The covering doesn’t make you holy. I also want to say I have respect for those who feel the symbol must be worn. ← What kind of Mennonite Mother Would Name Her Daughter for Shirley Temple? For years I have wondered why, when people leave the Amish, one of the first things they do is stop covering. I’m researching Mennonite prayer coverings for a book I’m writing. Besides, my hair is short, so I really didn’t have a “glory” to cover in the presence of the Lord. If we had been part of an Amish community, I feel like he would have had several volunteers at the very least. When I was sixteen ( 1952 ) I went to Hesston Academy. (This comment will appear non sequitur to Saloma and Laurie’s, but I don’t know how to “tag” to my original response.) Finally, you hit the nail on the head: Acculturation. (Like the Salvation Army uniform or a nun's habit.) Of course, it involved my wearing a prayer covering. Traditional Mennonites believe they should live their lives in such a way as to be separate from the world. Conservative Amish and Mennonite women wear an outer bonnet (usually black) in obedience to the Biblical commands given in 1 Tim. It seemed disrespectful to me. I […]. Employ technology or live in the 19th century? Its most distinguishing feature is … And that you can love and respect them at the same time. I always love welcoming new readers. […] friend, Shirley Hershey Showalter, has done a thought-provoking blog post called Mennonite Bonnet and Covering Stories in preparation of the joint talk she and I have scheduled for next Tuesday, February 25, […]. The Mennonite men vary in appearance, some wear beards, some do not. I pulled off my covering because others in the church either made fun of me or told me I was being legalistic. Shirley, your response brought me to tears, which is always helpful. 11. And tell the story for the sake of a good laugh. It is much like the “conservative” Mennonite churches. In reality, what is worn depends on the specific Mennonite church. I was so angry, and especially, probably, with the church, even though I would not have been able to tell you that then. I attend Columbus Mennonite Church(ultra liberal) and Alum Creek Mennonite(Eastern Mennonite ultra conservative) and I bridge these worlds as born and raised Catholic converted to Protestant. Have you written a memoir??!! How mothers and daughters either enforced or broke the chain of nonconformed difference, for one. I don’t think we can analyze it separately from what it symbolizes… usually belonging and community. Marian, I was hoping you would provide a link to this amazing blog post. Some of the comments I got on FB hinted at that. The rest of the time, unmarried women wear their hair in a braid, while married women wear a sashmoora, which tucks their hair close to their head. most of the stories were from women. http://www.amazon.com/True-North-Jill-Ker-Conway/dp/0679744614. I think I like the first one best. And you folks were wildly liberal in our minds. They live in urban locations, pursue higher education, have careers and use current technology. Blessings in your life. I’ve never been requested or required to wear any type of head covering. Let’s face it… we have all coveted the sense of community that the Amish have. The second one is the church which brought the importance of wearing the covering to me. are there any opinions out there either pro or con on the subject. In my book BLUSH I included a short essay “Why I am still Mennonite” to answer this question. Wear plain clothing or bright colors? You too were being asked to conform to expectations of female-centered identity. Thank you, Ben, for offering this interpretation. Most of us have chosen our freedom, which means the covering has fallen by the wayside. In our congregation we carried our coverings in our Bibles and wore them for church services. It is very precious.” Thank you for finding this post. This is a good question It depends alot on the Mennonite church. It was a dilemma for the Hesston College Choir tour. Just a sidenote…my head coverings, too, are stored away safely in a drawer . Our mom, expecting her seventh child, rebelled and cut our hair. Better than most of us, you understand the powerful symbolism of coverings and bonnets. Hats off to you! I graduated from Goshen College in 1958 and during that time I did the covering in the Bible and wore it to church services. Our veil is pinned on. Later on living in South Bend, In. Actually, today is the anniversary of my sister’s death, and March 1st would be her 67th birthday. They created their own set of bureaucratic rules. I was a member and left the church, but I still struggle with the head covering “debate”. I asked why the men all looked like modern men and the women looked old-fashioned. Oh good, I could return the favor. My letter was printed in its entirety–spread across two pages with my handwriting, meant not to look like my own. It’s helpful to all who take the Bible seriously. Yet my wearing a head covering didn’t start with my introduction into Anabaptist circles—it started with my high school experience of work and pleasure. That was helpful. Assimilated Mennonites are those who have assimilated, or incorporated, themselves into the culture and wear typical, modern clothing. Any guy taller than me could still see my cleavage. © Shirley Hershey Showalter | Hosting by Clay Showalter, Mennonite Bonnet and Covering Stories: Part One, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World, The