Thread: Women & head coverings in church

I know there are some churches that require women to wear head coverings in worship. I have a few questions concerning this practice. Please forgive my ignorance, I would appreciate answers to the following questions:

1) Is there a "standard" head covering used or can any dress hat be used?

2) If there is a standard head covering, where can one purchase them?

3) If one attends a church that requires head coverings, but does not know that ahead of time or is not prepared, is there some sort of basic head covering provided at the churches or are visitors excluded?

We often like to visit churches when we travel and if we were going to a church that required head coverings for women, I would like to be prepared so as to avoid the potential embarrassment factor for my ladies and allow them to feel as though they are fitting in with everyone else.

Thank you very much!

Not many churches which teach and practice head covering for women are going to intentionally make visitors feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. Some may provide some basic head covering for women who come without such and desire to us it. Most would consider any sort of head covering acceptable, any sort of hat, a beret, or a scarf over the head.

Thanks, Pastor Glen for the response.

I apologize if it sounded like I thought the church would make visitors uncomfortable. That was not my intent. I just know that my ladies would feel uncomfortable if they didn't fit in even with the church doing their best to make them feel welcome.

I don't know of many head covering congregations in North America where there won't also be women without head coverings in he service. The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (which have a few congregations here) and the Free Reformed will likely provide hats or berets of some sort for visitors who need them. The general practice of the Free Church Continuing is head covering, but they certainly understand when someone visits with different convictions. Though our OP congregation is not a head covering church in any sense, my wife, by conviction, always wears a head covering in public worship, and takes some sort of hat with her when she travels. She would wear such regardless of what church she is worshiping in. I'd suggest some sort of collapsible hat or scarf to be carried while traveling. Head covering folk will appreciate the sensitivity to their convictions.

My answers in red

Originally Posted by gkterry

I know there are some churches that require women to wear head coverings in worship. I have a few questions concerning this practice. Please forgive my ignorance, I would appreciate answers to the following questions:

1) Is there a "standard" head covering used or can any dress hat be used?

Generally any is accepted...some individuals have issues with hats or chaplets (doilies )

2) If there is a standard head covering, where can one purchase them?

Not unless you are anabaptist. You can purchase them all over the internet (there is a list in the Ladies' Tea Parlour, I can put the list in this thread, and I even make them

3) If one attends a church that requires head coverings, but does not know that ahead of time or is not prepared, is there some sort of basic head covering provided at the churches or are visitors excluded?

Some churches and synagogues have thought ahead on this issue and placed a basket of lace coverings in the foyer for those that do not have a covering and sometimes a covering woman will carry an extra on her, so don't hesitate to ask

We often like to visit churches when we travel and if we were going to a church that required head coverings for women, I would like to be prepared so as to avoid the potential embarrassment factor for my ladies and allow them to feel as though they are fitting in with everyone else.

Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by LadyFlynt

My answers in red
2) If there is a standard head covering, where can one purchase them?

Not unless you are anabaptist. You can purchase them all over the internet (there is a list in the Ladies' Tea Parlour, I can put the list in this thread, and I even make them

LadyFlynt:

I would like to see that list if that isn't too much trouble.

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful information!