Orthodox Parish Hospitality Survey
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Here is a meme for all the Orthodox converts and inquirers who may or may not read this blog. The following are questions that were asked via an email survey in our parish to help improve our hospitality. In writing them, I thought my answers might be helpful to other parishes, as well. Then I realized that a wide variety of answers would be more helpful.
Here are the rules:
- You may answer the survey questions in the comments or on your own blog.
- If you answer the questions on your own blog, please note where you found this survey and direct others back to the original article (URI: http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2005/09/10/orthodox-parish-hospitality-survey/ ).
- If you post the questions on your blog, please trackback the original article or comment on it so that others can visit your article and be illumined by your answers.
- If you blog this survey, please direct others who may themselves blog to comment or trackback the original article as well.
- Please include these rules with the survey, so others can do the same.
Comments and trackbacks on the original article allow a central repository of sorts. Memes are meant to spread, but priests, council members and ministers of hospitality shouldn’t have to search the internet to find the answers.
(However, if you think I’m being a link-hound, then by all means post the survey and your answers. Better to get the information out to someone than not at all.)
Orthodox Parish Hospitality Survey
- The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel welcome?
- The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel uncomfortable?
- The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what was most helpful?
- Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome?
- Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what makes you feel uncomfortable?
- Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you find helpful?
I will post my answers in the first comment.
The URL to trackback this post is:
http://kevinbasil.com/2005/09/10/orthodox-parish-hospitality-survey/trackback/
8 Responses to “Orthodox Parish Hospitality Survey”
Copyright © 2002–2011 Kevin Robert (Basil) Fritts, all rights reserved.
September 10th, 2005 at 10:23 am
1. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel welcome? Coffee hour / common meal — eating and drinking together is a wonderful way to get to know the community.
2. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel uncomfortable? I’m not sure there was anything that I can remember. If anything, it would have been people being *too* gregarious. I need extroverts to bring me out of my shell, but it needs to be very low-key at first. Also, if it’s fake, if they’re not really interested in me as a person: SOD OFF.
3. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what was most helpful? Visiting with a friend who helped me understand what I was experiencing. My first service, I attended with a like-minded friend (also not Orthodox) who explained things and provided a presence that made me feel less obtrusive.
4. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome? Coffee hour / common meal — that still makes me feel at home.
Although I give priests a lot of leeway, since I’m a PK, I do expect the rector/proistamenos to at least verbally make himself available to me, eg, “Call the church and let me know if you need anything,” or, “stick around and let me talk to you later [after I’ve finished consuming the gifts].”
5. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what makes you feel uncomfortable? Too much “friendliness” — it’s overload for an introvert. Sometimes, I just want to visit quietly and get out, especially if I’m only in town for a short time.
However, if I’m attending services for the third or fourth week in a row, and I still feel like the one guy who doesn’t know anybody, something’s wrong.
6. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you find helpful? Three things:
1. Service books that are correct and include music. It doesn’t have to be four-part harmony; at least a one-line melody is good. Few churches do this; it is one thing that the Greeks do right.
2. Prayers that I know I should say aloud with the rest of the assembly: Creed/Symbol of Faith, Our Father, Prayers before communion. Especially since there is no uniform translation of these SCOBA-wide, a laminated and/or heavy weight paper/card stock with these prayers printed and made available are really important so I don’t feel like a sore thumb.
3. The priest should notice that I’m an unfamiliar face, and at least say, “Welcome” or “Thank you for coming.” So far, I’ve met no priest who does not at least, while presenting the cross for veneration or distributing antidoron (Greek), say something to the effect of, “You’re always welcome,” or, “Stick around so I can give you my number [and/or email] if you need anything.”
September 10th, 2005 at 10:58 pm
1) The friendliness of the people and how welcoming they were. It helped that I was with my friend who was already Orthodox.
2) All the gold! Everything was gold and I thought gawdy looking. Seeing people go up to venerate the cross.
3) Being with my friend. He showed me where we were in the Liturgy book and how to follow along.
4) Have someone welcome me and invite me to sit with them at coffee hour. Introduce me around.
5) Not knowing the dance steps. Every Orthodox church has its different “t”raditions. For example where to get a candle and where to put it during the Liturgy, where are the restrooms, where is the area where Coffee Hour is held, little things. A well marked church with good “location” signs is very helpful.
6) There are several things: (a) having a Liturgy book that has the music in it. The Greek church I attended in NC had all the music, even though it was in Greek it was phoentic and I was quickly able to pick up the words and pray along with everyone else, (b) someone noting that I am a “new” face and taking a moment to welcome me and take me under their wing, (c) having the priest take even one moment to say hello and welcoming me, (d) being told “we’re glad you came, please come again.
This is a good idea Basil. Hope it is profitable. If I think of anything else I’ll come back to post it.
September 11th, 2005 at 11:24 pm
[I came via Philippa’s blog]
>> The first time you visited an Orthodox Church,
>> what made you feel welcome?
The people. They took a genuine interest in why I was there and where I was from and so on. They even took me to see the priest and introduced me to him when they were venerating the cross after the service.
Coffee-hour. A great place to meet people.
>> The first time you visited an Orthodox Church,
>> what made you feel uncomfortable?
