Is Hospitality Necessary?

Recently I was on a call with a parish after we did a Weekend Observation. In our Weekend Observations, we will visit a parish and attend their weekend Masses as well as any other programs they host through the course of a weekend. We also take time to talk with the leadership and key volunteers they identify. In just one weekend we can learn so much about a parish. We identify their strengths and the resources the parish has, as well as a community’s opportunities for growth.

After the weekend we produce a report for the parish that shares our findings. We set a meeting with the pastor and one or two key leaders to elaborate on the report and answer questions they have. The goal of this exercise is both to encourage a parish to recognize the good things they are doing and to give a vision and plan for greater impact. (If you would like to learn more about our weekend observations... visit rebuiltparish.com/observation)

While on this follow up call, we shared with the pastor and his second chair leader the opportunity for growth in hospitality ministers. The parish was overall friendly, but we showed some simple ways they could improve on their welcoming culture. This included expanding their greeter ministry in a significant way.

After laying out the opportunities, the pastor asked me a very direct question, “Is all of this necessary?” I answered, “No, but neither is all of creation. We are unnecessary but God created us anyway. “

As I write this, I recognize maybe that sounded sarcastic - but I didn’t mean it that way. I appreciated the direct question. Personally, I’d rather hear people’s objections than not. Also I appreciated it because I do think many parish members ask that question.

If you are trying to start or grow a parking ministry, a greeter ministry, a welcome desk or cafe, or encourage ushers to be more welcoming, you will be faced with the same question. Why are we doing this? Is it necessary? And deeper than the question - is the feeling that it is unnecessary and a waste of time. For so many years Churches didn’t create a culture of welcome and hospitality.

So is it necessary to build up hospitality ministries?  Of course, the answer is YES!
It is necessary for three reasons:

The first is that God tells us to do it.
The author of Hebrews writes, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)

Paul writes in Romans 15:7, “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” When we welcome people to Church and show hospitality, we give God glory. We praise God by building up hospitality ministries. Hospitality in a parish won’t happen by accident. It needs to be organized and systematized. A culture of hospitality won’t happen by accident either. It must be led. Parking ministers, greeters, host ministers, café ministers, and welcome desk ministers lead the way in creating a culture and environment that welcomes people.

Second, hospitality ministries are necessary because it shows love to people, especially unchurched people. People who have not been to church in a long time don’t know they are welcome unless we make them feel welcome.

Dallas Willard writes this:

"To merely welcome another, to provide for him or her, to make a place is one of the most life-giving and life-receiving things a human being can do. They are the basic, universal acts of love. Our lives were made to be full of such acts, drawing on the abundance of God, and they achieve their greatest fulfillment when, like Jesus “lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Third, it is necessary because, in our culture, we are competing for people’s free time. The best businesses and organizations create welcoming cultures. They put great energy and focus into making people feel special, feel loved. As Christians, we should be good at this. If you want a book to help motivate you to be more hospitable, I recommend Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidera. It will both inspire you to create a more welcoming culture at your parish and give you answers to respond when people ask if hospitality is necessary.

Rooting for you,
Tom