Mindful Grandparent: The Art of Loving Our Children’s Children. Marceil, Thank you for sharing this story. Shirley – I love that you’re doing a two part series, giving equal, creative space to both perspectives: to wear, or not to wear a head covering. After all, are not pants simply a modern mutation of the underwear that priests used to wear under their robes for the sake of modesty? November 1, 2017 Andrew Mennonite Life. I view it somewhat as a compass to gauge whether I’m heading True North, or not. Signifying submission to this God-ordained order of authority, men worship with their heads uncovered. For myself I came to the belief that what was in my heart and how I treated others was more important then the symbol on my head. In my three years here, I have seen a real increase in the number of complete coverings, particularly among the Muslim expat population. I hope to do some archival research at EMU this spring. At times I keep debating whether I should or shouldn’t. Shirley, this is more than you need to know, but it’s all still right there when I look at the date of when I wrote that letter to With. Be polite and respectful, and the person in question will likely be glad … Then in college I stopped wearing it and still remember how upset my mother was. That’s all it took, a little opening. The two basic groups of Mennonites, assimilated and traditional, wear distinctly different clothing. Those who dress in such a way speak of not being conformed to the world, and yet the men dress no differently or not much differently than the rest of the world. The pharisees also added their own liturgy to what God established in the Law. Warm Ginger, often we westerners assume that there is only one direction for change to take — from conservative to liberal — on the question of women’s dress and coverings. Traditional Mennonite men generally wear dark, loose slacks with white shirts and particular suit coats. What is important for me is being faithful to what I feel God calling me to. The more liberal Amish men are allowed to trim their beards, and they look more cleaned up. For both men and women, I seem to always be looking there, but it’s displayed so prominently, how can I avoid it? These are real stories from real women. First, Amish wear Plain clothing for several reasons, including modesty, practicality, and identity (see this article for more). Teresa, thank you for adding your voice to this conversation. I can hardly wait to give Owen his presents. Love that defiant splash of red on your gravatar! I’ve read all three of Conway’s memoirs. I rrealized immediately that she was right. I think it may have started by misinterpreting the passage in reference to a woman’s hair being her covering. I have it on now, under my scrub cap in the hospital. The larger culture ( “the world”) pulled us the opposite direction. Christy, isn’t it interesting how many of us who wore coverings could not bring ourselves to throw away the last ones we wore? Kate, I sense real sadness and struggle in your comment to Christine. I would never have imagined such a profound connection. I try to remember Vivian during the whole week of her death date and birth date. and attending Kern Road Mennonite Church most of us young mothers and professional women gave up wearing the covering totally. I live in a city with a Mennonite church and while we don’t have horse and buggy Mennonites, we do have those who dress more like the Amish and those who dress in long jean skirts and t-shirts that work at a local thrift store. Sending you wishes for strength on your journey. In a culture (mainstream America) in which hyperindividualism is the religion of the day, the meaning of the symbol of the covering is lost. And he pulled up the safety pin. I realize I’m a bit late to this discussion. But mom insisted and we kept our hair short. When we came to Canada my sister and I had long hair down to our waists (we were 7 and 9 years old). I understand that the Amish have different coverings depending where they are from, or which community they belong to, so I can well understand them not wanting to wear something that would identify them with a specific group or community. Things That Represent Change. I asked my Facebook friends, many of whom belong to the category of formerly-covered Mennonites, for their stories. I (blush to ) tell the story of my own narrow escape from a potentially compromising situation in a recent post: http://plainandfancygirl.com/2014/02/01/false-pregnancy/ Another way to live simply. For her it was all about the length of hair and the style of hair. She is to have long hair. How interestinc, Christine, that we both find this page within days of each other…. Mennonite women generally wear head coverings and dresses with patterns and designs. It seems only fair that both should speak. What Are the Three Views About Justice as Written by Plato? He was surprised, and I was embarrassed even more than I already was. I respect women who choose to cover their heads and/or wear plain or simple clothes, and I respect women who don’t. I got my grandson a compass to go along with the Einstein book that I found on your page. Some of them cover their heads all of the time. Then you can decide what to do with that one stuck in the back of your underwear drawer. During the week this year I am getting the EMC memorial service transferred from magnetic tape to something digital. Your article has helped me understand