DarinS

Not sure where you live in US they probably would have gotten a substitute I know our brothers wouldn’t ignore the direction we received if you will have your regional convention soon - you will receive some additional direction in in our case all with Assembly assignments Attendants /Baptism /Finances(inside) will have Tie and Jacket in other countries I’m sure things are different our recent CO visit he commented on some taking the direction bit too far in being casual both male and female One brother there said some look like they are going to a nice restaurant and others look like they are going to a club @ mtg with CO we had several show up with a suit without a tie but we had 2-3 look like they forgot to iron their clothes - a bit to sloppy funny side point — all those reaching out for MS and Elder were dressed a bit sharper and probably more than 70% of Appointed (24) wore tie and about 50% had a jacket

Anybody GIVE or Receive a talk on hospitality recently? —any great ideas or illustrations? Anybody have any good experiences - their own or to someone else? Need some inspiration …working up the hospitality Outline and need some motivation to work on it….. Thanks to all in advance

Someone specifically asked about those kind of shirts in South Florida In South Florida they are considered casual, A few fancy restaurants won’t let you in dressed like that in this locale so I was answering his question

No Hawaiian shirts no Guayabera shirts in South Florida we see them at social events but not meetings I foresee some mild drama-unfortunately TODAY - Sisters pants = 4 adults - 1 teen & 1 child the teen was a bit casual (several sisters also mentioned it)looked like party wear 2 of the adults wore pants that were extremely tight - not good 2 looked ….. normal? … business like? the 9 year old looked the best to me simple slacks - shirts and small jacket ( I complimented her in front of her grandparents) only 1 appointed Brother (out of 25) skipped a tie 2 baptized visitors from France skipped Tie 3-4 publishers were sans jackets BOE met and agreed to request ‘normal’ wear until we have some more detailed instructions (we expect this soon) so Ties for Brothers conducting Service jacket and Tie for those with ‘additional congregation meeting duties) Ties and jackets for parts and those who might be ‘back-up’ only thing still VAGUE ….. what is CASUAL? How are y’all defining casual??????

Sorry Jeans are NEVER considered Elegant - perhaps you meant a different word look up the definition and the current view - they are always considered casual - possibly business casual by some Elegant is actually the exact opposite of Jeans or Spandex YES jeans are appropriate for work and other environments - but they are never considered Elegant by the world …and our standards are SO much higher

There is an older article that says Denim or jeans do not belong at the Kingdom Hall….. keep in mind it is an old article - but havent seen a change and its listed as not to be worn to Bethel in the Visual pictures provided to each cong and posted in many KHs

Take a picture - i have about 100 - used for work - service - public teaching secular - teaching @ meetings still common here in the business world as an fashionable expression and most appointed will still wear @ meetings - since we all need to be prepared to help with parts and the 8-10 brothers with non-teaching assignments/duties

@rodejong If this content bothers you to that extreme then you do not need to participate If you have any Scriptural reasons, or something in writing - feel free to provide that for us all —otherwise it is mostly opinion —we are all able to have and share our opinion - and sometimes a reference to a spiritual precedence helps me see things from a different angle; We do have multiple references in writing and in the Scriptures to look to mature Christians for examples and to follow their pattern since this is a BRAND NEW situation here in the US - I appreciate the wealth of information and images and discussions it has been a SORE point for many folks here…..for many years so although some content is highly humorous and nothing should be posted that is distasteful or making fun of individuals I personally appreciate the unaltered pictures of fellow brothers - GB - Helpers - Bethelites - cong publishers which show variety and modesty …. It helps me formulate some thoughts i can share with local brothers especially with the 20+ young men in my hall who often request some direction or input This thread specifically has helped me in numerous discussions several with older ones who are rigid and not willing to adjust to the changes several with young men on the new freedom….and the responsibility to remain modest and presentable several with sisters explaining/comparing how this can be viewed as momentous for the brothers in the US and quite a few with appointed brothers on reasonableness, balance, individuality and not going beyond what’s written I do agree that we all need balance and need to show respect - and hope we continue that in this thread

Has anyone done anything cool with their Outlines I would also like to maybe just pull the scriptures from an outline - to read and review separately

Yes - its almost a coincidence….more likely they were recorded last summer / fall / early winter 2023 We have had bearded brothers doing Bethel morning worship, comments, Gilead and branch committee school students with beards for the last 3 months

We installed something similar from Home Depot - black grabber with kind of self seating action (kind of similar to the gray ones someone posted the self stick eventually separate because of the regular usage lasted less than 3 months only installed 1 set not 2 we screwed them into the side of the sound cabinet - now they never get lost / set aside or dropped your looks nice - and clean looking although I can see the drywall probably made a mess

At Pabo The fact of the matter means we have written instruction Until that instruction has been superseded by a new letter The previous instruction applies We’ve been told in letters that, unless something was countermanded by a follow up letter, all guidelines remain in Play sometimes brothers need gentle reminders of this fact

