From http://members.aol.com/cogwriter/cmc0929.htm

Guidelines for Church Dances: The Church of God teaches that dancing is an acceptable form of recreation for members and their families. The rules and traditions we have established for Living Youth Camp dances teach the way of outgoing concern and of decency. These rules and traditions are as follows:

1. All music must be chosen carefully, with a very conservative approach, and with the approval of the Festival Coordinator or an individual he specifically assigns this task.
2. No “free-style” dancing is permitted since this usually involves inappropriate music and brings out an attitude of abandoned inhibitions and showing off; thus focusing attention on the self rather than showing outgoing concern for others. Exceptions to this are some line and novelty dances.
3. Fellows should politely ask a young lady or woman to dance i.e.: “May I have this next dance?” If the lady accepts, he should offer his arm to lead her out to the dance floor. When the dance is over, he should lead her back to her table or chair.
4. Concerning teens, we do not want anyone left out. Therefore we discourage “pairing off” of teens at our church sponsored dances and encourage dancing with many partners, particularly noting who sat out the last dance. Older singles and engaged couples who are of age may be exempt from this rule.
5. Music should not be so loud that those who prefer not to dance have a difficult time carrying on a conversation.
6. Lighting should not be turned down so low that the average person could not read a book with ease.
7. At any dance organized primarily for youth, all parents are welcome to visit.
8. Appropriate dress for a Church dance in the Northern Hemisphere is slacks, coat and tie for adult and young men and modest knee length dress or long gown for adult and young women. A Church dance is not the place for a “personal statement.”

Despite the obviously abusive control illustrated in the above quote, I still find myself strangely nostalgic when I think about my time in the WCG, especially now as it’s fall and time for the Feast of Tabernacles. The wonderful excitement and anticipation of the coming week when you arrive at your accommodations — of course this depends on the fact that you’re middle-class and could afford a decent place and knew, from the beginning, that it would be a decent place. The anticipation when you walk into the auditorium for the first evening’s service and you’re scooping out the place — of course this depends on whether you’re in the “in” crowd and you can rest assured that you’ll meet someone for a “Feast fling” or at least friendship. Making plans for that first night after services, or going out to lunch between services — of course this depends on whether you have the money to afford going out to eat for every meal, like we did.

My memories of the WCG are almost all positive, I guess, because I wasn’t the victim of any abuse. I didn’t lose my job because of the stupid Sabbath regulations; no one in my family refused to take medicine and died as a result; we had fairly decent relationships with all our extra-WCG family members. In other words, I didn’t have to give up much to be in the WCG. I didn’t get to go to school dances, and I wasn’t able to swim at Saturday meets, but that’s a relatively small price to pay — more of an inconvenience than anything.