Comments on: Using Nametags in Church http://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/ Practical how-to advice for pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders on personal evangelism and church hospitality Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:57:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: EvangelismCoachhttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-11924 EvangelismCoach Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:04:11 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-11924 @NancyGreat points. . .I lean towards not making visitors stick out by having a different name tag. I think that is more of a personal preference rather than a hard and fast rule. If all have the same name tag, the goal of friendliness can still be facilitated, rather than making the visitors potentially stand out with a different one.I just taught a week long class and I wish students had name tags or name tents at their tables. That would have helped me. . .Chris. @Nancy

Great points. . .

I lean towards not making visitors stick out by having a different name tag. I think that is more of a personal preference rather than a hard and fast rule. If all have the same name tag, the goal of friendliness can still be facilitated, rather than making the visitors potentially stand out with a different one.

I just taught a week long class and I wish students had name tags or name tents at their tables. That would have helped me. . .

Chris.

]]> By: Nancy Bernardihttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-11779 Nancy Bernardi Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:41:23 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-11779 Thank you, Chris. You're comments are well taken. I had just decided to do printed clip-on tags for regulars and the stick-ons for everyone else and for those who left their tags at home. But then you said that the stick-ons make everyone feel equal--visitors don't stand out and regulars don't look "special." Also, you are absolutely correct re: what our vision as a congregation should be. Hospitality is so important to newcomers and visitors, and unifority in name tags might help them ease in. But it also helps everyone in getting to know others, perhaps even long-time members of the congregation that you don't normally "hang" with. I have seen almost as many cliques in churches as I have in schools! Seeing someone's name, even when they've attended your church for years and you still don't really know them, helps you to put a name with that face and make them more knowable. In addition, people with terrible name recall, such as myself, hesitate before approaching someone whose name you can't remember. Easily being able to read their name eliminates the awkwardness and encourages making new friendships. Thank you very much for your reply--it was very helpful and timely. Thank you, Chris. You’re comments are well taken. I had just decided to do printed clip-on tags for regulars and the stick-ons for everyone else and for those who left their tags at home. But then you said that the stick-ons make everyone feel equal–visitors don’t stand out and regulars don’t look “special.” Also, you are absolutely correct re: what our vision as a congregation should be. Hospitality is so important to newcomers and visitors, and unifority in name tags might help them ease in. But it also helps everyone in getting to know others, perhaps even long-time members of the congregation that you don’t normally “hang” with. I have seen almost as many cliques in churches as I have in schools! Seeing someone’s name, even when they’ve attended your church for years and you still don’t really know them, helps you to put a name with that face and make them more knowable. In addition, people with terrible name recall, such as myself, hesitate before approaching someone whose name you can’t remember. Easily being able to read their name eliminates the awkwardness and encourages making new friendships. Thank you very much for your reply–it was very helpful and timely.

]]> By: EvangelismCoachhttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-11773 EvangelismCoach Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:57:28 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-11773 Nancy:You've encountered the chief problem with nametags for churches. They get lost and it requires maintenance. . .There is no easier and faster. . just stop by and write your name and put the badge on. . .You members will need to catch the vision of why. Without the hospitality vision, this nametag thing becomes a chore.I've recently attended one that used the peel on / stick on kind. . . as a user I had no problem putting it on. It didn't have that super sticky glue that leaves a residue.Everyone had the same nametag. . . There wasn't a visitor name tag vs a member name tag to make me stand out. It was quick and easy to put it on as the table was well supplied with plenty of name tags and markers and a trash can for the peeled paper.I didn't have to separate name tags from a bunch.I didn't have to locate markers.I didn't have to find a waste basket.They made the experience as smooth and painless as possible. Nancy:

You’ve encountered the chief problem with nametags for churches. They get lost and it requires maintenance. . .

There is no easier and faster. . just stop by and write your name and put the badge on. . .

You members will need to catch the vision of why. Without the hospitality vision, this nametag thing becomes a chore.

I’ve recently attended one that used the peel on / stick on kind. . . as a user I had no problem putting it on. It didn’t have that super sticky glue that leaves a residue.

Everyone had the same nametag. . . There wasn’t a visitor name tag vs a member name tag to make me stand out. It was quick and easy to put it on as the table was well supplied with plenty of name tags and markers and a trash can for the peeled paper.

I didn’t have to separate name tags from a bunch.

I didn’t have to locate markers.

I didn’t have to find a waste basket.

They made the experience as smooth and painless as possible.

