Week 10

Given to Hospitality by D. Hardy Ashbury

The author's premise is that hospitality should never be limited to the first visit, month, or even year of a person's journey with a worshipping community. Hospitality must be part of everything the community does and its ultimate goal is the building of relationships, with Christ and within the community. In her introduction, the author says that hospitality is the major determinate in whether visitors return and eventually become assimilated as vital and productive church members. Like other authors, she believes hospitality must be genuine. When hospitality is anything else, it can act as a repellent driving away those we most hope to engage.

Offering numerous scriptural references that express how critical hospitality is to relationship building, and the work of salvation, the author examines what she calls the seven levels of involvement and the minimum depth of hospitality needed to help a person progress from one level to the next. The ultimate goal for the author, is to have the community engage the person who is seeking so to build a relationship that leads then them to a relationship with Christ. As relationships deepen, so too does a person's commitment to Christ and the community. The depth of commitment envisioned is not just regular Sunday attendance, but a life that helps draw others into relationship so that they too may know salvation in and through Jesus Christ. The seven levels of involvement are:

7. Commitment (Ministry)

6. Education (Lay Minister Training)

5. Cooperation (Volunteers Services)

4. Participation (Begins friendships)

3. Evaluation (Checking validity of what they find)

2. Investigation (Learning what is being offered)

1. Consideration (Initial Visit, Seeker)

Everyone starts out seeking. What they are seeking, they don't often know, they just know that something is missing. First impressions are critical in this level. Whether it is the website, the church appearance, the greeter at the door, the music, or the message preached, if they do not feel invited by what they see or hear, they will keep looking. It is hard to overcome first impressions if they are less than welcoming.

Should they decide to return, next comes the investigation level. This level is where the person begins to explore what is being offered. Questions often asked at this stage include, was the first impression valid, and what does the community offer the individual. Proclamation of salvation is important, hope is essential, but most people who are seeking aren't initially looking for this, they are looking to fill a void in their lives with something tangible long before they are able to see this void is filled by something more spiritual (a relationship with Christ). Invitation is an important tool of hospitality at this level as the person must feel welcome to participate in what they find or to ask questions.

Once an invitation has been accepted, the next level is evaluation. Does what they experience measure up to their expectations (regardless if they are self-imposed or promoted). Is what they find genuine, does it meet their need, does it challenge them to continue their journey? This is the level trust develops and relationships begin. If the answers found feel more like hoops to jump through, than a shared experience, or they feel like they are being asked to do something they can see other members are not doing, then the person is unlikely to move any deeper in their involvement.

Should a connection be made (the author suggests at least three connections or relationships) then the chances a person will move from evaluation to participation increase dramatically. A problem many communities face is that once a person enters this level, the community begins to see them as a member and it focuses its attention on the next person. People can spend much of their lives at this level, operating on the fringe of parish life. They may help with a soup kitchen, donate during clothing drives, maybe even help with the maintenance of the building, but unless their relationship with fellow parishioners begins to guide them into relationship with Christ, they will not be able to make the transition to the next level.

Once a person begins to develop their relationship with Christ, there is a sense that they will begin to move of giving something to giving of themselves. This is known as the cooperation level. In this level, the person begins to discover their gifts and explores how they might be used. The cooperation is between the individual and the Holy Spirit. With the right encouragement, through the relationships already developed, the person looks beyond themselves and the personal satisfaction of their efforts to genuine service to others on behalf of Christ. The trust that has developed enables them to let go of their own needs so that they are better able to embrace the needs of others.

Individual efforts in the cooperation level, while growing in diversity and meaning, may still be somewhat superficial in nature. Yes, they are deepening their relationship with Christ and they are serving in ways that they might not have envisioned earlier in their journey. However, it is in the education level that they really learn about ministry. It is imperative that people be given the opportunity, in a save and welcoming environment, to struggle with the differences between service to God and service to self. In this level, the training offered should help the person find the place their gifts meet the greatest need. Once they have found their niche, the next experience they will encounter is seeing the difference God is making (thought them) in the lives of others.

Seeing what God is doing through them, a person moves from being a servant to being a disciple. It is at this level a person makes a commitment, not just to the community, but to Christ. "Newcomers cannot ascend the seven levels of involvement without help and encouragement" from others. The author believes that genuine hospitality enables a person to ascend the first six levels in about six months. While the step to the last level is dependent upon the Holy Spirit, an environment that surrounds a person with visible and real examples of what this commitment looks like is made possible when hospitality permeates each and everything the community does.

The path from consideration to membership will be different for each worshipping community. However, to help the newcomer navigate it, the path should be clearly identified and be one that all members follow. Along their journey, the newcomer must feel welcomed where they find themselves and invited to take the next step in faith.

Week 9

Making Your Church More Inviting by Roy M Oswald

This book was a bit different than some of the others on our sabbatical reading list. It is not a book filled with 'things to do'. Instead it is a workbook for use by parishes to "explore ways in which church members can invite and welcome others to their church with integrity, authenticity, and ease". As other writers have emphasized, hospitality is not something that can be faked or manufactured. If it is to be realized by guests and visitors alike, it must be genuine. The author strives to help parishes find their genuine forms of hospitality, in other words, being who they truly are, not trying to develop a facade that entices people to become part of something they would like to be, but offers those God sends the parish a real image of who they are.

Through a 15 session process, the author guides a group of individuals through an assessment of the parish's current practices to identify those areas on which they can build, and those areas needing some work to overcome the obstacles every parish faces as it strives to grow. Interestingly, the author begins with a summary of the types of churches and addresses some of the same underlying, often unseen, barriers to growth that the author of Raising the Roof highlighted. Before undertaking such a process, like others, the author also agrees that the community must desire to grow. Such growth must be desired, not to balance the budget, but to help others to enter into and grow in their relationship with God through Christ.

