very surprised at the reaction at church.

[Kornkob]

Being distracted, annoyed, disturbed, offended by how you view someone else is the "personal" problem of the offended person. They have decided people should look, act and appear a certain way. They are not open to others ideas about how to dress.

While I agree in spirit, I can understand a different perspective as well---

The pastor has a limited amount of time in which to impart the message he is trying to convey. If attendees are distracted by the dress of a particular person, it digs into the pastor's time and has an impact on his ability to convey his message. I'm not saying he's right to bar someone from church over a kilt--- I'm saying that there may be a logical reason for not wanting distractions during services.

In my experience, you have a greater chance of coming to a satisfactory resolution to a conflict if you operate from the assumption that the person you are dealing with has a reasonable and valid position.


(I would think that the pastor could use the kilted person as an object lesson in tolerance, acceptance of cultures other than your own or prejudice based on someones appearance--- but then I don't know how one chooses the message for a congregation)

[dutchy kilted]

I remember a few weeks back there was young man in Canada who wanted to wear a kilt to graduation and was refused. Rather than rant and rave, he presented a well-thought-out arguement on how he was honoring his family and his hertiage, was not being disrespectful, etc, and he ultimately prevailed (FREEDOM!)
Find pictures of current and former LDS leaders kilted, get opinions from other LDS bishops and higher-ups and then plan your meeting.
Way to support your son! And anyway, when DID Jesus wear bifurcated garments?

[Andy Proffitt]

AAHHHH yes, the old crusader arrogance.
"We've got to kill these bloody heathen savages. We're trying to save their souls, but they just won't knuckle under."
You can be a good man or you can be a good Church goer, but it's hard to do both. I say be a good man, you'll get to hang out with Jesus more.

[Detroitpete]

I posted awhile back about my nephew and his wearing of his first kilt to his school. At the time he attended a private Catholic school where once per week students are allowed a non-uniform day. One of the instructors did not appreciate my nephew's fashion choice and wanted him to change. He spoke with a nun in charge and convinced her that he would come back with a well thought out written statement to why he wanted to, and thought he had the right to, wear a kilt on his non-uniform days. He came back with the statement,which cited his family ancestry, the local ethnographic make up of the surrounding area (replete with Scots, Irish and Scots/Irish) and an extremely well-played arguement that the 'official tartan' of the school was Dress Gordon. The statement was reviewed and he was allowed to wear his kilt on any non uniform day.

Personally, I have worn kilts to Mass, protestant services, Unitarian functions, Islamic interfaith services, Synagogue, Pow-Wows and Wiccan Circles. Never had even the slightest suggestion that it was unwelcome.

[Cygnus]

Personally, I have worn kilts to Mass, protestant services, Unitarian functions, Islamic interfaith services, Synagogue, Pow-Wows and Wiccan Circles. Never had even the slightest suggestion that it was unwelcome.

As it should be.

Assuming, however, that the man standing over the cabers in your avatar is you, I would be surprised if anyone ever gives the slightest suggestion that you're unwelcome!

[Big Eddie]

thanks for all the replies. Just to fill in some of the details. He objects to the Kilt because he says it's like wearing an old base ball cap and dirty sweat shirt to sacrament. While he's not a bad man he isn't willing to listen. A bit of the god's representative has spoken. obey. His son rebelled and I think that has something to do with it. Cameron is the sweatest kid there is, intelligent, respectful and obediant but that doesn't seem to matter. His older brother (17) has had some problems with the bishop and alot of the congregation earlier. Not that he is rebellious. anything but rebellious. I have taught him to think for himself and do things because he believes it is right not because someone in authority tells him to. He is respectful but doesn't just doesn't say how high when told to jump.
That doesn't go over well and I think he wants to nip this in the bud before cameron is like his brother. He even took cameron in his office to give him a "blessing" so cameron could understand why wearing a kilt is bad. He did it without my permission or consulting me. I admit that angered me and we will discuss that.
At least my sons and I are haveing fun.

