Improve or establish a ministry of hospitality in the Orthodox parish - a significant step toward an effective evangelization program.

1. The Sacrament of Hospitality:
Welcoming Visiting Guests to Church
Stewardship AdvocatesTM

2. Why a Sacrament?
Fr. Alexander Schmemann
wrote, “A sacrament
reveals the true nature
and purpose of creation.”
Therefore, the sacrament
of hospitality reveals the
true nature and purpose
of human relations in
creation – loving
acceptance and personal
regard for the other.

3. “The stranger who resides with you shall be to
you as the native among you, and you shall love
him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of
Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:34

4. Parish Challenges for Intentional Hospitality
• Is there a vision for hospitality?
Is it a priority?
• Do we minister to visitors as
guests? - There’s a difference!
• Do we have an established
ministry for hospitality?
• Have we invested time, energy
and funds in training the
ministry team?
• Have we identified and
addressed obstacles to
Orthodox Church membership?The icon of hospitality: The
visitation of the Holy Trinity as
angels to Abraham and Sarah.

5. Parish Context
• Every Orthodox parish has its own distinctive culture
• Hospitality ministry must work within the context of the
culture of the parish
• How would the parish feel about a large infusion of new
members who do not share the present cultural identity
of the community?
• An effective hospitality ministry must cast an objective
and dispassionate eye upon the culture of the parish.
One parish’s survey asked “Should our parish be more open and sensitive
to non-Orthodox spouses and visitors? The overwhelming response was
“Yes!” But when the next question asked, “Should this be done at the cost
of losing some of the parish’s ethnic/cultural identity, the majority said
“No”. Interesting ambivalence here.

6. Hospitality is not a Synonym for Evangelization
- Though it is an essential aspect of evangelization -
Studies show that virtually all churches
think they are friendly – but are they
really? The parish feels friendly to people
who are already members and integrated
into the community, but how does it feel to
visiting guests?

7. Orthodox Evangelization
• Respecting each person’s spiritual journey just as
God honors our freedom to choose
• The conviction that the fullness of the Holy Spirit
exists in the Orthodox Church, though like the wind,
we do not know where it comes from and where it is
going. (John 3:8) Or, we know where the Holy Spirit is
but we do not know where the Holy Spirit is not.
• Joyfully demonstrating through words and action the
good news of the unconditional love of God for each
person
• Gently and consensually assisting others to become
“partakers of divine nature” (II Peter 1:4) within the
Orthodox Church

8. Evangelization
• The family room
• Embarkation
• Catechumenate
• Transformative knowledge
• Shared journey
• Belonging
• Life changing immersion
• Abiding
Hospitality
• The front porch
• Welcoming visit
• Personal connection
• Positive experience
• Interaction
• Hanging out
• First impressions
• Repeat visit
Similarity and Contrast in Methods and Goals

9. Suggested Definition of Orthodox Hospitality
The friendly and generous reception and warm
welcoming of visitors as guests and the readiness
to accept them and assist them as fellow travelers
on a spiritual journey.
“Those who seek God have already found Him.”
– Blaise Paschal

10. What Church Visitors
May Really be Looking For
Visiting guests are not really looking for a “friendly church.”
What they are likely looking for is “friends”.
They also may be looking for a church that is “one, holy,
catholic and apostolic” but poor hospitality obscures the
perception and awareness that they have actually found it.

11. Hospitality Exercise
An article, together with the
graphic on the right, is available
on Stewardship Advocates
website @
http://www.stewardshipadvocat
es.org/church-growth-auditing-
the-public-persona-of-the-
parish/
Write down or together
brainstorm actions, events,
obstacles, attractions,
impediments, allures, hurdles,
incentives, etc. that fall into the
various categories on the sheet.
Discuss the findings and plan
how to maximize the positives
and mitigate the negatives.

12. Research to Establish or Improve upon
Your Parish’s Hospitality Ministry
• Have your team visit other churches as first-time
guests, arriving separately, taking notes and then
later discussing your observations together
• Invite a friend to experience your church and give
you candid feedback, then without being defensive,
listen to learn
• Learn from recent newcomers through a survey (see
Stewardship Advocates Library item @
http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/orthodox-
parish-new-member-survey/

13. From Vision to Implementation
• The priest is essential to success expressed through a
willingness to embrace intentional hospitality,
leading to evangelization in sermons,
announcements, newsletters, the website, classes,
personal time with visiting guests, inquirers and
catechumens
• Regular training of a team of FHBs (friendly human
beings) – greeters, ushers, campus guides, survey
takers, parking help, security, designated listeners at
coffee hour, etc.)
• The parish council supports by advocacy and funding
• Newcomers are celebrated and a continuing and
courteous effort is made to integrate them into the
community.

14. Sample Training Suggestions
• Write down what it was like personally to be a guest
in a church or in another organization
• Learn how to read body language
• Role play common guest/host scenarios
• Learn what to say and how to say it
• Produce a draft FAQ and discuss
• Learn how to listen effectively
• Formulate non-threatening, open-ended questions
that serve to receive information from guests and
assist them to feel welcomed
• Study relevant scripture and patristic writings

15. Tips for Ushers and Greeters
• Dress appropriately
• Be easily identifiable
• Smile and have fresh breath
• Make eye contact
• Take the initiative and greet people
• Equip yourself with helpful guest-oriented material
• Never say “Are you new?” or “First time here?”
• Say rather, “I don’t believe I have met you yet.”
• NO hugs to visiting guests or those not known well
• Conscientiously record information that may serve
to develop the relationship further, then debrief
with team or team chair

16. Coffee Hour Ministry
• Designate “listeners” and careful observers of
seemingly lost or neglected people and then take the
initiative to meet them, seeking opportunities to be
of service
• Fresh coffee and finger food with healthy options
• Napkins and trash cans
• Obvious location or signage to restrooms
• Give guests appropriate information or free book
• Escort visiting guests over to meet the priest or tour
of the facility
• If possible, receive their contact information: name,
address, email and phone is all that is needed now;
ask if they would like to receive the parish newsletter

17. Contact Information and Additional
Material from Stewardship Advocates
phone/text: 347.831.1848
email: orthodoxconsultant@gmail.com
newsletter: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/
website: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org
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