1 Corinthians 11:4-6

"Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head."

Men should never wear head coverings in worship, to do so dishonors Christ. But when women worship publicly, they should wear a head coverings to honor their husbands. The head covering is not the hair itself but some form of covering that goes over the hair—this much textually is indisputable. What is fairly disputed, however, is if the practice is still normative today. I believe that it is, and I will consider the scriptural reasoning further as I work through the next several verses.

This passage of scripture seems so clear to me, but not everyone has come to the same conclusion. In fact, I am in the minority among today's conservative Bible believers. Therefore, it is important for me to note that disagreement on this issue is not a source contention. It is also important to note that the external form, while important, is not as important as the underlying imperative for the husband and wife to be properly related to one another before God.