MINISTRY DESCRIPTION
CHURCH USHER / GREETER

• The usher/greeter ministry is a ministry of first impression.
• For first time visitors the meeting with the usher/greeter will help them to formulate the character and receptivity of the whole congregation.
• For members the meeting will help to shape the worship experience.
• The usher/greeter ministry is a ministry of guiding people toward comfort.
• The usher/greeter ministry is a ministry of providing appropriate materials to guide the worship experience and to help the attendees know of coming events.
• The usher/greeter ministry is also one of providing a less anxious environment where those who attend feel safe and secure.
• The usher/greeter ministry by virtue of its presence is also the ministry that would be most ably available to help with any disruptions or unusual circumstances.

THE MINISTRY PROCESS

Greet people with an enthusiastic warm welcome,

• Provide them with a bulletin and announcements that are pertinent to the coming week,
• Help them to identify a comfortable place to be seated,
• When the church is beginning to fill up and seats are less available, the usher should become aware of where empty pews are located and either guide the person to those seats or direct them.
• When guiding a person the usher should remember the decorum of walking on the right side of women and when stopping before entering a pew always turn facing the person instead of turning with your back to them.
• If you have seated someone always wait until they have been seated before you return to the entrance.
• When directing always point out the easiest access and when possible give them choices.
• RULE OF THUMB: Visitors should be guided while members could be directed but even members like the courtesy of being guided.
• Monitor and be aware of the temperature in the worship area and know how to change if needed. At least one or two usher/greeters should remain at the rear of the worship center to oversee the services and watch for chances of ministry.
• If a disruption occurs be first to respond.
• A mother with a crying baby may need a warm friendly face to help her find egress and access to the nursery.
• Someone who needs to leave, for what ever reason, needs a warm friendly face to help them in the process.
• Someone who is in distress will definitely need a warm friendly face to help them. The first responder should be the usher/greeter who is stationed at the rear of the worship center.
• During inclement weather be watchful of people approaching and be ready with an umbrella or make sure the steps are not iced over.

PROPER ATTIRE

Attire should follow the style norm for the church.

• In a more formal church the usher/greeter should be attired in a suit or dress depending upon the gender.
• In a less formal church the usher/greeter could be attired in a less formal manner.
• RULE OF THUMB: Always remember the usher/greeter is the first impression of the church.

WHO SHOULD SERVE?

The best usher/greeter is one who is extraverted and easily joins in a conversation.

• A very shy person who cannot take the initiative to address someone warmly will project to visitors especially the feeling of not being wanted or welcomed.
• You want your warmest people to be the first impression.
• An usher/greeter should have a well rounded understanding of the church, their staff, and the physical lay out of the building, especially access to child care and bathrooms.

WHERE DOES THE MINISTRY OCCUR?

For most churches the ministry will be one that is conducted primarily at the entrance foyer.

• Many churches have multiple entrances into the worship center and usher/greeters need to be placed at each access.
• Some larger churches may need to address the parking lot issues and traffic directions.
• Normally visitor parking is reserved toward the easiest entrance while members are asked to take other spaces.
• When the numbers are increasing and you have more and more visitors it can become difficult to recognize them.
• One suggestion is to place a colored dot in the driver side window, up toward the top and out of the driver’s sight line, to identify members. As parking becomes fuller the usher/greeter could direct to available parking.
• Usher/greeters would need to be placed in strategic places of entrance into the parking lot.

DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN OF USHERS/GREETERS

Make sure the proper number of usher/greeters will be present for the services,

• Make sure that the printed material, i.e.; bulletins, inserts, and announcements are available for distribution,
• Make sure that each usher/greeter has received proper training and understands their role and ministry,
• Larger churches may need to have ongoing training and frequent updates or meetings to discuss difficulties or changes that may arise.
• Smaller churches may only need an annual training event for new people and an update for the existing usher/greeters.
• Set the best example of exemplary ministry.