In Praise of the Lady in the Hat
When I was growing up they were common in my church, and I suspect in places of charitable works everywhere. Today they are a bit more of a rarity: The Ladies in the Hats.
For those unfamiliar with this concept, let me explain. There was a certain subset of the church lady who always came to church in a hat, which matched the dress, and co-ordinated with the purse and the shoes. There was one on every committee, and involved in every aspect of church life. They had an opinionated take on church history. They knew what changes that happened, and under which minister or choir master. It's not that they, as a group, objected to change -- they just had a strong opinion about everything -- and were happy to share it with anyone within earshot when an opportunity seemed like it might just present itself. They involved themselves in everything, and the church could not run without them.
15 years late and 3,000 miles west and our new church has only one Lady in the Hat. She is a matriarch, full of class and style. We've been attending for over a year, and I don't think I've seen her repeat a hat, and as each hat perfectly matches a dress, I doubt she's repeated any of them either. From what I hear she has chaired almost every board and committee at some point. She is the very embodiment of the old guard at church.
A side note of local church history. Several years ago our church became open and affirming (O&A), which means that we officially like LGBTQ people just the way are (i.e. no need to be in the closet, celibate, or attempting to become straight). Many of the newer members are came to the church through O&A events, such as local Pride events, O&A pot lucks and bible studies. While the O&A group believes that we are open to everyone, there has apparently been a perception (especially in the old guard) that O&A events are restricted to GLBTQ people. (Which kind of surprises me because every notice of an event in the newsletter/bulletin say they are open to all, and many of the regulars at the events are straight, but anyway). Our Lady in the Hat wanted to mix the old guard with the new'ens in the O&A group.
She has taken a tactic that I'm not sure I can imagine any of the Ladies in Hats from my youth doing, but our current Lady in the Hat is hosting the next O&A potluck She wants to be involved with this new group at church. Perhaps I should have waited until after the potluck to describe this, but as I'm treating myself for back pain, I have time to write now, and probably won't for the rest of the week.
I've always respected the Ladies in Hats, but I never had much to do with them, and I suspect they had very little desire to do much with me. It wasn't animosity, it was just divergent interests in the church. I 'm feeling very honored to be invited by our resident Lady in the Hat
For those unfamiliar with this concept, let me explain. There was a certain subset of the church lady who always came to church in a hat, which matched the dress, and co-ordinated with the purse and the shoes. There was one on every committee, and involved in every aspect of church life. They had an opinionated take on church history. They knew what changes that happened, and under which minister or choir master. It's not that they, as a group, objected to change -- they just had a strong opinion about everything -- and were happy to share it with anyone within earshot when an opportunity seemed like it might just present itself. They involved themselves in everything, and the church could not run without them.
15 years late and 3,000 miles west and our new church has only one Lady in the Hat. She is a matriarch, full of class and style. We've been attending for over a year, and I don't think I've seen her repeat a hat, and as each hat perfectly matches a dress, I doubt she's repeated any of them either. From what I hear she has chaired almost every board and committee at some point. She is the very embodiment of the old guard at church.
A side note of local church history. Several years ago our church became open and affirming (O&A), which means that we officially like LGBTQ people just the way are (i.e. no need to be in the closet, celibate, or attempting to become straight). Many of the newer members are came to the church through O&A events, such as local Pride events, O&A pot lucks and bible studies. While the O&A group believes that we are open to everyone, there has apparently been a perception (especially in the old guard) that O&A events are restricted to GLBTQ people. (Which kind of surprises me because every notice of an event in the newsletter/bulletin say they are open to all, and many of the regulars at the events are straight, but anyway). Our Lady in the Hat wanted to mix the old guard with the new'ens in the O&A group.
She has taken a tactic that I'm not sure I can imagine any of the Ladies in Hats from my youth doing, but our current Lady in the Hat is hosting the next O&A potluck She wants to be involved with this new group at church. Perhaps I should have waited until after the potluck to describe this, but as I'm treating myself for back pain, I have time to write now, and probably won't for the rest of the week.
I've always respected the Ladies in Hats, but I never had much to do with them, and I suspect they had very little desire to do much with me. It wasn't animosity, it was just divergent interests in the church. I 'm feeling very honored to be invited by our resident Lady in the Hat