Welcoming
Improving our welcome
Back to Church Sunday
Using buildings creatively
Church websites
Mission Shaped Church
Emerging Church

Welcome is very important to newcomers. Bob Jackson, author of The Road to Growth, has suggested that effective welcoming is one of the key factors in church growth.


There are a number of books which offer help and suggestions:

Welcome and Enfold: Helping New People Find Their Place in Your Church
Jeff Stam

Creating a Culture of Welcome in the Local Church
Alison Gilchrist

Welcome to Our Church: A Guide for Ushers and Greeters
Annette Schroeder

Widening the Welcome of Your Church: Biblical Hospitality & the Vital Congregation
Fred Bernhard

The Winning Welcome: A Guide for Drawing Visitors Into Your Church Family
Stan Toler and Gay Leonard

The Winning Welcome: Helping the Newcomer Feel at Home in Your Church
Sharon Bushey

You're Welcome!: A Best Practice Guide to Including Disabled People in the Life of the Church
Sheena Baird, Jane Young and Paul Dicken

Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church
Gary McIntosh

Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic: Seven Simple Keys to Growing Churches
Adam Hamilton


Many churches produce a welcome pack which they give to visitors. Some examples follow:

St Nicolas, Nottingham

Holy Trinity with St. Columba, Fareham