Reply to If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I would go more often if I could attend in a way that allows me to hang back and get a feel for the faith and practice again at my own speed and on my own time.

I do not go because I get aggressively greeted when I go -- if it's a place I've been before or if it is a new place. There seem to be people assigned (or self-assigned) to "make people feel welcomed." I don't. I feel pushed.

And when I read replies like some of the ones above, I am reminded all over again why I chose not to keep spending time with people like that in an organized way anymore, in the first place.

So I do the good work that I can within the life that I have, and I am the best person I can figure out how to be. And I am perfectly delighted that there are people who find support in those places I do not, and I wish you the very best with it.[/quote]

Thank you for this.  I am part of the membership group at my church, and I think we push the whole "greeter's ministry" too hard.  I keep saying that some people are introverts, some are unsure of themselves or how long they want to keep coming, etc. and that our overly welcoming style is hard on certain people.  Not everyone wants to meet and be "connected" with other church members immediately.  I am going to bring your words to our next meeting.  And I hope you find a church home, if that's what you seek.[/quote]

New poster -- here are two more to take to your meeting.   I once went to a church that announced there would be a greeters table at a certain location after the service.  When I went there, there was no table. When I asked several people where the table was, no one knew and none of them took the time to say hello or help me find the table, they were busy chatting with their friends. One person said the announcement was probably a mistake.  I figured this was a church that didn't want new members and so I didn't go back.   I've since met people who attend that church and they are happy with it.  I'm not a fan of an aggressive approach either.  It may be hard to find a middle ground.

At another church, I signed the visitor's book  I didn't hear from them, but when I checked my name on the internet for something unrelated, I found that they were praying for me!  I called and asked to have my name taken off that list.  Maybe I signed the wrong list, but it seems like a step too far to publish people you're praying for on the internet.

Both were Episcopal churches.[/quote]

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