What makes the process described by the author different than others I have encountered, is that there is an intentionality given to prayerful discernment. These are not simply brainstorming sessions to develop a list of programs and processes, that in the end up sitting on a shelf; they are not tools to use to force change upon a community that does not sense a call to change; and they are not a means through which clergy can pass the buck to others. Each session is intended to help its participants identify the parish's ministry to both those who God sends and those who are already part of the community. Why the two pronged approach? Mostly because once a person has made the decision to become a member, some communities turn their attention to the next person they hope will decide likewise. When this happens, the welcoming feeling a new member once enjoyed begins to fade and they begin to feel unimportant, maybe even invisible. Once these feeling have taken hold, it is only a matter of time before they begin looking for the preverbal back door. At the heart of this author's message, like so many others, is the need for relationships and engagement. In modern vernacular, they need to not only feel the love, they need to be able to express it too.

Ideally, the workshop would be made up of eight to ten people, some of whom are current leaders in the parish; and others, whose gifts and passions for inviting and welcoming, bring an authenticity and integrity to the process that helps the end product truly reflect the community's visible, and invisible, presence and being. The team should be multi-generational and comprised of both new and long-time members alike. It should also be as diverse as the parish so to include the voice and perspective of the various groups within the community. Unfortunately, the reality is that to build such a team would be next to impossible. So parishes are encouraged to begin where they are able with those who feel most called to take on the commitment of 15 sessions, and those who are open to the possibilities such discernment reveals. Only in this way, is the end result genuine.

I will not cover each of the fifteen sessions in this review. Suffice it to say, the questions tackled during each session (which the author envisions as 2-hours each) are intended to peel back the layers of the onion we call hospitality to get to the core of what binds us together and to then let go of the stuff we have allowed to contain it or even hide it from the view of both those whom God sends us and from ourselves. One area I found enlightening, was the session looking at the parish expectations (both written and unwritten) for membership. Others have written about this but none have addressed it as directly as this author. If we say all are welcome, but choose to acknowledge only those who look like us, think like us, or who are willing to be controlled by us, we are not really an inviting church; and those who enter will sense it quicker than we realize it.

Another area that the author delves into is how the parish interacts with and engages youth. Youth programs on Sunday mornings, or during the week, should not be childcare services; nor should they be without substance. Youth have questions they want answered just as much as adults do; and a community that fails to provide them with an opportunity to ask those questions, and a safe environment in which to do so, will find that once they lost the interest of the child, the parent's interest is soon to follow. Likewise, if adults are not comfortable seeking the answers they have, then no matter how engaged the youth are, the possibilities of them becoming participating members of the community are slim. On the flip side, when a parish focuses heavily on youth, or families, what happens when adults without children, or without a spouse, find their way into the community? Even if they are able somehow to develop relationships with members, and ideally one with Christ, unless a person is able to break through to the inner circle of the community, they will remain on the periphery at best; or seek deeper relationships elsewhere.

Based on the author's method of helping a parish find ways to invite and welcome new members (and to further engage those who are already part of the community), I believe what the author is saying is that a key deciding factor in a person's commitment to becoming a fully participating member of the community is the image of the community we portray. If the image is genuine from the start, if there is a clear path to follow to get beyond any barriers to relationship, and if what people find is what is expected (and hoped for) then the chances of a person making such an commitment increase dramatically.

The bottom line, what I take away from this author's work, is that inviting is not something we do once in a lifetime, it must be continuous and done for the right reasons. Likewise, welcoming (or hospitality) does not end at the front door, but must be part and parcel of all that we are and all that we do. While the smile on our face is important, it cannot just be something we do when we know we are being looked at. The joy a smile reveals must be genuine, because guess what, we are always being watched. Not just by God, but by all those around us. When the joy we express is real, it shows. Something I have taken away from all my readings thus far, when this type of joy is encountered, people want to embrace it, they want to know it for themselves, and they want to share it with others.

Next week's review: Given to Hospitality by D. Hardy Ashbury

Week 8

Raising the Roof by Alice Mann

This book was not on the original sabbatical reading list. However, after reading so many books discussing the need for a program of intentional hospitality, and the impact such a program can have on a parish's life, it seemed wise to read a book that takes a hard look at the changes that accompany the growth that follows the transition of guests from observers to active and participating members. The focus of this author was on the changes .and struggles experienced as a parish moves from pastoral to program in size.

At CHS, we may feel in many ways that we are already a program church. We have ministries, we engage the community in various ways, we offer parishioners opportunities for spiritual growth and support, and we have a ever expanding need for additional clergy support as the single pastor model is slowly being stretched to capacity. All these are signs of a church in transition. Still, we at CHS are not quite there yet; we are more what the author describes as a church who has reached a membership plateau that cannot be overcome until we address the passive barriers that exist.

These barriers are not unique to CHS. In fact they are very common in community dynamics. Before I continue, it might be worth a moment to describe where we are. According to the author's metrics, we are a growing pastoral size parish. Our average Sunday attendance is between 100 and 150 (before sabbatical we were averaging 115 each weekend), we have a single pastor, a part-time administrator, a janitorial service, and a part-time organist. We also have a steady number of guests and our guest retention rate is near 25% (meaning 1 in 4 become active and participating members). Our growth exceeds departures, but not by a whole lot. Add to this a heavy reliance on the pastor to care for and be present during moments of crisis for each member and the desire to have the pastor be part of the various parish activities, puts us right at the cusp of making the jump from pastoral to program.

So what holds a parish back from moving from where we are to the next level? There are of course the active barriers we need to overcome; barriers that revolve around power and control. In some parishes it is the laity who struggle to hold power and in others it is the clergy. While both have the same desire, to see the parish succeed, one or the other thinks their vision of success is the more correct one to hold onto. With the help of an outside moderator, and with prayerful discernment, most parishes can overcome these barriers. The barriers that are harder to overcome are the ones unseen by the parishioner, but are obvious to the outsider looking in. The author calls these passive barriers and then goes on to list six that negatively impact growth more than any others.

