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