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)

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.

Here’s how people responded to Brewer’s post

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