why! I was so embarrassed. In my own case, the story I have to tell is one of both attraction and rejection. You know the place. Once we joined the church we all wore headcoverings and veils during church; however, depending on one’s conviction depended on whether they wore the headcovering all the time or not. The Mennonites, an evangelical Protestant sect, formed in the 16th century in Europe. What Are Some Symbols of Change and Growth? I can still picture her in the coffin, and she was wearing a covering. Have really enjoyed reading this. In the west, some Plymouth Brethren women still wear the prayer veil in church, as do many African American women. All women (even baby girls) cover their hair in church. She sent us to grandma’s place with our hair chopped off and grandma cried. Found it last week. Lots of dresser drawers with coverings at the back, I gather. Otherwise, the prayer covering is always worn. What are your tips for keeping your life and perspective, and focus on God in such a busy world? I wear headcovers now, and my mother hates it. Wearing pants was another battle. Yet my covering is far more than a symbol of female submission, too…it symbolizes a heritage of Anabaptist believers with whom I now fellowship, (even though I may be the only one in our Mennonite congregation to wear a covering now), and my firm conviction that fashion and worldly beauty will not determine my worth as an individual. We still wore strings, untied. I was on campus when this terrible news about Vivian’s death was shared with the students. I was about to comment with a very similar message, too: I still have a covering folded up in the back of my underwear drawer. What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Sustainable Development? You are wise to look at this issue from the perspective of someone who chooses to belong to the group, and wears an outward symbol of that. Any gift given with love from a father and offered to a daughter with the freedom to help her use it in any way the Spirit speaks to her, will be received as a treasure. But always dress modestly. I often wonder why that is. Most of them had either humorous or rebellious themes. I turned them inside out! I think that, no matter what, we tend to rebel against our parents idea of right, but in the end, we always conform to somebody else’s idea of right. I was not brought up to wear one, but over the years have come to the conviction that it is the right thing to do, so I wear a snood type of covering. I don’t believe every woman will feel led to, and that’s okay. I was dressing only in skirts for awhile, and I felt I was more modest, in dress at least. Assimilation. Apparently people are searching on this subject. Laurie, thanks for the feedback on breaking this conversation into two parts. Some Mennonite women wear a flowing veil made from polyester-type fabric. My mother said when I came home on vacations “You can look like that at home but when we are out in public you will curl your hair and not wear the covering”. The blush imagery I chose for my memoir has resonated with women like those above. But usually these sisters do not wear a head covering at other times. Liberals would say that the church had been placing an unfair burden on women to maintain religious and ethnic boundaries for the whole community. Some of their groups the women do not wear any jewelry not even a wedding band. It’s supposed to be a symbolic gesture of modesty to God. Notes on Amish Women’s Coverings. I have seen women with the covering in public and noted men behave more respectful toward them and it certainly sparked my interest in the subject. However, there are some conservative sects of Mennonites that dress in a way to encourage modesty and separation from society. Check this out in With archives, 1969, second half of the year. There are more Muslim head veilings at Eastern Mennonite University these days than there are Mennonite ones. I value very much the sense of community I feel as a member of a Mennonite congregation. The old visible symbols gave way to more abstract and historical theological identities. I have worn mine for a year now. I stored my last covering in a drawer for many decades. Next time I will explore reasons women still wear coverings. Most of us wear many hats in life both literally and figuratively. And if we are worried about not being conformed to the world, in the area of our clothing, would we not go back to wearing robes? An Old Order Mennonite Responds | Shirley Hershey Showalter, Church of God in Christ, Mennonite | brucelarochelle, two people suggested scholarly articles to consult. Then I pray about it and God seems to direct me to keep wearing it. I’m always interested in WHY people (myself included), do or refrain from doing things. They were also frowned upon at first. You aren’t the only one. Thanks for your comment. Also, I shared some of her senior in high school journal quotes with a person who is writing an article about the high school English teacher who inspired a ‘walk out.’