]]> By: Nancy Bernardihttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-11601 Nancy Bernardi Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:11:14 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-11601 Many years ago we had the pin-on name tags. Our pastor emeritus thought this practice was very important to be able to greet people by their name. The collection process was not tedious, but it was less than successful. We had alphabetized boards that held the name tags in the narthex, where people would pick up their tags when they came in and put them back before they left. Except that many people, including me, walked out with the name tag and took it home. Hopefully, they remembered sometime on the way home and left it in the car. But too often, it got all the way home, and we had to print out a new one. We finally did away with the practice until recently. We decided to try it again with the stick-on tags. That's fine for one day, but what do you do to make it easier and faster for the regulars? Any advice would be appreciated. Many years ago we had the pin-on name tags. Our pastor emeritus thought this practice was very important to be able to greet people by their name. The collection process was not tedious, but it was less than successful. We had alphabetized boards that held the name tags in the narthex, where people would pick up their tags when they came in and put them back before they left. Except that many people, including me, walked out with the name tag and took it home. Hopefully, they remembered sometime on the way home and left it in the car. But too often, it got all the way home, and we had to print out a new one. We finally did away with the practice until recently. We decided to try it again with the stick-on tags. That’s fine for one day, but what do you do to make it easier and faster for the regulars? Any advice would be appreciated.

]]> By: 8 Tips for Using church Nametags :: EvangelismCoach.orghttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-5438 8 Tips for Using church Nametags :: EvangelismCoach.org Sat, 28 May 2011 13:53:17 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-5438 [...] in the comment field below (Feed or email readers: click through to find the comment field).See alsoUsing Name Tags in ChurchWhy Use Name Tags in ChurchHow to Make and Use Church Name TagsFor more church hospitality tips on [...] [...] in the comment field below (Feed or email readers: click through to find the comment field).See alsoUsing Name Tags in ChurchWhy Use Name Tags in ChurchHow to Make and Use Church Name TagsFor more church hospitality tips on [...]

]]> By: Why use name tags in church? :: EvangelismCoach.orghttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-5437 Why use name tags in church? :: EvangelismCoach.org Sat, 28 May 2011 13:52:05 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-5437 [...] name tags help break the ice.Name tags in churches are not too far out of normal.As commented on yesterday’s post on church nametags, one may need to consider if this makes your church feel like a business seminar.Some may choose to [...] [...] name tags help break the ice.Name tags in churches are not too far out of normal.As commented on yesterday’s post on church nametags, one may need to consider if this makes your church feel like a business seminar.Some may choose to [...]

]]> By: How to Make and Use Church Name Tags « EvangelismCoach.orghttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2693 How to Make and Use Church Name Tags « EvangelismCoach.org Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:53:00 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-2693 [...] Using Name Tags in Church [...] [...] Using Name Tags in Church [...]

]]> By: EvangelismCoachhttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 EvangelismCoach Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:56:53 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-1450 @MikeThanks for adding those thoughts. Your observations get into knowing your local church culture.To push the question further, some may use your conversations and make assumptions of their own culture, without actually asking the question -- it falls under the idea that "Everyone knows."If a church is discussing the idea, I as the outsider would push the question back -- how do you know that? This gets it out of the area of speculation.Chris W <a href="http://www.evangelismcoach.org" rel="nofollow">EvangelismCoach.org</a> @Mike

Thanks for adding those thoughts. Your observations get into knowing your local church culture.

To push the question further, some may use your conversations and make assumptions of their own culture, without actually asking the question — it falls under the idea that “Everyone knows.”

If a church is discussing the idea, I as the outsider would push the question back — how do you know that? This gets it out of the area of speculation.

Chris W
EvangelismCoach.org

]]> By: Mikehttp://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/using-nametags-in-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1449 Mike Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:59:46 +0000 http://www.evangelismcoach.org/?p=2259#comment-1449 I would add to take into account different age groups. We had this discussion at our church recently, and everyone I talked to under the age of 40 thought it was a terrible idea. In further discussion, it really came down to generational differences. Younger people thought it made the church seem more like a business seminar and less authentic, in addition to being very "un-cool" Most people 45 and up liked the idea. We decided not to do it, because we have many new visitors and younger families, and those are the people who were most against it I agree with you that you have to completely think through decisions like these. Thanks for sharing I would add to take into account different age groups. We had this discussion at our church recently, and everyone I talked to under the age of 40 thought it was a terrible idea. In further discussion, it really came down to generational differences. Younger people thought it made the church seem more like a business seminar and less authentic, in addition to being very “un-cool” Most people 45 and up liked the idea. We decided not to do it, because we have many new visitors and younger families, and those are the people who were most against it I agree with you that you have to completely think through decisions like these. Thanks for sharing

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