (which I believe was her mission, as no one accidentally dresses to kill like she was!)

I wear nice clothes, ranging from a skirt (ONCE!~) to nice jeans & dress pants. Blouse, sweaters, etc etc.

But I honestly do not think it matters, as long as it is not a distraction, like Tim said. And a distraction can be anything from Miss Scantily to ripped to shreads and stinky. I dislike both. I believe even the most "down and out" person can clean up their act for God. And I CERTAINLY believe that you can cover your "assets" for an hour and a half on a sunday morning for God too!