Greeters, Ushers, and Hosts - Oh My

Ever met the Grumpy Greeter, the Unsweet Usher, or the Haggard Host? Well, if you want your first-time guests to return, you'll want to make sure you have your first-string on the Front-and-Center positions. And if your Greeter, Usher, or Host are less than welcoming, you don't need to offend them by telling 'em so. Instead, just find them some other important job to attend to (like counting the offering, preparing communion, etc.).

Your greeters, your ushers, and your hosts are some of the most important people in your church because they're the first faces your guests are likely to see. So, here's a quick rundown of your First Impression Team's characteristics and responsibilities ... at least, if you're committed to a great first-impression.

First Impression Team Characteristics 

• Authentically Friendly: They must actually LIKE people.
• Guest Focused: They're more interested in guests than in chatting about the score of last night's ball game with the other greeters, ushers, or hosts.
• Smiles - With Teeth - to Everyone: This means there will be no pursed grimaces, raised eyebrows, or strained grins when the pierced and tatted, orange mohawk haired, t-shirt wearing teenager (or biker or mom or mid-life crisis dad) shows up.

Greeter Responsibilities 

1. Stands OUTSIDE the doors so those in the parking lot can see them.
2. Takes their post at least 15 minutes before the service starts ... and remains there at least 10 minutes ater the service as started.
3. Holds the door for each guest (members are guests too), looks each guest in the eye, and greets them warmly.
4. Is ready to answer any question about the church that a guest might ask. 
5. Has brief conversations with guests when possible, but never shortchanges #3 above.
6. Returns to their posts 5 minutes before the service ends in order to "greet" every person who leaves (don't forget to invite them back). 

Usher Responsibilities 

1. Stands OUTSIDE the worship space doors and is attentive to the guests ... not to the other ushers (or greeters or hosts).
2. Takes their post at least 15 minutes before the service starts ... and at least one usher per worship center door remains in place during the whole service.
3. Looks each guest in the eye and greets each and every one of them.
4. If they are also bulletin dispensers, they do so with flair.
5. They Ush. That means they ask each and every person (or family) if they have a seating preference ... and if they do, the usher shows them to the appropriate seats. (Remember that first impression rule? Before you decide that this is too much, consider how this kind of gracious treatment will reflect on your church's welcome.)
6. Returns to their posts 5 minutes before the service ends in order to "greet" every person who leaves (don't forget to invite them back). 

 Host Responsibilities 

1. Lobby Hosts are those special gregarious people who can set the mood by their very presence. They have two jobs: (a) To create and maintain a cheerful culture in the lobby; (b) To seek the lost - those first-time guests who don't know where to go - and to help them feel especially welcome.
2. Worship Center Hosts are those special chatty people who have natural hummingbird qualities - they flit from person to person and have brief, meaningful conversations. They have two jobs: (a) To ensure everyone in their "section" is well welcomed; (b) To get to know better anyone they don't know in their section ... starting with first-time guests, but getting to know better even the charter members who've never missed a service (but not at the expense of those who are less known). 

If these folks all do their jobs, you're well on your way to a great first impression!