Thread: Stand and greet time

7 Steps Churches Are Taking to Replace the Stand-and-Greet Time

http://ministrytodaymag.com/outreach...and-greet-time

I would have never expected the response to a topic that seemed so innocuous. On this blog many people were very vocal that they really didn't like the stand-and-greet time during the worship services.

To be fair, there were some defenders of this practice. I was able to segment the hundreds of responses into three groups.

Guests: Overwhelmingly, guests do not like stand-and-greet. Very few indicated they did.
Church members who are strong extroverts. This group tended to be the vocal supporters of stand-and-greet. They really like speaking to both strangers and acquaintances.
The rest of the church members. The majority of the church members did not like the practice. It is the time of the worship service they dread.

Almost all of the guests do not like the stand-and-greet time, and the majority of the church members agree with them. As a consequence, many churches have dispensed with this practice.

But church leaders are finding other ways to keep their congregations friendly during the worship services. In this follow-up post, I share some of the new practices I have discovered.

1. Conclude the services on time. The most natural time of fellowship takes place at the conclusion of each service. But, if the service goes long, many attendees are in a hurry to get their children from the preschool area, or to make previously scheduled appointments.

2. Use the most outgoing members in critical places. One church has a highly extroverted senior adult lady as the receptionist to the preschool areas. Her sole, but critical role, is to greet parents and children, and to provide them a clear guide of where to go and what to do.

3. Ask your most extroverted members to sit by guests and converse with them. Most of those who defended the stand-and-greet time where these extroverted members. Use them in other ways. And if the persons they find happen not to be guests, it's not the end of the world. It's OK for members to talk to one another.

4. Ask your most extroverted members to mingle intentionally before and after the service. There is certainly a pattern developing here. The extroverted members want to act extroverted. Give them permission to do so. A few churches are even offering training for these extroverts.

5. Have clear signage that lets guests know where to go. One church had the following signage at key entry points: "Guests: Follow the signs to our coffee gathering or to take your children to our safe and secure area."

6. Encourage people to speak to each other at the end of the service. If the service ends on time, encourage people to chat on the way out. Those who desire this interaction will do so. The rest will have permission not to do so.

7. Have people wear shirts or badges that clearly indicate they are available to help others. I recently attended an event where people who could provide help wore brightly colored shirts and well-marked badges. A church of which I'm aware does the same. The badge says in clear and bold letters: "I Would Love to Help You."

Ultimately, friendliness is more of an attitude and atmosphere than a planned action. Leaders should provide such examples and continuously remind members to be hospitable and friendly at all times.

The meet-and-greet time is going away in many churches. These are some of the practices that are taking its place. Let me hear from you on this issue.

Thom S. Rainer is the president of LifeWay Christian Resources. For the original article, visit thomrainer.com.

I don't mind the meet and greet time for the most part--it's the "turn to your neighbor" bit that gets me

I can't stand meet and greet. If I want or need help, I will ask for it. The list above is so orchestrated sounding, it just comes across as phoney to me. I suppose in a large church designated people here and there to direct you if needed would be ok. It's just that someone greeting me and acting all friendly because it is their job really puts me off.

A lot people enjoy it and it usually only takes about 2 minutes in most places I've been. It's when it goes on for 10-15min is when I think it's too much.

I can see where visitors wouldn't like it. But sometimes churches can't win. A church can easily get labeled as cold and unfriendly, then when they at least try, they get criticized.

We all probably have times when we are not in a social mood. If it's to the point you don't want to bothered, it's best to step outside for some fresh air until "meet & greet" is over with it.

We've just stated "say hello to someone" again three weeks ago and it goes for 90 seconds.

Church is supposted to be family, if you won't talk to your family ......

The worst part is shaking hands with someone after they were picking their noise

It should be fist bump greetings

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

The worst part is shaking hands with someone after they were picking their noise

It should be fist bump greetings

Uncouth Aussies

Originally Posted by papabrett

I'd like to have Stand, Meet and Greet about 3/4's of the way through the sermon, like a seventh inning stretch.

Agreed..breaks up the monotony

Originally Posted by curly sue

I can't stand meet and greet. If I want or need help, I will ask for it. The list above is so orchestrated sounding, it just comes across as phoney to me. I suppose in a large church designated people here and there to direct you if needed would be ok. It's just that someone greeting me and acting all friendly because it is their job really puts me off.

Yeah, sounds kinda phony...but like Pentium said, if they didn't do anything, it might be perceived as cold and unfriendly...