I read in the West Australian this morning that a British Study suggests that churches learn from McDonalds about making first time visitors welcome.
The suggestion apparently comes from Rev. Alison Gilchrist, author of Creating a Culture of Welcome.
I agree that many churches can learn a lot about becoming more welcoming. I was preaching at a church recently where it took about 5 or 6 minutes until anyone acknowledged that I was even there. People wandered past me avoiding eye contact. There was a lady standing at the front door when I arrived who I asumed was the ‘greeter’ – until she saw me coming and disappeared. Very strange.
However we need to be careful about adopting methods like those used at McDonalds. Their welcome is not genuine but simply a means to an end. We need to cultivate genuine interest in others rather than a veneer of interest.
I have no problem with shop assistants from maccas or any other retail outlet doing the cheery friendly bit, but surely as the body of Christ we should be going a little further than that.
I must point out that I haven’t read Rev. Gilchrist’s report, only a few lines about it in the newspaper, and she may well be saying the same thing. I hope so.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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As I’ve posted elsewhere…any pastor who tries to manufacture McDonald’s style false friendly greetings (“turn around and shake the hands of five people you don’t know” or “peace be with you”) should be shot on sight.
And no pastors…it’s not an icebreaker….those encounters are never followed up afterwards in the service…they make people feel awkward…and just sets up a culture of superficial relating…
Relationships are two-way streets. Having gone one to a large Church where people are friendly at the door but cant be expected to remember everyones name- I have found that it is not until I take responsibility to get involved in say an area of service or a small group that you begin to develop and nurture friendships. If we have expecatioons that the person on the door who smiles at me has the intention and time to become our best friend – we will be dissapointed. “If you want a friend = be a friend” the old saying goes…and if someone asks you out for coffee – take them up on the offer – but just dont whinge that you are lonely if you neither get involved or decline the invitation to coffee. 🙂
Ummm…who’s whingeing they’re alone or lonely? I’m actually finding it a MASSIVE relief to get away from Christians.
As for the person you’re suggesting I have coffee with…..well…why don’t I have just have coffee with Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson…Fred Nile…Big Kev, Benny Hinn or some other dickhead…for no apparent reason?
And can you tell your clueless Riverview friends….that patronising and ridiculing people …is not ‘ministry’. (maybe that’s the breakthrough realisation the church needs in dealing with the outside world.)
http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=669