Greeter Wang Yan Na welcomes parishioners and visitors to Chongwenmen Church in Beijing, China. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
The NC Conference districts will be hosting church safety workshops in March and April. These helpful events will feature a presentation by law enforcement, topical workshops, and a review of United Methodist beliefs on the subject. You can register for these free workshops online.
The NC Conference Media Center also recommends viewing these 15-minute videos produced by the Church Mutual Insurance Company. They can be viewed online, or you can borrow a DVD from the Media Center.
- Improving Safety at Your Worship Center (online | DVD)
- Crime-Proof Your Worship Center (online | DVD)
- Fire Safety at Your Worship Center (online | DVD)
Additional safety videos from Church Mutual can be viewed on their website.
Find additional information on church safety in the Church Protection Guide from United Methodist Insurance and Church Safety & Security from Brotherhood Mutual.
Hospitality
In retail, the best way to prevent theft is to provide excellent customer service. Similarly, a great way to prevent crime at church is to provide excellent hospitality.
The Media Center recommends the following resources to use in improving hospitality at your church. Additional resources are listed in our Hospitality pathfinder.
Clip In: Risking Hospitality in Your Church by Jim Ozier and Fiona Haworth; Abingdon Press, 2014.
Use this book to create a culture of hospitality in your church, not only for visitors, but for existing members as well. There is risk involved, but these expert authors will help you navigate the challenges to create momentum towards growth.
The New Welcome: Reach New Disciples by Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Rev. Asa J. Lee; Lewis Center for Church Leadership, 2013.
Learn new data that will help you understand how people today are seeking out a church, how it is different from the past, and what churches need to change to meet these new visitors. How can you get these newcomers involved?
Welcoming Ministry: Training Manual and Planning Handbook by United Methodist Commmunications, 2010.
Use this training manual from United Methodist Communications to build a comprehensive welcoming ministry in your church. Includes 13 sessions with a DVD and reproducible handouts.
Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christine D. Pohl; W.B. Eerdmans, 1999.
Understand the theology of hospitality as it is lived out in contemporary Christian communities and examine the key features to be replicated in your own community to create a culture of hospitality. A 9-session study guide is available for this book upon request.
Request These Resources
You may borrow any of these resources for use at your church or at home. We can mail them to you! Simply fill out the Resource Request Form, or contact the Media Center with any questions. The NC Conference Media Center is open to all clergy and laity in the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge.