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Pastor Issues An Apology For Making Girls Wear One-Piece Swimsuits, And His Honest Letter Goes Viral
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Pastor Issues An Apology For Making Girls Wear One-Piece Swimsuits, And His Honest Letter Goes Viral

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Bryce Brewer has been a pastor for 20 years. During this time, he has given what he now calls a “ridiculous ultimatum” to more young girls than he can count, insisting they only wear one-piece swimsuits to church-sponsored events.

But on a recent shopping trip with his fiancé and her 10-year-old daughter to find a one-piece suit for a church summer camp in Spokane Valley, Brewer came to an important realization.

“I wandered with them through several department stores and through Target trying to find a cute-but-appropriate one-piece bathing suit and they’re very very difficult to find,” Brewer told TODAY Parents. “I watched a frustration build with both of them, almost a dejection.”

“I wondered, how many young ladies did I subject to this event over 20 years of ministry?” Brewer continued. “Times when, because of me, they were desperately searching for a one-piece bathing suit and couldn’t find one?”

So he turned to social media to explain why he now finds his earlier comments on “appropriate swimwear” cringe-worthy.

Image credits: pexels (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: pastorbrycebrewer

“Women are all shaped differently and for a male to come in and say what a female should wear? That’s the most ridiculous thing in my head now,” Brewer said. “Those conversations and meetings? It breaks my heart that I said some of the things I did. I was totally missing the point.”

As his open letter is making headlines, the pastor hopes he will inspire others to avoid making the mistake he did.

“The number one thing I hope comes from this is that we as leaders, especially in the church, would walk in humility and stop pretending we are the ones that have the answers,” he explained. “I truly am sorry, and my intention was to say that and to say that while my heart may have been in the right place, I missed the boat in this area.”

Understanding and admitting your faults (as well as apologizing for them) are not signs of weakness. They show inner strength and growth. And people are glad this pastor was brave enough to choose this path.

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    Here’s how people responded to Brewer’s post

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    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    Read less »
    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

    Read less »

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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    Ragnhild Nilsen
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A friend lived in USA for a couple of years, and her daughter was in daycare. During summer they had a small paddling pool/wading pool the children could play in. My friend asked why her daughter hadn't played in the pool with the other children, but was told that since she didn't have a top..... The girl was THREE years old. There are no boobs to be hidden at that age.

    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was little, in the US, in fact, we ran around naked/topless as girls. Who cared? So I think the evangelical right-wing religious types are somehow pushing this idea of "women are tempters from he**" into mainstream culture to such a point that it's ridiculous. Frankly, I vote we let adult women go topless. It's flipping hot outside! We'd like to not be suffocated in bras and tops while men can go shirtless! It's almost 40*C here!

    Load More Replies...
    Dhukath
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The "sin of lust", the act by men of forcing women/girls to cover themselves creates the issue, by hiding away "God given" bodies it creates mystery, boys believe there is something overtly sexual about cleavage/boobs, backs and bellies! Normalize the the human form from an early age, normalize breast feeding! Also, the "Seven Sins" are mentioned nowhere in the bible, just another man made form of control!

    Natalie Kudryashova
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lust is not a sin, it’s an entirely normal and natural thing to feel. Acting on said list in inappropriate and creepy ways is the problem, not the lust itself

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Ragnhild Nilsen
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A friend lived in USA for a couple of years, and her daughter was in daycare. During summer they had a small paddling pool/wading pool the children could play in. My friend asked why her daughter hadn't played in the pool with the other children, but was told that since she didn't have a top..... The girl was THREE years old. There are no boobs to be hidden at that age.

    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was little, in the US, in fact, we ran around naked/topless as girls. Who cared? So I think the evangelical right-wing religious types are somehow pushing this idea of "women are tempters from he**" into mainstream culture to such a point that it's ridiculous. Frankly, I vote we let adult women go topless. It's flipping hot outside! We'd like to not be suffocated in bras and tops while men can go shirtless! It's almost 40*C here!

    Load More Replies...
    Dhukath
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The "sin of lust", the act by men of forcing women/girls to cover themselves creates the issue, by hiding away "God given" bodies it creates mystery, boys believe there is something overtly sexual about cleavage/boobs, backs and bellies! Normalize the the human form from an early age, normalize breast feeding! Also, the "Seven Sins" are mentioned nowhere in the bible, just another man made form of control!

    Natalie Kudryashova
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lust is not a sin, it’s an entirely normal and natural thing to feel. Acting on said list in inappropriate and creepy ways is the problem, not the lust itself

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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