“How did you decide to finally take off your head covering?” My question is deeply personal, so I am not surprised when my cousin, Dorcas, takes several moments to respond.
For women like us, born and raised into the vast conservative Mennonite community in central Pennsylvania, Paul’s writings about the head covering in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 has had an outsized impact on our lives. Many Mennonites, like the Amish, interpret these verses literally. Any woman born into these conservative Mennonite churches is raised knowing that she will start wearing a head covering sometime in her teen years. Confessing faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and then putting on a head covering is a rite of womanhood and a tangible sign of your salvation. Nonconformity is not an option. According to our church doctrine, female salvation and entry into heaven rests on obeying these commands.
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