What We Believe About Head Covering

We believe that 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 teaches that, for Christians in every age and culture:

1. 1. Men are to keep their hair short (1 Cor. 11:14) and not wear anything artificial on their heads (hat, scarf, etc.) when “praying or prophesying” (1 Cor. 11:4).
   2. Women are to keep their hair longer than men (1 Cor. 11:15) and cover their heads with something artificial when “praying or prophesying” (1 Cor. 11:5-6).
   3. Husbands are called to lovingly lead their families, and wives are called to submit to their husband’s loving leadership (1 Cor. 11:3, Eph. 5:22-33).

We believe that head covering is a visible symbol of God’s order of authority, an order summarized in the Danvers Statement on biblical manhood and womanhood, which we affirm as a basic summary of what the Bible teaches on this topic.

Our movement extends charity to those who differ in how they practice this. Some believe head covering is for church gatherings only, while others practice it in everyday life. Some see it as connected to modesty, while others view it solely as a symbol of authority. Some believe all hair should be covered, while others believe a partial covering is enough. Some believe it applies to adult or married women only, while others encourage young daughters to practice it as well. And while some describe the principle behind the symbol as complementarianism, others prefer the term biblical patriarchy.

Our movement welcomes people on both sides of these debates.

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Our Purpose

The purpose of the Head Covering Movement is:

1. 1. To recover and normalize head covering as a biblical and historic Christian practice.
   2. To initiate conversation and study of this neglected passage of Scripture (1 Cor. 11:2-16.)
   3. To make a strong, positive case for practicing head covering today.
   4. To provide biblical responses to questions and objections about this practice.
   5. To remove false stereotypes and negative associations connected to head covering.
   6. To make our site a comprehensive resource hub for people who want to study this topic.
   7. To build a community where those who practice head covering can connect, encourage one another, and be reminded they are not alone.
   8. To spark a movement of theologically informed Christians who embrace this symbol with humility and grace.

What We Value

The following values are important to us and are built into the fabric of everything we do:

1. 1. Being faithful in biblical exegesis and relying on high-quality sources.
   2. Valuing the wisdom of the early church and learning from those who have gone before us.
   3. Communicating our beliefs in a respectful, non-combative way.
   4. Responding charitably to those who disagree with us.
   5. Representing opposing viewpoints accurately, as their supporters would wish to be represented.
   6. Practicing ecumenism by serving and welcoming contributions from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians.
   7. Loving the local church and keeping the gospel central.
   8. Producing content that is beautiful and marked by excellence.

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To learn about our Christian theology, please read our statement of faith.