Not knowing the routine. It was so very different to Western rites and I am so used to visiting Anglican and Catholic churches that I could follow where we were up to. This is not a criticism, merely an observation. I didn’t have time to go through the supplied service-book before-hand, so I didn’t know what to expect.
Also, although I was taken up to see the priest, I hadn’t bee watching the people in front of me (the people taking me up were explaining a few things to me), so when he presented the cross I had no idea what to do! 😉
>> The first time you visited an Orthodox Church,
>> what was most helpful?
The service book. While I would’ve liked the music (esp. the Lord, have mercys!), it was clear and explained what went on also (e.g. the priest exits; the priest censes…)
>> Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church,
>> what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome?
I really have no expectations: different parishes have different customs and cultures.
Sometimes I want to be noticed, othertimes I want to be in and out. It varies.
>> Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church,
>> what makes you feel uncomfortable?
As basil said, too much friendliness. I’m a typical Westerner: give me my space. 😉
>> Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church,
>> what do you find helpful?
* Good service books. And people following the service books and not changing the words (excluding festal variations). Especially in the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer: if the book says “thy” and everyone says “your”, change the book please
* One person, or two, noting my presence and asking if I need help, or where I’m from, etc…
September 12th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
I also came via Philippa!
The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel welcome? – First time was with my class, and we were all newbies. Second time, I went to Pascha and saw so many friendly faces
The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel uncomfortable? being given Antideron – I didn’t know what it was. My feet also hurt.
The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what was most helpful? The priest’s talk
Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome? I’m pretty easy, a smile and a nod works for me
Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what makes you feel uncomfortable? Aftwerwards when no one says anything to me and I feel like I should wander home
Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you find helpful? I guess, I’ve been Orthodox long enough I feel comfortable all the time. Although, a good bilingual service book if the language of the Liturgy isn’t in English is nice.
Thanks, Kevin Basil!
September 12th, 2005 at 5:36 pm
SURVEY
1. What made you feel welcome the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
Nothing. I was a student guest and very suspicious and overwhelmed. It was at an Antiochian Church in Toledo, Ohio.
2. What made you feel uncomfortable the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
The fact that they were auctioning off a gift basket with wine in it for a fundraiser during common meal. The wine shocked me, and I was very suspicious. The fact that some of the liturgy was in Syrian did not help, either. All very weird. I still get WAY turned off by hyper-ethnic parishes.
3. What was most helpful the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
Familiar points of contact such as the Lord’s Prayer that I recognized during the Liturgy. It would have been good if I’d known the structure of the Liturgy, etc, what was going on, or a brochure had been put into my hands, but it was not. 12 things brochure might have been good.
4. When you visit an Orthodox Church now what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome?
Greet me, show me where the bathrooms are, how to take care of my kids, a “point person” who sort of takes me under their wing to make sure I’m comfortable and oriented at coffee hour, and chats with me/introduces me to others.
5. When you visit an Orthodox Church now what makes you feel uncomfortable?
Being ignored. Not being able to follow along. Dirty looks. Not being greeted or talked with. Even eye contact and a smile goes a long way to make me feel welcome.
6. When you visit an Orthodox Church now what do you find helpful?
A contact person. Calling the priest in advance.
September 12th, 2005 at 6:39 pm
I hope our hospitality steward is looking at this, should we also forward to him? Thanks for arrainging this, Basil.
1. What made you feel welcome the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
You mean besides the one I’m in now, which was my first experience and obviously as comfortable as an old pair of jeans? Probably the fact that we had been welcomed there by the priest of that parish because we currently did not have a priest. That parish welcomed us for the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts but put no pressure on anyone for anything else. Also, people were nice and smiling, and one young woman told me how much she enjoyed having all the kids from our parish around since her church didn’t have many.
2. What made you feel uncomfortable the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
Another church I visited was the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Washington DC. Service was in church Slovanik, I couldn’t follow it, and although people smiled, nobody said hello or asked me where I was from. Not even one of the MULTIPLE clergy members.
3. What was most helpful the first time you visited an Orthodox Church?
When I visit new churches now, having a clue about the liturgy, the prayers they’re using, etc. Having music available helps. I don’t like it when the choir is so perfect that the people can’t participate.
4. When you visit an Orthodox Church now what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome?
Smile, say hi, give me a service book, and ask *easy* questions about where I’m from and why I’m visiting.
5. When you visit an Orthodox Church now what makes you feel uncomfortable?
Alana pretty much covered it.
September 12th, 2005 at 7:23 pm
Victoria, yes, he’s aware and subscribed to the RSS feed for the comments on this post.
September 14th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
1. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel welcome?
Someone greeted me at the door, asked me if it was my first time visiting, and explained what I was supposed to do.
2. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what made you feel uncomfortable?
I had absolutely no idea what to do when the service was over. In fact I wasn’t even quite sure when the service was over.
3. The first time you visited an Orthodox Church, what was most helpful?
See #1
4. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you expect them to do to make you feel welcome?
If the parish is one where antidoron is shared, I look forward to that (I’m not Orthodox yet). Beyond that I don’t expect much – maybe someone at the door to say hello and offer a bulletin.
5. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what makes you feel uncomfortable?
The end of the service, by far, always. Being ignored at coffee hour (this happens most of the time.)
6. Currently, when you visit an Orthodox Church, what do you find helpful?
I guess I no longer consider myself in need of “help” when I visit a church.