The first is that the parish has a desire to move beyond the four walls of the church in both service and in the desire to bring new people into the community; however, there is no plan to do so. Waiting for people to find the church instead of taking the church to where it can be seen is a real problem in many parishes. No matter the amount of newspaper advertizing, or how flashy a website is, if a parish sits back and waits, it will never really grow. Just as programs of hospitality must be intentional, so too must programs of invitation. We cannot be so focused on strengthening the current membership we ignore those were are called to reach. Therefore, to overcome this barrier we must be out and about sharing, inviting, and being the body of Christ.

The second barrier to overcome is the struggle between quantity and quality. At the heart of this barrier is a parish's belief that the higher the quality of the worship experience, the more people who will want to be part of what is happening. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. A parish that offers a great experience (whether it be a powerful praise band, heavenly choir, or even a liturgical rich offering) yet lacks depth will find that it can too will not keep guests for very long. Once the feeling wears off, if there is nothing that helps the person make the connection between worship, community, and Christ, then they will simply continue their search for that special feeling. To overcome this barrier, we must offer sound preaching, spiritually uplifting ways for people to connect (think build relationships) and a worship experience that is true to who we are.

The third barrier is one most parishes don't even consider, seating. If people are packed in the pews, the guest will feel like there is no room for them. Conversely, if they attend a service where the pews are nearly empty (no matter how exciting), they will feel there is no life in community. The tipping point the author sites as passively unwelcoming is when 80% of the seating is either filled or empty. Worth noting, this is not 80% of the fire marshall seating capacity (approximately 24-30 inches per person); it is based on at least 36 inches per person. People have not only grown larger physically, but the desire for personal space has become a real issue for many. To overcome this barrier, either add another service or use a space for worship that gives the guest a feeling of 50% filled.

The fourth barrier, is another one that on the surface doesn't seem to have a very big impact, but in reality presents a real challenge to growth; that is, the parish is not staffed for growth. This is not just an issue of paid staff. It includes the number of volunteers in leadership roles. Overreliance on the 20% who tend to give generously of their time or just the abilities of the paid staff, shows the guest that there is no need to be actively involved or that there is no place for them should they desire to be. As other writers have discussed, most people want to feel they make a difference, if there is no way for them to do so, they will find somewhere else where they are needed. To overcome this barrier, begin by engaging more of the membership and encouraging active participation. Secondly, if there is a growing need, expand the hours of a staff member or hire additional help. This may require a step of faith for parishes, but the benefit realized is well worth the commitment.

This leads directly into the fifth barrier, one that has stopped more parishes from growing than some of the above. This barrier is a budget that is designed for sustainment instead of growth. This is more obvious to an outsider who is not used to the wobbly handrail, or the dim lights used to conserve energy, the poorly maintained church grounds, or the out of date bathroom fixtures. If the community is using its resources to only take care of the big things, and leaves all the little things just good enough, it shows. Likewise, a budget that focuses on the needs of those who are already members, and that does not intentionally look to bring in new members is a budget destined to run dry. We don't bring new people in for their financial contributions, we bring them in to know Christ. However, once they make the connection, they often wish to find broader ways to use the gifts and blessing they have been given to do even more. Where does one begin, in faith. Moving beyond the typical 50% of active membership who pledge something, to a number closer to 75% will give the parish more than enough to reach out into the community to invite and engage those who do not yet have a relationship with Christ.

The last barrier is probably the hardest to overcome. For many parishes, the change in intimacy between clergy and parishioner becomes the most significant barrier to dynamic church growth. Members desire growth, but are unwilling to let go of what makes the community so special to them. The end result, guests are starred at, and despite the smiles of welcome they receive, the underlying message is that they are not really welcome. This is not just a problem for the laity. Clergy too can have such a desire for personal relationships they fear growth knowing that to do so would mean they have less personal interaction with those they serve. The only way to overcome this barrier is for laity and clergy alike to agree that the community has a desire and a calling to grow.

In chapter four, the author begins to outline a program of discernment that addresses this key limiting factor to growth. This is not a 15 week program that uses a checklist, but a year-long discernment of who, what, where, and how the parish is called to serve. A few years back, Kevin Kostner made a movie in which he felt called to build a ballpark in the middle of a corn field. The underlying message, build it and they will come. When it comes to church growth, it requires more than just building, there has to be a plan on how to deal with those accept our invitation. While the plan the author provides is sound, a parish unwilling or unprepared for growth will simply not grow, even if the plan is followed religiously. The question for CHS... Are we ready to grow?

Week 7

Lasting Impressions by Mark Waltz

In the opening chapters I found myself excited about the author's emphasis on encouraging guests to become connected to God and the worshipping community. His passion was centered around the truth that "all people matter to God, all people". I was also pleased to hear him describe the building of relationships as a journey and not a process. Many churches he says seek to create a process that takes people from where they are to where the congregation believes they should be. The problem is, that not everyone is able to get from A to B in the time most congregations believe it should take. I liken his hypothesis to the game of chutes and ladders. Having a path to travel is important, but some people will take the shortcuts up the ladder and some will slide backwards, either to avoid an obstacle or commitment they are facing, or because they slip backwards due to worldly influences. When a path is too rigid, while its intent is to provide both a comforting and safe path, it can be so overwhelming that those traveling it look for a way to get off of it as soon as they can.