. The key component is that they are a sign or symbol worn on the head of a woman of the different faiths. I look forward to in-person conversation about this and other subjects soon. Does anyone make these anymore? I have also hoped that the gift offers her direction in a crooked world. If I read you rightly. My group of Russian Orthodox believers still do this. Just as God likes a cheerful giver, he likes a cheerful coverer. She kept a drawer full of coverings by the kitchen table and would slap one on my head at meal time. When I later married and worked with a midwife among the Amish, my head covering became a symbol of kinship, and in our year of living with the Canadian Hutterites, the change from colored to black scarf was an easy adjustment to make. Hi Amy, My mother did not wear it all the time and wore jeans…my husband’s mom wears a bun, skirt, and headcovering all the time. Yesterday, as I was doing research about plain dress among the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites, I was joined at the library computer table by a Muslim woman in full head veiling. The NT describes that a woman’s long hair is a glory to her, it is to serve as a covering. Ditched it by college, but kept one folded up in a drawer for years. And the fashion industry made more money because I had to do this because of their low-cut tops. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. On Sundays and at weddings, however, they wear their black silk coverings, as they have since they were young. I felt it interesting that you spoke of the pressure on the women to uphold the religious and ethnic bounderies of the whole community. Core beliefs include opposition of war and bearing arms, restricting marriage to denominational members, baptism exclusively for members, and opposition of infant baptism. my last two coverings and my Grandmother Hess's last two bonnets. Paul is answering their religious questions of ch.7:1.He seems to support that a shame covering is appropriate for the descendants of Adam, but at vs. 10-11, he addresses Christian women and concludes, “We have no such custom neither the churches of God. Applications vary in observing this principle. I wore one for awhile, but it didn’t last. Next time, in Part Two, I will try to represent the choices of women who still wear the veil. Shirley, I recently wrote an essay on my experiences with wearing a covering–age 10 – 20. Was your motive to make a joke? Thank you so much for pointing int out, I’ve just added it to my list. Men also dressed plainly, and ministers often wore a plain coat and collarless shirt. I’m sure other readers here will be interested in your story also. She arrived at church to lead singing — but forgot her covering. Mennonites in communities in the Midwest and Pennsylvania still observe long-standing traditions and customs, including worshiping through song and women wearing prayers caps or scarves. They are generally white or black in color. I’ve learned a few things since my last post, and I realized that just because I feel that men are not dressing modestly doesn’t mean I should conform. I feel more protected and I’m treated better by strangers. I am sure you will enjoy the next two posts –Kathy Wenger’s story now online. Is this not part of what we are to do in service to our fellow man? That is exactly why I went back to wearing pants. My only advice is tell stories about why you chose the gift and name all that you see in her that is beautiful. I remember when I had to start wearing a covering to school. Perhaps when you can make your own decisions freely, you will become Mennonite. Some woman no … A snood can refer either to a hair net (think of a crocheted one that’s visible, unlike the thin plastic ones) or a loose covering that is sort of bag-shaped in the back, so that loose hair or a ponytail or braid is cradled in the back of it. Scarlett, I loved this sentence: “My covering helps to remind me to be kind, honest, meet and loving to those around me. These forerunners of modern Mennonites were part of the Protestant Reformation, a broad reaction against the practices and theology of the Roman Catholic Church. Hidden away. (Or did men in your community also dress differently from other men?). The last time I put the covering back on was in the mid-eighties when I began waitressing part-time at the local Mennonite restaurant. They wear a big beard and a broad-rimmed hat on their head. Climate Change Is Revealing a Lack of Infrastructure & Preparedness — & It Isn’t Funny. I’m quite happy to wear something that symbolizes my faith, and it’s led to many interesting conversations with people who seem to feel able to approach and talk with me, just because of what I’m wearing. Instead of pursuing the latest fashions, I filled my teenage days with art and volunteering as a candy striper, either wearing my Red Cross striped cap, a hippie-style denim hat or bandana to keep my hair out of paint, clay, or whatever else I was working in. At my church, we women wear a veil made from a netting-type of material. I look forward to reading what you have to say. My memoir Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World tells the story of how hard it was for me to choose between the loving faith community that surrounded me and the glittering world that attracted me. Assimilated Mennonites are those who have assimilated, or incorporated, themselves into the culture and wear typical, modern clothing. The position of women within a culture, and the limits to the freedoms they have over their bodies, depends a great deal upon what the men of that culture are doing and deciding. The more they cover, the more ‘pious’ they are perceived to be. Thousands of Mennonite women living today at one time wore a covering on their heads and no longer do so. The head covering as a Catholic was meant to emulate the Virgin Mary and as a Mennonite for