A Question About Hair

[Sam]

not wanting to start a fight, but...

It seems to me I have read or heard somewhere that "uncut" hair for women is not an issue or requirement or "standard" for the UPC in countries outside of the United States.

can anyone confirm that?

[commonsense]

Not sure on the hair, but many years ago a UPC missionary indicated that the "clothing" standards were different.

This missionary spent many years overseas. They were just happy if the new converts wore clothes. :thumbsup

[Hoovie]

I do believe it is much less commonly "enforced" overseas.

[whoami]

I remember a UPC missionary coming to the UPC church my family went to when we were kids, he had been in an African country for several years, can't remember which one. He said that the African women dance in his church services over there all through the singing. Not dancing like "shouting", but choreographed dancing that they incorporate into worship and that his wife was going teach us how to do it. The dance she did was very pretty and there was nothing suggestive or anything like that about it, but oh my, you should have seen the shock and outrage! LOL, it was pretty funny. That's the only case of differing standards that I know of firsthand (dancing was ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN when I was growing up UPC, I assume it still is). As far as the others, I've just heard rumors.

[Hoovie]

I remember a UPC missionary coming to the UPC church my family went to when we were kids, he had been in an African country for several years, can't remember which one. He said that the African women dance in his church services over there all through the singing. Not dancing like "shouting", but choreographed dancing that they incorporate into worship and that his wife was going teach us how to do it. The dance she did was very pretty and there was nothing suggestive or anything like that about it, but oh my, you should have seen the shock and outrage! LOL, it was pretty funny. That's the only case of differing standards that I know of firsthand (dancing was ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN when I was growing up UPC, I assume it still is). As far as the others, I've just heard rumors.


Not so much now. My girls are taking dance lessons for a parade right now. They have also danced in community theater a few times. I also know some church folks have slow danced at weddings. Of course individual discretion (as led by the Holy Spirit) is more treasured than in times past.

Nothing wrong with any of that IMO.

[missourimary]

WhoamI: In the area I'm from, dancing is still strictly prohibited.
Sam: I've seen several missionaries' wives with obviously cut hair. I don't know if it's a common difference or just a locality difference. Clothing standards haven't seemed as strictly enforced, for sure. In one book (Moscow Mornings, or the one it is a sequel to), I think there was a discussion regarding whether or not social drinking might be ok when it was perfectly acceptable in the culture... and where a person might be considered rude not to or where water was unsafe.

[whoami]

Not so much now. My girls are taking dance lessons for a parade right now. They have also danced in community theater a few times. I also know some church folks have slow danced at weddings. Of course individual discretion (as led by the Holy Spirit) is more treasured than in times past.

Nothing wrong with any of that IMO.

That's great news then. :)