Most people the author says "need time to connect, to develop trust, and to share in an agenda". Churches that seek to push people along a preconceived timeline will undoubtedly fall short and drive away more people than they keep. When growth does not exceed decline, the church is headed in the wrong direction; a direction that leaves the building hollow and empty, even if there are people still sitting in the pews. To give people time, the author favors what he calls on-ramps. I have used this term before and in the same way as the author. On ramps are those ways people move from outsiders to full participating members of the community. These on-ramps can take a variety of shapes. However, one thing they all have in common is that they are intentional and designed to offer easy and non-committal ways to engage in the ministry of the church and make it their own. These on-ramps also are about introducing people to one another so that the relationships formed help participants know and understand God's grace as it is revealed through one another, an ultimately through Christ.

When developing these on-ramps, the author is quick to point out, too many choices and people will be more likely to pass them all by. Not because they do not want to get involved, but because there are too many choices. To show the dynamic of this phenomenon, the author talked about going to a restaurant that has a multi-page menu. If there are too many choices, it can be overwhelming and the person may either abdicate their choice to the waiter's recommendation, order something they are familiar with, even if they can't find it on the menu, or if they haven't made a commitment by sitting down and engaging the waiter, they may simply go somewhere else where the choices are less daunting. On the flip side, too few choices and the person will feel there is no freedom of choice, and opt for someplace where their ability to choose is more easily found.

For these reasons, the author encourages communities to develop on-ramps that give people the opportunity to find the path most comfortable to where they are along their own faith journey. The primary ramps offered should be focused in time and scope, including both short and medium levels of commitment. Deeper commitment comes with time and is not the impetuous behind on-ramps. Seek this deeper commitment too quickly and one is sure to scare someone away; don't seek it at all, and before long, the same person will grow tired of wandering and seek a deepening relationship elsewhere. For this reason, on-ramps need to be "visible, easily accessible, and inclusive". If we want people to take the next step on their faith journey, with us, they are more apt to do so when they feel the place they put their foot is stable and safe. One way to overcome their anxiety is to avoid overuse of church language. Putting things in the language of those who are listening, instead of those who are speaking, invites and encourages those who would otherwise be overwhelmed by a call that they cannot understand. For instance, telling someone to go through the undercroft and take the stairs to the narthex, grab a bulletin and have a seat in the sanctuary would be too like the menu with too many items, just too much to take in.

This does not mean it is better for the church is to use jargon, slang, or to speak in a voice that does not speak from the soul. The community must be true to itself. However, when our language and our traditions, are more important to us than the relationships we can have with those God sends to us, then we have a problem. People want to know they are valued, and telling them they are not important until they learn the inside nature of our community, tells them they are not really welcome. That, the author points out, is not the lasting impression we want to instill in those who join us along our journey. Instead, we should desire to show them how they can make a difference, how they can take part in the work of the church while still become comfortable with the church as an entity. On-ramps make it easy for them to do this, especially when the on-ramps invite people to give something a try without long-term commitment.

Commitment comes over time as connections are made, trust develops, and people begin to see the agenda (the ministry) as their own and not someone else's. For some this happens quickly, for others, it just takes time. The challenge is laying out a path that gives them the time they need to sort through life's demands and God's grace.

Week 6

Fusion: Turning first-time guests into fully-engaged members of your church by Nelson Searcy.

The author opens with a discussion on why having a clear plan in place to help the first time guest make the transition to a fully engaged member is so important. Like other authors, this author points out the reality of front and back doors into and out of the church adding that if the ratio of those staying is not higher than those leaving, the church community is declining. If declining, then he says the parish must evaluate why. The community must understand what about itself encourages some guests to stay and others to leave.

Some things the author admits are beyond the control of the community. However, according to the author, the most essential ingredient needed to foster the transition from guest to member if firmly in our grasp. At the core is a sense of intentional (and natural) hospitality from the time they first look at us to well after they have left the building. Why is such hospitality so critical? It is critical because society has changed. What people once expected of and from the church has changed. Also, because many in the world have little or no connection to a worshipping community and therefore only see the church through a secular point of view and the general consensus is that all the church cares about observance to difficult rules and their money.

Citing the journey of one particular family, people who accept an invitation to "Come and See' often do so reluctantly. Unless the community is able to overcome the preprogrammed vision of what that first encounter will be like, there will not be a second chance to do so again. "Creating an environment that makes First-time guests feel welcome and respected is key" to any program designed to help people develop a relationship with Christ and those in the community they encounter. This doesn't mean that the community hovers over them like a helicopter, but it does mean that guests are cared for and made to feel comfortable.

Like other authors, signage is the first step in offering a comfortable atmosphere. From the advertising, to the website, to the signs on the premises, not only must they truthfully reflect who we are, they must make it easy for the guest to find what they are looking for. For instance, if we say that we are friendly, and the guest walks through our door unnoticed, wanders through the place feeling lost, than our signage is not truthful. One sign often overlooked, according to the author, is the church grounds. When either the outside or inside is in disrepair, and we say we are a thriving community, there is another disconnect between signage and experience. Also, when someone walks through the doors, and they are nervous, they often seek to mask their nervousness by looking for the restroom. When signage does not help them overcome their initial nervousness, or a very real biological need, they must ask. Again, another disconnect.

Throughout this book, the author lays out a plan that lets guests know they are welcome, valued, and seen as a gift from God, not a number on an attendance record or a wallet to empty for the benefit of something the community values, but to which the guest has little if any knowledge of. Much of what the author suggests resonates with other authors on our sabbatical reading list. One area the author spent a lot of time explaining, was the importance of getting contact information. His use of a communication card has merit, and with teaching could easily replace the standard guest book used by so Episcopal churches. The reason this information is so critical, is that the success of any ministry designed to help people transition from first-time guest to that of a fully participating member, requires some degree of follow-up. It is impossible to follow-up if there is no knowledge of who they are or how to reach them.

The follow-up model highlighted is not unique, we do some of what is discussed already. What is important to the author is that it be intentional and grace filled. Pointing out that people who visit fear being placed on a mass mailing list or hounded by well meaning parishioners, any follow-up must be inviting, not intrusive, and it must be personable. In churches our size, the pastor and one or two volunteers could easily manage the program he lays out, but as the congregation grows, a larger group would definitely be needed.