modesty. However, for one performance at a church with the reputation of being especially conservative it was decided to wear the traditional Mennonite white coverings. I had always been embarrassed when my mother came, and my peers saw her covering. A specific veiling or covering style established by the church is the only thing that truly covers the … I still struggle, because people in my church don’t understand. I of course can’t help but rebel. And I love your haircut. Other sects, like the Holdemen Mennonites wear black fabric caps that are made of folded material. I love the idea of being Amish, of belonging to a community. Not sure why. “You will get a boyfriend if you wear a covering,” for example. “Head” means source or supply @ “power” means authority with no indication to symbol. What a better way to witness your faith in our Lord? So, what happens the first day I wear it in 7th grade? The church tried to use folkways and mores to keep us inside the boundaries. I feel like a covering is a symbol. You see the symbol as a rite of passage. You have earned the right to speak on this topic through your own memoirs, Why I Left the Amish and Bonnet Strings: An Amish Woman’s Ties to Two Worlds. Finally, I wear a head covering because I feel a sense of leading to. Woman signify their submission by wearing the symbolic veiling (commonly called a “covering”), as this scripture prescribes. In general, the longer the mans hair, the more conservative his … Was there any symbol in your life you were happy to leave or any that you endured through creative positioning? Our daughters and sons stopped wearing bonnets and suspenders to fit in with their peers, but the most important thing for us has not been how they look, but that they know they are loved–the heart of our faith that never changes. That usually involves some kind of symbol to show that you are part of the group. Men are to be modestly dressed too not just the ladies. Thanks for sharing your own story of contrary results and for using your own zany humor to connect watermelon seeds, a Bible, a sexual predator, and your own creativity. It always saddens me when Scriptural reasons for doing something are overshadowed by cuture or ‘conformity’ to a particular style or community. But there are those who would pity us for that, because they cannot imagine themselves separate from their community. You can also find some on Etsy.com. Since I didn’t ask permission for attribution, the actors in the stories are anonymous: I love these stories because they show how boundaries beg for creative responses, which women supplied many times. Thank you, Saloma. A demonstration of how Holdeman Mennonite women do their hair. It was decided that the women would wear black mantias. I have come to realize one thing, that it is” a heart issue and not a head issue.” Many women wear a covering, know matter what size and have bitterness and ill feeling in their hearts. I never minded as all my friends wore one too. I … Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Conservatives would say that the Lancaster Conference gave way to the pressures of the world. I enjoy trying to wrap my head and heart around my own motives. A prayer covering or 'head covering' is what we called it. Dates have a way of acquiring meaning, sometimes before, sometimes after some cataclysmic event. I was saved from the hardest choice by the fact that the church itself was changing. However I only was expected to wear the covering at church and at home when we prayed at meals or at family worship. Christine, I wrote a comment that has not shown up here. Hi again. He agreed, but he said his father-in-law insisted on the practice. Thank you. No. Please come back again for Part Two. I was always buying camis to try to be more modest, which really didn’t work. As noted above, that’s why both Amish and Mennonite women wear coverings, which are often just doilies repurposed to the tops of their heads. But being Amish and wearing the covering to show that you are, is not a part-time thing. I hope everyone reading this post will click on the link above. We all must make our way thru customs and traditions that uplift and protect us. Women may wear dresses or head coverings. Many phases in their lives are the direct outcome of their interpretation of portions of the Bible--including their hats, bonnets, hooks and eyes, their whiskers, and the cut of their clothing. It had to be long and braided. We in the east called people in Kansas, Indiana, and Illinois “western” Mennonites. There are basically two kinds of cultures — those based on the individual and those based on community. You raise so many other interesting questions. I have, however, been “shunned” for my choice of hair length (super short). Different hats go with different occasions ball caps in summer, straw hats for gardening or the beach or perhaps a specific type of hat is part of a uniform worn for a job. Can we really be individual in this world? It is a badge of membership. I think it is sad that putting an emphasis on the wrong reasons for covering have turned so many against it. I want to know more! Many people associate Mennonites with buggies, bonnets, and separate communities, much like the Amish.While that is true of Old Order Mennonites, the vast majority of this faith live in society like other Christians, drive cars, wear contemporary clothes, and are actively involved in their …
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