Choosing Greeters
Few will disagree with the need and importance of greeters in the local parish...few will be qualified to do it. Willingness is not enough and while the Lord can use anyone to accomplish His Will we should also be aware of the personality traits that He has given to individuals when adding members to the greeter ministry. Below are some critical needed qualifications.
Personality
An outgoing, 'people friendly' person who enjoys talking with others and who has common sense is the ideal greeter. A willing but introverted person who doesn't talk much is not a good choice nor is a person who will 'talk your ear off'. Many people will be hesitant to be a greeter because they feel that they are not qualified so it is very important that a training program of some kind be in place before greeters are recruited. This will overcome many objections.
Knowledge of the Faith
Few visitors will come to visit because they are interested in the 4th Ecumenical Council, so, it is not necessary to have greeters with theological degrees. Most visitors will have two major questions: what is going on and why, and, what can this church 'do for me and my family'. Knowledge of things like why there are so many icons, why do people 'worship' them, why is the priest 'hidden' up at the front, why can't I take communion, what makes Orthodoxy different from First Baptist (or St. Francis), why do we stand so much and (perhaps) why is some of the liturgy not in English are necessary and should be answered in a concise, non-technical way by greeters. Someone who explains 'that is just the way we have always done it' is not prepared to be a greeter.
Commitment
The majority of Orthodox are not as committed to weekly attendance at liturgy as many Catholics and some Protestants. A greeter must have this commitment. A single greeter should not be on duty 52 weeks out of the year...it is a team/ministry effort...but he/she must attend regularly enough to know the faces of the members of the congregation in order to identify new people when they come. He/she must also be willing to come early each Sunday. Someone with a proven record of attendance is best but if they are in short supply, sometimes people will come regularly if they have a minstry task to perform. In this case, make sure that their family is also willing to adjust to this change (come earlier or take separate vehicles).
Ushers vs Greeters
Turning ushers into greeters with 'two hats on' is a mistake. Ushers need to deal a little with everybody will greeters need to be free to deal a lot with a few. While many ushers make excellent greeters the two roles need to be kept separate, at least on Sundays and Feast Days.
Few will disagree with the need and importance of greeters in the local parish...few will be qualified to do it. Willingness is not enough and while the Lord can use anyone to accomplish His Will we should also be aware of the personality traits that He has given to individuals when adding members to the greeter ministry. Below are some critical needed qualifications.
Personality
An outgoing, 'people friendly' person who enjoys talking with others and who has common sense is the ideal greeter. A willing but introverted person who doesn't talk much is not a good choice nor is a person who will 'talk your ear off'. Many people will be hesitant to be a greeter because they feel that they are not qualified so it is very important that a training program of some kind be in place before greeters are recruited. This will overcome many objections.
Knowledge of the Faith
Few visitors will come to visit because they are interested in the 4th Ecumenical Council, so, it is not necessary to have greeters with theological degrees. Most visitors will have two major questions: what is going on and why, and, what can this church 'do for me and my family'. Knowledge of things like why there are so many icons, why do people 'worship' them, why is the priest 'hidden' up at the front, why can't I take communion, what makes Orthodoxy different from First Baptist (or St. Francis), why do we stand so much and (perhaps) why is some of the liturgy not in English are necessary and should be answered in a concise, non-technical way by greeters. Someone who explains 'that is just the way we have always done it' is not prepared to be a greeter.
Commitment
The majority of Orthodox are not as committed to weekly attendance at liturgy as many Catholics and some Protestants. A greeter must have this commitment. A single greeter should not be on duty 52 weeks out of the year...it is a team/ministry effort...but he/she must attend regularly enough to know the faces of the members of the congregation in order to identify new people when they come. He/she must also be willing to come early each Sunday. Someone with a proven record of attendance is best but if they are in short supply, sometimes people will come regularly if they have a minstry task to perform. In this case, make sure that their family is also willing to adjust to this change (come earlier or take separate vehicles).
Ushers vs Greeters
Turning ushers into greeters with 'two hats on' is a mistake. Ushers need to deal a little with everybody will greeters need to be free to deal a lot with a few. While many ushers make excellent greeters the two roles need to be kept separate, at least on Sundays and Feast Days.
