Hi pale. It's also very troubled in germany. A cong nearby gives an unbaptized hell, for having a little, small beard. But in our cong, the MS is a little bit pissed I think, there happening a lot of crazy stuff. So he's not interested, if he had to step down.
But there is and was never a scriptual reason for beeing shaved. If you look like one of ZZ Top or beeing a sister - there's nothing to discuss, it's inapprobiat. But if the beard looks good, trimmed and so - why not?It's not scriptual, so you don't have to follow.
REALLY??? I heard about it, but I never believed it. A spare shirt? How stupid is the elder and how stupid is the speaker to change the shirt? Hey, if somebody come to you in the cong and tell you: "Your shirt is inapprobiat, take this one!" it will be a dream. Then you get a cheap, used white shirt - and you wear it. Funny. I would go immediatly, laughing and start my car loud, very loud. Or I ask, if he had a shirt from my favorite english shirt-brand or CK, will be perfect also....