Perhaps some do not know the definition of FAD noun an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object's qualities; a craze. since this is the first known hairstyle created by our father it can not be considered a fad since it is the longest lasting and original - the word dad does not apply Why would any mature spiritual adult humans cause issues with our negative opinions about propriety - when our father created us this way don’t see any possible justification by a balanced adult Jehovah choose to reveal this ‘Light’ or understanding might it be because during tribulation we may not have a handy razor - I don’t know Might it be that we will look like our ancient brothers / men of old / those we study with Might it be to create Unity among us worldwide we all may have questions - but rejoice in the new ‘Light’ If you encounter some naysayers Ask how long it to them to accept Jehovahs revealed light on Bible scripture / Principles or how long until they supported 50 hr pioneering or how many months they kept reporting their time MOST of us accepted these truths/changes/adjustments immediately and rejoice that obedience was blessed in the past and ‘release from bondage’ is blessed now ….. lol

In case you did not know Hawaiian shirts where approved for Hawaii a short while ago …..like 1-2 years i think (i heard the islanders also consider it formal wear….idk) they were told it is allowed for service and meetings - there was probably a post here somewhere about it

Uggg autocorrect he looked good / great smiling and happy

I switched to full face instead of half…..it covers face and beard

He looked last weekend..l he was the branch rep for assembly Sat and Sunday

This weekend is Circuit assembly with Branch —GB was clean shaven saw hundreds and hundreds with beards Even speakers and demos a few made jokes that they didn’t recognize others i went out of my way to tell most of them that they looked good or looked sharp - You needed to see the big smiles burst forth on almost all their faces It was sad to hear that in a few halls there is only 1-2 , and still frowned on yet it was encouraging to hear the happy comments of those who were appreciative and expressed their pleasure and the great majority seems to accept the change and where happy for their fellow brothers (approx 3,000 attended) Only saw 1 ‘weird beard’ but he also had a half shaved head …. So I think it was a newcomer Pioneer meeting on Friday had approx 50% bearded including speakers and parts (Attn - 315 pioneers)

Seems like more ‘I dont really agree’ or mild shaming than I'm used to seeing here i like to look at it this way…ITS A POSITIVE THING those who were obedient in the US …are now able to wear beards with impunity that means NO negative issues within the congregation AND it should mean no negative issues from MATURE Christians —-—those who are immature will always complain about things they dont like my congregation has 30+ already and LDC this week had 20+ sporting facial hair if we really want to be technical….. this was purely a tradition of men….in the US like White dress shirts of ‘days past’ yes we were obedient…we were worried over the weak conscience of many and those stuck in (‘Hippy’ Mentality) ——(btw most adults during ‘Hippy days’ <primarily the 1960’s> were born in the 30’s or 40’s-and have passed away) since we absolutely promote ourselves as a UNITED Christian family —-the US can now be UNITED in appearance with other all other countries and congregations in Europe I personally know of…. often have 20-30 men with facial hair is it a fad….NO def - FAD- an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object's qualities; a craze. SHARED ENTHUSIASM …..absolutely will some change their minds down to the road to wear/not wear facial hair….sure is it crazy …NO does this effect or determine MENS qualities -…NO will it be short lived ….no …..based on continued facial hair in many other countries so I choose to rejoice with any who now can change their look without ANY negative connotation GOOD for you BROTHERS

well ... there is the first problem....im sure we will see many more "Issues" almost all of those fall into "unnatural colors" and would therefore be inappropriate for hair color I see more than some of us sporting the Grey / whitesh beards tho.....lol

I like both glad you now have the coice

Why not troublemongering - just wondering why you think its a family decision instead of personal? (i don't have to worry - my wife says she would loVe to see me in a beard, but my daughter dislikes the idea.) ---and i do agree that its best if married couples discuss their feeling/preferences.... then again we dont discuss as a family if they should wear or not wear makeup --i trust them to act modestly and not bring any dishonor to Jehovah's name we also dont discuss whether my son and i should get a haircut to a certain length now if we were dressed poorly - it is the obligation of the parents or head of house to address a poor choice in hairstyles or clothing... but that would apply to modesty, perhaps tight or loose dress or not wearing ripped nor dirty jeans or not to get a worldly fad style haircut wouldnt a beard be closer to the personal choice of.....do i wear a necktie or a bow-tie and then the beard wearer should ask - Does THIS beard look modest and is it well groomed.....

Well…….Imight have seen that…… he and his brother both They could probably grow in a day…. Because of their ethnicity. It was kind of funny looking when I was a kid

Had a bout 15-20 texts this am from my friends I was in hospital about 2 years and not allowed to shave for a few months (doctors orders) - so i had a healthy beard ....temporarily quite a few joked on ZOOM and said they were jealous -- and today they sent me texts to say they could now grow a beard also....lol then they started sending me crazy pictures of beard styles....really outrageous beard pics so I was wondering if we could have some discussion of beard types and moderation and modesty (my post from early am was merged into this one) but id like to jump the gun and have some thoughts in mind when we have these discussions later in the week/month there are probably 20-30 beard TYPES?....and obviously some are crazy...and NOT appropriate so what do you think is appropriate - what have you seen besides neat clean and well-groomed

Now that we have some official news in the US from the Governing Body... It will spark many discussions we have had several here in the past... not wanting to review old discussions nor incite looking for balanced counsel and conversation to share with my fellow brothers --having 75 folks under 25 yrs of age in my hall---Im sure this will be a lively topic for them gonna jump the gun and ask for your advice on helping them think through this choice and pitfalls to avoid