I’m all for looking good while in the pulpit. Dressing badly can be an unhelpful distraction. But I’m colour blind and have no fashion sense. I walk into some shops and can’t tell where the women’s clothes end and the men’s clothes begin. Walking around Brisbane’s inner city I can see that this actually isn’t such a big problem anymore, and I could, if necessary, pull off (though probably not remove) a pair of women’s jeans if I was that way inclined…
Anyway, help is at hand. Beauty Tips for Ministers seems mostly aimed at women (as in women ministers) from a “unitarian” (read liberal stand for nothing denomination in the states) background – but fear not, there’s advice for men too… and for Bible college students, and for what to wear to assembly, and for what to wear to a job interview, the list is seemingly endless… there’s even advice on how to pull off moving to a new climate:
“Moving to a new climate almost always creates problems with the hair and complexion. You may find it useful to stick with the most gentle products for awhile (Cetaphil cleanser, fragrance-free moisturizers and eye cream) to let your skin calm down. Stay hydrated. Do not panic and start slapping all kinds of chemical treatments on your face, which will only exacerbate problems: stick to a simple routine of cleansing, moisturizing and gently exfoliating. Use a good eye cream and sunscreen year-round. See the BTFM archives for TONS of product reviews of skin care products.”
I’ll no doubt be much more compelling next time I preach because I’ll have done away with the frumpy me, and be looking good…
Comments
Gee, Nathan, it would have been swell if you had given me a shout-out without finding it necessary to denigrate the Unitarian Universalist religion at the same time. Beauty Tips for Ministers is aimed at clergy, period, not at any particular brand or flavor. It is written from a liberal Christian theological perspective (check out some of the archives under "Theological Reflections On Your Fabulousness"). The author, Yours Truly, serves a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Hi PeaceBang,
I think your blog is very funny. The Unitarian Universalist religion is almost unknown in Australia so I was trying to give some context. My understanding of it is driven largely by my conversations with atheists in the states, atheists who often join UU churches for community because they find no belief ascribed to your denomination particularly threatening. I don't want to misrepresent you, or your denomination – so corect me if I'm wrong – but you don't actually have to be a Christian to be a universalist do you?
I write to a largely reformed readership who might be shocked upon visitng your site to find a paucity of advice for male preachers. I wanted to forewarn them.
I was amused by your statement that you don't know which are the men's and which are the women's clothes because my husband won't go to clothes stores without me in case he goes to the wrong end. It's a genuine concern: I've had to rescue him on numerous occasions.