Brad Brisco — “Stand and Greet”

Brad Brisco:

This past week I posted a short excerpt from a Thom Rainer article where he discussed the disdain that many people have for the “Stand and Greet” time that is a part of many Sunday morning worship services. He argues that churches are actually driving “guests” away from Sunday services because of the practice.

You may debate the conclusions of his research, but what I find fascinating is the apparent need that churches in the United States have for the practice to begin with. Why do we feel it necessary to create a set time for people to turn to strangers sitting around them and say good morning? Why is it important in many churches to give specific instructions for asking totally random questions of each other? But the issue is not only why does the church feel it is essential to create this artificial moment to force people to greet one another, but why do so many people in the church find this time to be awkward, and often disingenuous?

I am not interested in examining the actual practice, but instead I want to ask what are the underlying issues? What is missing in our understanding of church and each other that prompts us to think this practice is necessary? What changes need to take place in our thinking to develop a more natural, holistic, posture towards one another?

I am convinced that the need the church feels to maintain a regular “stand and greet” time is actually a symptom of much greater issues. Further, the disdain that many people have toward the practice speaks to deeper issues surrounding our understanding of humanity and the current reality of a relationally disconnected society.

There are at least three overarching issues we need to focus more time and attention on in the life of the church. I am not suggesting that these are the only issues, or that these three are a cure-all for what ails the American church. But I do believe focusing more time on the way we think about each of these three topics would go a long way in shaping the way we act towards one another, both in and outside the church, and maybe just render the “stand and greet” obsolete.

Brad gives three issues at work here…

I would add this: At Church of the Redeemer, we don’t have a meet and greet time. We “pass the peace.” There is a world of difference when “pass the peace” is part of a fellowship.