New Moon Message 1/2/33/120

Dear Friends.

This is the New Moon of the Second month of the 33rd year. It appears that we will have to reissue the declaration of the dress code.  For many years CCG had avoided the issue of a dress code. It was never necessary to raise the matter around the world.

In 2004 due to the standard of dress in the USA requests were made to World Conference from the USA for the implementation of a dress code due to the very poor standards of dress there. I had witnessed the appalling standards there where ministers were giving sermons dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and Stetson hats, of all things. Never mind that no man had gone before God in a hat in the Churches of God and that was regarded as an aberration of the sun cults.

The Churches of God had over the centuries maintained a high standard of dress in all nations. For some reason the break up at the end of the twentieth century was seen as some form of licence to dress as though they were farm hands coming before God on the way to work. It was not a matter of money either as the poorer the people the better they seemed to dress when they went before God.

I reluctantly agreed with the US and issued a dress code and the code was placed before me in the Conference of 2005 and was passed by the US and ratified by the World Conference Board of Elders and became law for the Christian Churches of God.
 
When I have attended in the developing nations and especially in equatorial Africa I have noticed that no person goes before God without a shirt and tie and either suit or coat or modestly attired as a woman. I have always complied with those standards both in and outside of the Church of God. One of the wives of the ministry in Africa remarked that I was the first Muzungu she had seen properly dressed in a suit and tie. When I expressed surprise at the comment I was told that they turn up from America as though dressed for a big game hunt or whatever.

I was also told that I was the first White the brethren had eaten with at a church Passover function. I was astounded at what I was told. It was confirmed by many of the long standing brethren and ministry of the Church of God. 

So that there is no doubt as to what is acceptable.

Christian Churches of God

THE DRESS CODE

1. National dress or shirt and tie is permitted or required at all
   gatherings on Sabbaths, New Moons and Holidays in all national
   areas in hot climates.
2. Coat, shirt and tie are required on Sabbaths, New Moons and
   Holy Days in temperate climates where the temperature is not
   uncomfortably high in summer.
3. Women are to wear appropriate dress or skirts to services and functions on Sabbaths, New Moons and Holydays.
4. At functions on other non holydays slacks and shirt are
   permitted for both sexes in a casual atmosphere.
5. Sandals of leather no matter what the shape are considered
   appropriate but not in kitchen and work areas.
6. Jeans and thongs (flip flops) are not permitted at functions other than bush
   outings for jeans and beach outings for thongs/flip flops.
7. Sandshoes or sports shoes are not to be worn without a medical certificate in services (added item in the code by way of explanation here and in # 267 below).

The dress code was reinforced in the various Sabbath Messages such as:

http://www.ccg.org/_domain/ccg.org/Sabbath/2006/S_10_21_06.htm

“People going to services are to dress correctly. Both men and women are to be correctly attired. No person is to attempt to incite breach of the dress code.

All meals on Sabbaths and Holy Days are to be treated as days of worship and Sabbath dress is to be worn at those meals. That includes the evening meals (see the paper Eating Together in Worship (No. 267)).

No jeans are to be worn to any inside dining activity and shorts or pedal pushers are not to be worn at evening dinner activities anywhere under any circumstances.

Dress is to be modest and where people have had tattoos done before their conversion they are not to be flaunted. Tattoos of religious symbolism especially are to be covered. Nose rings are not permitted in the church (see the papers Tattooing (No. 5) and The Origins of Wearing Earrings and Jewellery in Ancient Times (No. 197)).

Each of us should try to make life enjoyable for each other and not add to any stress individuals may suffer or experience. Remember the feasts are our periods of enjoyment and relaxation and the only holidays some of us get. So make the most of it and enjoy them and allow others to enjoy them also.”

From the paper Eating Together in Worship (No. 267). The Dress Code was reinforced and explained Biblically.

Dress Code

1Timothy 2:9-10: 
In like manner also women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

The word ‘broided’ in the KJV is the Greek plegma, meaning plaits or hair braided in an ornate fashion. It was the custom to dress the hair with gold and pearls etc. The reference is considered to be to wives rather than females generally.

Comment: The text is not implying a total ban on the wearing of jewellery or braided hair, but rather Paul was expressing caution in a society where such things were signs of extravagant luxury and proud personal display.

Compare also 1Peter 3:3-5:
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their faith in God used to make themselves beautiful.

So also women were not to wear the apparel of a man nor a man that of a woman under the law.

Deuteronomy 22:5:
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abominations unto the LORD thy God.

It is because of these restrictions and the long-standing customs of the Churches of God they were to comply with a dress code according to the customs of the nations within which they resided.

The Sabbath Feasts of the Church were always regarded as bridal feasts where we dressed to be before our coming husband Jesus Christ, and for worship before our Father, the One True God.

Thus, the very minimum standard was the best suit or dress that we had for special occasions. At the very least we dressed as we would for business in showing courtesy to those with whom we ate.

Only over recent years has it become fashionable in some countries not to dress in a semi-formal manner for the Sabbaths and Holy Days of the Lord, when either going to church or afterwards at communal meals. However, that does not make it right. It merely means we are lowering our standards in disregard for the dictates of Scripture and the customs of the Churches of God.

It has always been the practice of the Churches of God that women do not wear slacks on Sabbaths, New Moons and Holy Days but dress in an appropriate manner with a dress or skirt and blouse, with or without a jacket.

Males always wear a shirt and tie with a jacket in cooler climates both at services and at meals.

In Asian nations formal national dress such as batik shirts or Barongs (in the Philippines) are accepted formal wear.

Sarongs and Saris are also acceptable national dress for formal wear.

Smart casual dress can apply at Feast meals on other than Sabbaths and Holy Days.

In outdoor activities women may wear slacks and boots.

Jeans are not acceptable in any indoor activity but may be worn in outdoor settings such as barbecues and hikes.

Sandals have been worn since footwear was invented and have never been regulated, however, they should be worn appropriately.

Sport or orthopaedic footwear can be worn only as necessary for medical reasons at Church formal meals and functions.

These standards have been adopted by resolution in all the national bodies of the Churches of God and by the World Conference.

If we do not respect one another enough to dress in an appropriate manner we should stay home. Remember we are part of the Body of Christ and our dress should reflect that fact. Whenever we meet together we are before God and we should honour Him in our dress, as well as in our speech and behaviour.

In conclusion, it is up to us to dress appropriately so as not to give offence to God or any of our brethren. People in need should be assisted so that all are able to attend the Feasts, to fellowship and eat together on a regular basis whenever possible, and to have the basic necessities of life, as we saw in Acts 2:45, in order that we lack nothing (see the paper Eating together in Worship (No. 267)).

We have repeatedly warned people that any attempt to incite a breach of the dress code will be treated as an attempt to breach the laws of the church and any person found doing so will be suspended from voting membership or fellowship in consideration for voting membership. It has already been used as a straw man to disrupt the operations of the church in North America and Australia and will not be tolerated. The dress code is law in all the conferences of the CCG.

Wade Cox
Coordinator General