According to the author, the only way to know for sure that any program is successful, is not that more people are sitting in the pew, but that more people have made a commitment to the community. While service (involvement) is an outward sign of such commitment, service can be used to hide the fear of commitment too. One can serve without committing oneself beyond the service being done. This is why a membership class becomes a vital tool in helping people make the transition from guest to member. I have long thought about developing such a class, and the model the author offers is a good starting point to do so.

Overall a good book filled with inspiring insights and well worth reading and studying.

Next week's book:

Lasting Impressions by Mark Waltz

Week 5

Welcome! Tools & Techniques for New Member Ministry by Andrew D. Weeks

Written only a few years after the release of the Kevin Costner's movie "Field of Dreams", the author challenges parishes to ask the question; when they come, are we ready. Most parishes he argues are not. Without a well defined process to invite, welcome, and incorporate those we encounter, than it is like scattering seed on unprepared soil. There is a chance things can happen, but if we prepare the soil first, ensure a plan is in place to care for the sprouts, then the chance of success increases tenfold. His point, such a process does not have to be elaborate, but it must be intentional.

The process begins beyond the four walls of the church. In the past, people went to the church they grew up in. As people's mobility changed, so too did their expectations of the church. New needs offered new challenges and churches unwilling to invite, welcome, and include the traveler, and at the same time strive to meet those needs, found that people who wandered in, did not stay very long. True in the 90's, true today. We must be ready to invite, welcome, and include the traveler. While generational needs are more varied, the author says there are some basic needs all have. If a church is to be successful, it must not try to be all things to all people, but focus on meeting the basic and timeless needs of those we encounter along life's journey.

Despite the rise in mobility and social media, the author insists that the best invitation is still the personal one-to-one. A friend, a family member, or even a co-worker who invites someone to check out a particular service or event at a local church, will be more successful than the flashiest advertisement or the most elaborate website. However, once the invitation is accepted, unless the person invited finds what they have been told to expect, or on the second visit they find that the warmness and excitement of the first visit was only a facade, then the chances of keeping them around long enough to develop the relationships needed to feel part of the community, is slim.

The church, just like a business, must be honest about what they offer and who they are. While it is important to ensure we present what we offer in the best light, it is equally important that every aspect of our presentation be genuine and reflect the same degree of importance as our words. From the website, to the church grounds, to the signage, bathrooms, and child facilities; from our worship, our coffee hour, to our post visit follow-ups, all must say that the good news we profess permeates our very being. People have become skeptical and are constantly looking for the catch, the thing we are really after. If what we are after is not them, for the reason we profess, then again, they will not stay along for very long.

The author offers several tools parishes can use to invite, welcome and include those who do not yet have a relationship with God, in and through Christ, and those whose relationship has waned over the years. Early in his book, the author says that not all the tools he offers are needed, and that there may be better tools available and already in use. What they do offer, is a process that prepares the soil for planting, and that cares for the harvest as it grows. At CHS, we already have some of what the author describes in place, but we have gaps that allow people to slip through unnoticed or unengaged.

In closing, as we examine our own tools, there is one comment the author makes very early in his book, a comment that really speaks to the world today; a world that has become less connected to the church than when the book was first written. The author says "we cannot assume everyone knows what we have to offer". We must be clear in our presentation, we must ensure our presentation is unified, and we can no longer sit back waiting on the traveler to find their way. We must be pro-active, and we must be intentional, if we are to live into the fullness of our ministry of building and deepening relationships with God and one another.

Next week's book:

Fusion: Turning first-time guests into fully-engaged members of your church by Nelson Searcy.

Week 4 - Book 2

Welcome to our Church by Annette Schroeder

This 48 page book, written to help train Greeters and Ushers in smaller sized churches, is packed with information, questions, and checklists. The opening lists were an interesting read and cut to the chase without all the flowery dialogue that often accompany the dos and don'ts of a particular task. As the author moved into the first part of the book, covering the Greeter Ministry, she did a fairly nice job unpacking some of what she outlined up front. Most notably was her insistence that greeters are more than a smiling face or outstretched hands, but hosts who strive to ensure the visitor's experience is a good one.

Worth noting, as compared to other books I have been reading, this author much preferred the use of the word visitor. The only time she used the word guest, was when she talked about the guest book. I struggled with this, especially with her view of greeters as hosts. As a training tool, this book viewed the interaction between greeter, usher, and visitor as one that is a task to be accomplished. I did not find the theological underpinning I have from other authors. Still, the book did offer some good advice.

Whether as greeter or usher, a key component of the ministry is attitude and enthusiasm. If one's attitude is not welcoming and focused on the other, than the other will not find the warmth and connection they seek. "Visitors need more than a parking space and a bulletin" or a smile. They want to feel welcome, comfortable, listened to, and important. Even if the words used are right, body language speaks equally as loud, and if the two don't match, than the chances are the visitor will notice it rather quickly. If it is different enough, they will likely not make a second visit.

Enthusiasm is also critical. If the visitor encounters someone who genuinely enjoys being where they are, and what they are doing, than it goes a long way to helping the other feel like the community is one they would like to explore more fully. Of course this enthusiasm can be overwhelming. That is why the author warns greeters and ushers not to seek commitment from the visitor on their first visit, not even the commitment to come back and worship with them again. Instead of commitment, offer invitation. Thanking them for being present and inviting them back is less stressful on the visitor and lets them know they are important.

The author's transition into part two, a section on ushers, she quickly differentiated the two jobs. Greeters handle things up to the worship space, and the ushers take care of things inside the worship space. Pointing out that ushers are hosts for the worship service, she says they have a responsibility to ensure that visitors do not feel lost during the service. Ushers can explain things to visitors who might not be familiar with the parish's worship practices, sit visitors next to someone who can help them navigate the service, nd when needed, they can invite and encourage the visitor to participate as they are seen as an authority figure.

