Eugene, OR – Pastor David Street of New Fish Fellowship has been sanctioned by the church’s council for preaching with a tucked in dress shirt. “I’ve never seen anything like this in the whole two weeks I’ve been on the council,” said deacon Heath Gray. “It’s shameful. Shocking this could even happen, especially here in Eugene.”
Street has been pastor of the church for 16 years, since he was 29 years old, and has always worn a dress shirt untucked every Sunday. “I turned 45 a few weeks ago and it got me thinking about how I dress in front of my congregation – my flock, if you will,” said Street. “I figured I was getting older now and don’t want to come across as some slacker who just got out of bed preaching the Word of God. I didn’t want to dress like my 15 year old any longer. But I didn’t expect this type of reaction.”
According to parishioners, what has made it worse is that he doesn’t wear flip-flops anymore, either. “When I saw him walk in with those laced up leather shoes, belt, and tucked in shirt, I knew this wasn’t my church any longer,” said Kaitlyn Hardy, 23. “I mean, even his sleeves weren’t rolled up. I just cried and haven’t stopped crying for a couple weeks now. What’s next, a tie? I pray every night that Pastor Street will see the error of his ways and repent soon. I. Can’t. Even.”
To help quell the uproar, Pastor Street met with the council Thursday night to discuss the situation. “We’ve agreed on a compromise. One Sunday I will have my shirt tucked in, rolled up sleeves, no belt, dressier blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. The next Sunday we’ll alternate to shirt untucked, buttoned sleeves, a belt nobody will see, ripped jeans, and flip flops,” said Street. “If there are five Sundays in a month, we’ll call the last one Pastor’s Choice Sunday. I just might wear a suit that day with a trucker hat just to mess with everyone, God willing.”
