Paul's meaning regarding head coverings has been debated since time immemorial. Are all women, at all times, and in every place required by divine mandate to wear a head covering when they pray or prophesy? Or do Paul's instructions apply more narrowly than that?

Let's begin with Paul's own words: "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered" (1 Corinthians 11:3–6).

Verse 3 is the key. This passage is about making sure that the behavior of men and women in Christian assemblies is consistent with the God-ordained chain of authority. God the Father is the head of Christ; Christ is the head of the man (husband); and the man is the head of the woman (wife). The head covering, in that society, was a symbol of authority (verse 10). By wearing it, the woman was sending the message to others that she was under the authority of a husband. Therefore, if she prays or prophesies (participates in a public worship service) with her head uncovered, she dishonors her head—her husband. And by dishonoring her God-appointed head, she dishonors God. But this is true only in a culture where the head covering signals submission.

In our society, a head covering—whether a hat or scarf—does not symbolize submission and signals nothing regarding marital status or the chain of authority. A woman, therefore, is free to participate fully in worship services with or without a head covering.