The checklists for training both greeters and ushers overlap in several areas, most notably in their shared responsibility to make the visitor feel welcome, comfortable, listened to, and important. At CHS, some of the duties assigned to greeters and ushers are picked up by our Vestry person of the day. One final note, the author is emphatic, that greeters and ushers should be in place at least 20 minutes before a service and for a period of time after the service begins. Nothing is worse than to have someone show and not know where to go or what to do. There is no more unwelcoming or uncomfortable feeling than this. Also, she says greeters and ushers should remain in place for a period of time after the service begins, especially in those cases where the worship space is not immediately accessed entering the building. In this case, greeters escort them to the worship and ushers seat them at a time that does not disrupt the service.

This book was a quick read, straight forward, and offers a variety of ideas on how to divide responsibilities. Unfortunately, I do not think it brings to the forefront the role hospitality plays in the interaction between the church, its members, and those who walk through its doors. Having said that, I could see it used in conjunction with other materials to help broaden the understanding of what these two essential ministries can offer.

The book to be reviewed next week is:

- Welcome! Tools & Techniques for New Member Ministry by Andrew D. Weeks

Week 4 - Book 1

Finding Them, Keeping them by Gary McIntosh and Glen Martin

While the title of this book intrigued me, I was a bit hesitant to read it as it was published in 1992. Afraid the material would be dated, I was surprised to find how much was still relevant. Granted some of the images used were dated, like trying to program a VCR, the relative newness of computers, just to name a few; on the first page the authors laid a truth that's timeless. "People are looking! Looking for God, looking for supportive relationships with others who love and care for them. The thrust of this book: Finding those who are looking for God and keeping those who are looking for relationships."

I know what some of you are already thinking, a book on evangelism. You're right. That is exactly what this book discusses in no uncertain terms. However, one interesting note the authors make, is that no matter how important evangelism is, unless you help someone to deepen their relationship with God, and the community, their newfound faith will soon wither; and as it does, they will look for ways to gracefully, or not so gracefully exit through one of the church's back doors. Again, this author is not talking about the physical doors of the building, but the ones that exist as a result of a community's inability to develop friendships and help guests truly become part of the community.

Back doors such as these have been discussed in other readings I have reviewed. There are other back doors, those opened by death and transfer for instance, but the two above are ones that most parishes can do something about. Getting people in the door, the authors say, is only a matter of effort; it is keeping them coming back that is the hard part. One tool the authors encourage is something called 'Friend Day', a service or event everyone strives to invite at least one friend to. These are great, and if the experience is great enough, they come back again. But what happens when the experience they had at the special event is not what they find in the day to day life of the community? That too is a problem.

The way guests are welcomed and then included is the same challenge today as when this book was written. People are still looking for relationships, people are still looking for meaning in their life, and people still want to know what they do has meaning also. For this reason, the authors are less concerned about the door greeters, the ushers, even the quality of coffee hours, although all these are important, but on helping people build friendships. It is only through friendships and relationships that people move from outsiders, to insiders, to fully participative members. In chapter six, the author delves deeper into the levels of inclusion pointing out that until someone is in relationship, with God, with Christ, with those they worship with, there is not a sense of belonging or accountability. Once relationships are forms, there is commitment to the shared work of the community.

To build relationships, the author has many different suggestions on ways to go about doing so. The key, is that whatever is done, must be intentional, and genuine. People can tell when something is superficial and once identified as such, it taints the rest of what is being done to such a degree, that people will begin to look for one of the back doors that exist. One suggestion, that is still very relevant in relationship building today, is small group ministries. We have some at CHS, but most are intended to accomplish a task. What the authors intend are groups that have purpose beyond just the needs of a particular ministry, but groups that develop bonds between its members and helps them discover and explore the possibilities that exist, both inside and outside the church.

This book would make a great group study as it offers thought provoking exercises at the end of each chapter intended to help the reader discern what they are doing, and what they might do, to invite, welcome, and help build the body of Christ, all the while deepening relationships between ourselves, others, and God.

Week 3 - Book 2

Church Greeters 101 by Rev. Christopher Walker

This book was a very easy read and offered practical steps to training members of a Greeter Ministry. From the beginning, the author states there is no perfect greeter program and what works in one place may not work in another, even though the two places seem very similar. I found the bottom line of his point to be that any greeter ministry is dependent upon those who participate, their personalities, and their training. While this book is about training, a critical factor in any ministry according to the author, personality and intentionality are really the essential elements required if the greeter ministry is to be successful in welcoming guests, helping them to feel comfortable, get connected, and have a reason to return when invited back.

The author points out that a successful greeter ministry only begins at the door, but is really a ministry that extends throughout all aspects of a guest's experience. Having said this, he pointed out beyond a real welcoming smile and a genuine desire to know the guest (or those they do not know), not everyone involved with greeting have the same responsibilities. Like other authors, he seems to break the ministry into three key groups, all of which are part of the other. There is the door greeter, the transition greeters, and the ushers. Each has an area of responsibility with its own personality and training needs. In the appendixes following his text, he gives a suggested break down of training needs and responsibilities. Although not all inclusive, these are offered to give a parish a starting point if they are just beginning to establish a greeter ministry.

As I mentioned, the author believes greeting goes on through everything a parish does, the term he uses is layered. The danger of course is to try and do too much greeting and either smother the guest or make them feel like they are running a gauntlet. The author says that instead of posts, watchful eyes can be just as effective. See someone you don't know, see someone looking around like they are lost, offer to help. The temptation is to ignore the guest and continue in your conversation, but the example he uses is a gentle breakaway from the ongoing discussions with friends (who will understand when they see why you need to break away) and to give attention to the guest. How one does this is critical. Begin by introducing yourself and asking how you can help (i.e. Hi, my name is Winston, how may I help you?).

