Don Whitney on Pastors’ Clothing

One of the things I like so much about Don Whitney’s ministry is how he addresses so many concrete practical things- often times things others have not thought to address. I recommend you browse his site occasionally to read the various articles there.
I recently came across a brief piece of his titled, “Clothing Tips for Ministers”. He makes clear that he is not wanting to exalt appearance over godliness, but simply to offer guidance. He states:

So I’m writing these clothing tips specifically to help the minister … who sometimes must dress up, but who feels some need for guidance on the matter and cannot afford to spend a great deal on clothes….
But no minister wants his appearance, especially on more formal occasions, to hinder his ministry in any way or be an embarrassment to those he represents. So to help ministers dress at these events in ways that will not be a distraction or a stumbling
block, and yet be as affordable as possible, I offer these suggestions.

What follows is great advice on ways to save money, including what items and colors are most versatile. Whitney notes that most of what he mentions is what fathers once handed down to their sons, but obviously these things are not being handed down so often today.
I think this is a very helpful article.

One Comment

  1. Anom. pastor: If the majority of the congregation "dressed up" I probably would as well. In our congregation you have no suits and ties. Many men wear Khaki pants/dress shirt and some wear jeans/dress shirt or t-shirt. I ended up going back and forth… it is not an issue. Some ladies wear dresses and some don't

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