Sharpening the Church's Welcoming Skills IV

Today I wanted to write about greeters and others who engage guests as they arrive at the church. There is some debate among churches who hold a sensitivity to welcoming guests how best to use greeters. Some believe that people who have never been or given up on church want to worship anonymously. They want to come and go without being made uncomfortable by being greeted, asked to fill out a info card, or followed up with. Therefore, these churches provide little in the way of greeters and rely mostly on signage. There is some validity to such an approach.

At New Season, and most other churches though the aim is to set the person at ease as soon as they drive on to the campus. Therefore, there may be persons who help people to park directing them to where they should park. Some churches even ask first time guests to put on their flashers so they can direct them to the designated and prime first time guest parking (I happen to find this a little overkill but again I think valid). Then there are greeters in the parking lot, at the entrance to the building, and before one enters the worship space. At our church we also use a "connector" whose job it is to find what appear to be first time guests and then help them in the process of getting ready to worship (checking children in, getting refreshments, finding a seat) and introduce them to others they will sit near.

Who you choose as greeters is also important. It is imperative that they be warm and friendly people and not curmudgeons. They should have a neat appearance. Also, if you are in an established church and you are trying to reach young people don't put the 85 year old guy who greeted Francis Asbury when he came. As faithful as this long time greeter is, God love him, you need to have some of your young people there. As a young person coming to your church I can then immediately see and be put at ease because there are people like me here. Each church should determine the amount and position of their greeters. There is always a balance. You want people to feel really welcome and that your church is warm, but you don't want to smother and appear like a bunch of kooks!

There are always some important things with greeters that we stress. Smile! Smile! Smile! Whether you are helping to park a car or welcoming people into the building a smile can disarm hostility or make someone feel at ease. Another thing is if someone asks where something is not to just tell them "oh, it is down there past those two doors" but to take them there. And of course, greeters who are paired together must be sure not to be holding private conversations and carrying on while guests are walking by.

All in all, a church can sharpen their welcoming skills by having greeters that are warm and friendly who greet, direct, and seat first time guests.