This open ended question offers an opportunity for conversation. Here's the catch, if during the conversation the guest lets you know this is their first time at CHS, then offer to get them a cup of coffee and show any children to Sunday school (if there is time before the service) or offer to show them the way to the worship space. One thing a successful greeter program never does, is point the way and say go forth. He points out how workers in effective box stores seem to drop everything to show you exactly where what you are looking for is. One who points and says half way down aisle six on the left, leaves the guest wondering where aisle six is and where halfway down the aisle what they are looking for is, especially if they have never purchased it before and are unsure of the exact packaging.

One final area the author emphasizes is the good-bye. He believes this to be as important as the first hello. When a guest is allowed to exit the building without so much as an invitation to stay and have a snack or cup of coffee, let alone a good-bye and a thank-you for joining us, they leave feeling unwanted. Really want to send a message? Then the author says don't invite them to come back again. These simple phrases mean a lot to a wandering soul and may be the one thing that encourages them to give the community a second try, even if everything was not exactly what they were looking for when they walked through the door.

This is a very good book that helps describe how each of us can be a greeter, even if we don't stand at the front door or hand out a bulletin. One last thing, he really encourages parishes to enlist a good mix of age groups to participate in this ministry. A family that comes in with little kids and only see us gray hair people doing the work of welcoming, while they think it quaint they will wonder where the kids are; likewise, if only families welcome, then those who are single or older may wonder the same thing. How diverse is our greeter ministry? Something to think about, and maybe something we can build upon. Greeting done well is more than a smile and hello, it is an invitation into community, a welcome that goes beyond simply greeting and reveals itself more as a host.

The next two books I will be reading are:
- Welcome to our church by Annette Schroeder
- Finding them, keeping them by Gary McIntosh and Glen Martin

Week 3 - Book 1

How to WOW your church guests: 101 ways to make a meaningful first impression by Mark L. Waltz

While the book's size makes one think it is a quick read, this book had lots of ideas, 101 of them. I found about a dozen that really grabbed my attention, however they can all be summed up in one simple phrase, helping guests along their journey to relationship. Although the relationship they develop with Jesus Christ is the one most important, the author makes it clear that unless they build relationships with those inside the community, the chances of them staying long term is slim to nil.

One of the author's early recommendations deals with intentionality. There are some smaller churches that are able to make guests feel welcome without any organization, but their success comes from being intentional. In fact several of his suggestions seem to piggy back on this theme and he admits it takes practice. One example he gave was two greeters who were so deep in their conversation on a particular subject, guests walked through the door unnoticed. As they wandered into the gathering space, people looked up, saw they looked like they were lost, but returned to their own conversations. Feeling unwelcome, they turned and walked out without anyone interacting with them.

Being intentional means that when someone you don't know walks in, whether you are the person scheduled as greeter or not, stop what you are doing and ask them if you can help. Important note from the author, don't do so like a policeman guarding the gate, but do so with a sincere desire to be of service. He goes on to say, that when we are intentional about welcoming guests into our church home, our guests are our priority. Another aspect of being intentional is to have teams designated as greeters, and not just at the front door, but wherever people congregate, and that such teams need to be visible. He warns us not to overwhelm the guest (making them feel like they have to run a gauntlet to get to worship) but to be ready to assist. One church I visited had greeters all wearing the same color T-Shirt over their regular clothes.

The author says that everyone who walks through the doors for the first time have a degree of apprehension. Greeters should help to alleviate this tension, not add to it. Greeters therefore need to know the basic, not just wear the bathrooms are, or where child care is located, but the people around them. For instance, if someone walks through the door interested in a particular hobby, and the greeter is astute enough to pick up on it while visiting with them, the greeter should know who to hand them off to that has similar interests or passions. Here the author brings up another great point, when visiting with our guests, we are to talk with them, not to them. Listening is an important part of the journey and how can one show them the next step if they are not sure which direction the person is heading.

Other suggestions centered around cleanliness of the facilities. An unkept gathering space, a dirty bathroom, poor signage are all indications that a community is unaware of the needs of their guest. Here the theme of intentionality bleeds through. If something is spilled, wipe it up, if paper towel are on the floor in the bathroom, pick it up, missing a spare roll of toilet paper, find one. The church is a place that should be treated the same as the living room of your home. Taking care to ensure these and other such distractions are minimized show guests you care not only about the church itself, but those who come to it seeking relationships.

Finally, two areas he discussed that are worth highlighting are to expect new people - really; and practice smiling. If a community prepares for the guest's arrival the guest will take notice, they will feel welcome and not like intruders, and it is easier for them to make connections. A smile the author says tells the guest everything about the community. A fake smile is noticeable immediately, but one that is genuine has such an impact on a first time guest, that even if they feel uncomfortable with other aspects of the worship or building, they will be more likely to give that community a second chance to make a better impression.

Book 2 will be posted tomorrow

Week 2

"The Inviting Church" by Roy Oswald and Speed Leas

As week 2 comes to an end, I have been busy working in the den. The painting is complete, the furniture returning has been placed, now comes the task of putting back what we want to have in the den and then what to do with all the left overs. This is a much bigger project than I expected; so is reading and writing about the books I have on my reading list. Time seems to disappear rapidly.

