Believe it or not, everyone has to draw the line somewhere. Almost every school has instituted standards. Your work place probably has instituted standards. As a youth department, we have also seen the need to institute some standards. Our goal is first and foremost to please the Lord when it comes to our dress. One of the main Biblical principles related to dress is modesty. God expects each of his children to dress in a way that honors Him and doesn’t cause others to stumble. For this reason we have instituted the “loose”, “long,” and “lots” standard. In reference to “loose”: We ask that our girls and guys wear clothing that is not excessively tight. This often draws unnecessary attention to areas that God doesn’t want to be highlighted. In reference to “long”: We ask that when selecting clothing for an activity the teen wear clothing that comes to the knee. We have chosen this part of the body because it is a clear standard. Finally, in reference to “lots”: We ask that teens wear enough clothing to cover themselves in a modest way. These three principles should guide the teens in their dress choices. One other principle that should also be highlighted is the issue of “Appropriateness”: Teens must learn what is and what is not appropriate for certain events. As a general rule, the normal dress for teens is dressy or business casual. On Sundays, we ask our teens to look their very best. On Wednesday nights, due to the nature of many of the games, the teens are encouraged to wear clothing for athletic and recreational events. As a normal pattern, we will always strive to communicate with our teens and parents about the appropriate dress for certain activities.
If a teen is wearing something that doesn’t meet the youth ministry standards, we will kindly inform them about it and ask them not to wear that particular outfit to future events. If the problem continues, the parents will be notified to help with the situation. We do believe that this is a necessary policy and that these principles are clear and very easy to follow.
Finally, if in doubt - ask! We will be happy to help.
