Do churches welcome the stranger?
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Since Emily and I moved to Durham, we have visited several churches in the Raleigh-Durham area just to get a feel of the religious life here. After serving as a pastor for the past few years, I have really looked forward to getting the chance to worship in different settings and different congregations.
One of the aspects I have been especially attuned to in the past three months has been the different ways churches go about welcoming strangers through their greeting and hospitality ministries. As you can imagine, the approaches range from the "highly effective" to the "virtually non-existent."
For instance, we noticed one church near our neighborhood right after we arrived in town, but we could never figure out when worship services were held. The church did not list its worship times, phone number, or website on the marquee out front. I actually stopped one day to inquire inside, but the church was locked up tight and there was no information printed on any of the exterior doors. When we finally just showed up at the 11:00 hour on a Sunday morning, we were treated with a friendly-but-awkward attitude that said, "We know you are strangers, and we have no idea what to do with you!" Not surprisingly, their poor approach to hospitality was mirrored by lots and lots of empty pews in the sanctuary.
I write more about the issue of welcoming the stranger in my U.M. Reporter column this week. If you have observations or thoughts on the role of hospitality in a church's ministries, I would be interested to hear them.
One of the aspects I have been especially attuned to in the past three months has been the different ways churches go about welcoming strangers through their greeting and hospitality ministries. As you can imagine, the approaches range from the "highly effective" to the "virtually non-existent."
For instance, we noticed one church near our neighborhood right after we arrived in town, but we could never figure out when worship services were held. The church did not list its worship times, phone number, or website on the marquee out front. I actually stopped one day to inquire inside, but the church was locked up tight and there was no information printed on any of the exterior doors. When we finally just showed up at the 11:00 hour on a Sunday morning, we were treated with a friendly-but-awkward attitude that said, "We know you are strangers, and we have no idea what to do with you!" Not surprisingly, their poor approach to hospitality was mirrored by lots and lots of empty pews in the sanctuary.
I write more about the issue of welcoming the stranger in my U.M. Reporter column this week. If you have observations or thoughts on the role of hospitality in a church's ministries, I would be interested to hear them.
Labels: Hospitality, Worship
posted by Andrew C. Thompson at 6:51 PM
5 Comments:
I park my motorcycle right beside the bus, brush out my shoulder length hair and enter the church just about every Sunday morning. At first they didn't know quite what to do with me either, Andrew, but I think they've gotten used to me now.
The point is it also takes people that are already members time to get acquainted. If a person is willing to base their decision of whether or not to return on just the first 11 minutes then I doubt they really wanna to be there in the first place.
Clark, if you are not Clark Warden, then please forgive me. If, however, you are Clark Warden, I am GLAD to see you every Sunday morning. I'm sure that you get any number of reactions when you come to church. But, no matter their reaction, you stroll right in like it is Home. And you know what? That is JUST what it is and should be...our home, our refuge! I love you my brother in Christ!
I agree with you, Clark, that if some people only give you 11 minutes to make the decision of whether or not they want to be part of a church, then for them, tye might be being a little too hasty. However, some of those people may just understand that for some churches that is the status quo...you know...you have to get to know them to really understand the heart.
I also agree with you, Andrew. My Dad recently visited our church. I had to stay home with my sick daughter. Since my wife is the Youth Director, she was bopping around prior to the service and they happened to miss each other. He arrived and sat by himself during the service. After returning home, he said he enjoyed the service and visiting Pastor Pedro's message.
I thought this was a good time to ask his opinion of the friendliness of our church and whether or not he was made to feel welcome. He said a couple of people did say hello to him (and I bet you that you, Clark, were one of them).
In the first 11 or 30 or 2 minutes of entering a church, I believe you can get the feel for the heartbeat of that body. Someone who is searching for a place to belong, a place to connect, a place where his/her soul can be fed, nurtured, and loved...that person will know whether or not there is a heart that beats.
I feel that FAR too often we, and I include ME in the "we", want to connect and share with those we know or are comfortable talking with, and completely overlook those who are hurting. We overlook those who may be coming to this refuge for lost souls we call "church" because they've heard that there is someone called Jesus that can meet their need. Only, they find people who, from their bird's-eye view, are too busy, too uncomfortable, too WHATEVER to notice their need.
This is no different than the story of the good Samaritan. I bet you that the Jewish man who was beaten and robbed knew very well the "heartbeat" of the priest and the Levite. He also knew the heart of the Samaritan who had the compassion to step out and show compassion as Jesus commanded.
May we never get so caught up in our schedules, conversations, and own agendas that we miss the opportunity to be the very hands and feet of Jesus when the stranger walks in the doors of our churches.
- Brody
I know that I would not be attending the church that I now attend without the way I was welcomed as a visitor. When I think back a few months to the first Sunday I attended, I remember what it felt like to visit a place where the members of the church really cared that I was there. They invited me to the young adult lunch after church and paid for my meal, delivered brownies and a starbucks giftcard, and also offered to send my resume across the church email list to see if anyone might know of any job opportunities for me. While the goodies were nice, the thing that really mattered was that they cared and wanted to help in any way they could. Not only did the church keep me coming back, but they also inspired me to want to do the same for others.
Hi Brody, yup it's me, CW. I appreciate what you say about getting to know a person in order to understand the heart. You are certainly blessed with the ability to show love through you're patience with and understanding of people.
Do you remember the sermon Andrew preached when he said "if you come to church with a me first attitude, you are likely to be disappointed?" The reason I remember it so well is because as soon as he said it, it was as though a celing tile had fallen and smacked me on the head! Oh wow! Man I was busted!
I cannot expect life to meet me half way. I've gotta live life on life's terms and, at least for me, it's the same with going to church.
Hi, just saw your blog on the Blogging Methodists list...
Interesting Post. We had a similar experience while on vacation last week. There were two churches to choose from in the area. One had times and service information clearly visible while the other did not. Guess which one we chose?
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