The book I read this past week took a different approach to hospitality, welcoming, and assimilation. It began by exploring those influences effecting a church's ability to grow that are beyond its control. Interestingly, the first factor explored, which has been the a traditional linchpin for growth in most denominations is the lower birth rate. Second, was a factor the author called 'new volunteerism'. While the first factor is self explanatory, this one was explained as the shift away from self-denial and commitment to a particular church or tradition, and a gravitational pull towards self-fulfillment where personal experience and autonomy are more important than a sense of community. The third factor is the declining baby boomer population. This is the last generation to return in mass to the church (they once knew) as life events called for a response and the need to find something missing in life they once knew. The author believes this factor is now outside the control of the church because later generations lack the grounding in denominational traditions than their predecessors. Add to these three factors the fact that many neighborhoods once growing and thriving with youth, find themselves a neighborhood of those retired or nearing retirement; and that businesses once employing large numbers have downsized or gone out of business all together; and that churches once built out in the open, are now surrounded by neighborhoods and business and are no longer visible to the person passing by.

Of all the factors impacting a church's ability to attract and assimilate new members, three the author thinks are most critical are: satisfaction with worship and program, social action involvement, and congregational harmony and cooperation. The author does a very good job of unpacking what each of these three areas entails. In short, if a person does not walk away from worship feeling something positive (spiritually or emotionally), or the programs offered have no similar impact, they won't stay just because that is the tradition or church they grew up in. Likewise, a congregation lacking social engagement is not a place that post baby boomers are likely to settle in. These generations don't want to just talk about their faith, they want to live it out. They also want to be better prepared to not just fit in, but to take initiative. The last area is almost too obvious to be mentioned, but a guest can feel the unspoken or un-acted upon tension in a community. Body language, the way people gather and interact, whether or not people smile and laugh, are all indicators of a community that is not in harmony. Add to this, when calls for help are announced, when the same two or three people show, and the rest of the congregation sits on the sidelines, it is another indicator of a lack of cooperation and is another turn off to those seeking a place where they are welcome and hope to be happy.

Another interesting point the author makes is in chapter five. Here the author states that the chances of a guest returning is directly proportional to the number of new friendships they make. "If converts (guests) do not immediately develop meaningful friendships in their church, expect them to return to old friendships - and ways - outside the church". If at the end of six months they have not made at least three deep connections (relationships) they will not stay, no matter how exciting the church may have been.

Lastly, the author says that in pastoral size churches (those churches with average Sunday attendance between 100 and 150) a connection to the pastor is essential, if not critical to future commitment. The pastor does not have to be one of the three close friendships/relationships talked about in chapter five, but there must be recognition by the pastor of who they are and an awareness of at least a piece of their story. Programs facilitating this relational development differ from church to church and are not always interchangeable. However, the author believes that there must be some form of parish orientation (led by the pastor), a structured while informal opportunity for guests and senior clergy to interact, some type of inquirer's class  to allow new people to dig deeper into the faith and practices of the parish and faith tradition (again led by a member of parish clergy), some type of membership class (during which the clergy must have a participative role), some way to publically recognize their commitment to becoming a member.

While the author's use of statistics (arising out of a series of surveys conducted on church growth across differing size churches and denomination) were not always helpful, and sometimes distracting, the points raised were all important, but not widely different than other authors I have encountered in my reading. Most noteworthy to me was the authors emphasis on the development of deep and lasting friendships as the one factor most often found in churches experiencing growth. People come where they are invited and stay where they feel welcome.

What's next? Going to try and read two books this week:
- How to WOW your church guests by Mark L Waltz
- Church Greeters 101 by Rev. Christopher Walker.

Both books look to be a quick read.

Week 1

As my first week of sabbatical comes to an end, I have been busy putting away mission trip supplies and completing the last few things needing to be done before rest can really be experienced. Once all was complete, I began reading the first book on my reading list "Beyond the first visit: The complete guide to connecting guests to your church" by Gary L. McIntosh.

I am quickly taken by the author's straight forward language and by his distinction between seeing those who come to the church as guests instead of visitors. As I mention in the July issue of the Flame, I was quickly drawn to a quote taken from The Rule of St. Benedict which read "Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ. For he is going to say, "I came as a guest, and you received me.""

This quote guided much of the book. The author is emphatic that when people come to the church, for whatever reason, they should be treated as guests, not visitors. Visitors he says come when not expected and often we are not ready to receive them. As a result, they feel intrusive and like outsiders making it even harder for them to become part of the community as they must overcome unseen hurdles to be assimilated. Guests on the other hand feel welcomed as they find a place prepared for them. There are no unseen hurdles, and assimilation becomes easier since from the beginning they feel part of the community.

Two chapters were noteworthy for me, chapters 8 and 10. In chapter 8, the author, building on the fact that everyone is a greeter and shares in the responsibility to help guests feel welcome offers a variety of ways to guesterize our church. While several of the suggestions offered apply to larger churches, many can easily be integrated into our common practice. One of the challenges he raises is - are we doing things that work, or are better, for us (in other words for those who already are part of the community) or are we doing things that meet the needs of those we invite to join us. Of course he presupposes that we are inviting those beyond the four walls of our church to see what we are doing.

In chapter 10, the author discusses pathways to participation, what you have heard me call on ramps. These pathways are critical if we are to engage our guests in the ministries we share. Again, the author suggests options that are more easily developed in larger parishes with larger clerical staffs, but I believe an active lay ministry can do much of what is recommended. The key to engagement is the personal invitation, in other words one to one communication. Announcements are helpful, articles in newsletters highlight the needs, but it is the personal invitation that is the most effective. Another critical piece of the personal invitation, is that we invite to the strength and passions of our guests, not the needs of the day. This means we need a variety of ways to engage our guests so that through engagement they might come to see themselves as members.

There is a wealth of information in this book and is well worth the read.

The next book I am reading is The Inviting Church: a study of new member assimilation by Roy M. Oswald and Speed B. Leas.

Update 1

Just a quick update. I will try and post my thoughts and reflection each Saturday and check comments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Sabbatical Begins

This blog is set up to share some of my thoughts and experiences during my 2016 sabbatical. It will also be a place where we can share thoughts on the various books being read by members of the parish and myself along the way. I pray that this will be a welcoming place for dialogue and reflection.