I am also a member of the LDS church. I have just completed my first (poorly constructed) kilt. I wore it to my first Scottish Highland games and then to the following Singles activity on Monday. I received quite a few... unique looks and questions. Some knew I had been hand sewing this project for the last two months and were excited to see it complete. I've decided that I will not wear it to church, but I when I complete my "real" kilt (made with wool and not cotton) especially with my family tartan, i will wear this to church. Especially considering it will be more valuable than most suits I purchase.

I'm anticpating a unhappy reaction from my branch president, equivalent to a Bishop, but I'm not worried about it.

I know that in another ward that meets in our same building, there are several men who attend church kilted and any other priesthood meeting in the same dress.

[Scrapper]

Ironically, as a child I attended St. Margaret's Church in Scotland, CT. Kilts everywhere. All the time. Pipers, too.

I don't tell anyone how to pray in their own church, but this bishop seems to be projecting his own impressions without scrutinizing them first. I hate that.

[wildrover]

A bit of the god's representative has spoken. obey. His son rebelled and I think that has something to do with it.......His older brother (17) has had some problems with the bishop and alot of the congregation earlier........I have taught him to think for himself and do things because he believes it is right not because someone in authority tells him to. He is respectful but doesn't just doesn't say how high when told to jump.
That doesn't go over well and I think he wants to nip this in the bud before cameron is like his brother. He even took cameron in his office to give him a "blessing" so cameron could understand why wearing a kilt is bad. He did it without my permission or consulting me. I admit that angered me and we will discuss that.

That guy is an asshat. If he'd lighten up, maybe his kid wouldn't have been so inclined to rebel. Find a new church...one which is run by kindness, encouragement, wisdom and inclusion rather than authority. I'm not a religious guy...for the most part, I don't like religion, because it's too easy to turn it in to a matter of the exercise of human authority based on human prejudice, and this old boy sounds like a prime example to me. Nip what in the bud? Independent thought? Reason? Logic? Common sense? None of those things conflict with religion or spirituality...but they all certainly carry the potential to conflict with human authority. Keep doing what you're doing...sounds to me like you're raising your boys better than he would, and if you feel they need spiritual guidance, there are better people to deliver that guidance than your current priest.

CLEARLY ignorant of the matter. Perhaps there is a way to educate him although that might threaten his authority since he feels it necessary to dictate who can come and how dressed. He probably just watched Braveheart too many times.

The guy is offensive. Just take his authority away...whether it's by removing it completely and publicly, or simply removing yourself from his authority.

Being distracted, annoyed, disturbed, offended by how you view someone else is the "personal" problem of the offended person.

I would love it if the world worked that way.

In my experience, you have a greater chance of coming to a satisfactory resolution to a conflict if you operate from the assumption that the person you are dealing with has a reasonable and valid position.

And what if they have neither a reasonable nor valid position? Does their humanity alone rate their argument the same degree of consideration as one which is reasonable and valid?

Yeah...you know what I'm thinkin'...I'm not gonna say it, but I'm thinkin' it so hard you can probably hear me all the way over there.

The bottom line is, it sounds to me like you guys need a new priest...or a new church. At the very least, the guy is a jerk, and at the rational end of the spectrum, you and your priest have such widely variant opinions on how to raise a child to adulthood that I can't really see any benefit to allowing him to be an authoritative presence in your sons' lives.

-Sean

[bdkilted]

I wear my kilt to church on St. Andrew's day and Arbroath day (or the Sunday closest) each year, and have only positive results. Yes, there are a few jokes about me wearing a skirt, but it is in good fun and taken that way. I have attended Methodist, Bible and non-denominational churches in my kilt and have never had a problem.

[ctbuchanan]

I'm Roman Catholic and I've worn my kilt to church on many occasions. Christmas Midnight Mass is my favorite because the Buchanan Modern looks so seasonal it's great. I always wear it on the anniversary Mass of my Mother's death out of respect for her Scottish birth. I have received only positive comments at all times.