The Needs of Newcomers

Instructions

Integrating newcomers as a component of meeting growth.  Many meetings have a regular stream of visitors walking through their doors on Sunday mornings, but wonder why visitors don’t stick around and become part of the meeting community.  A key component of meeting growth is being intentional about meeting the needs of newcomers and guiding them through the process of understanding the Quaker Way and building connections within the meeting.  This activity is designed to encourage Friends to think about ways to welcome and meet the varying needs of newcomers at different points in time.

Adaptations for different group sizes:

This activity can be designed for groups of 10-30 people, but can be adapted for groups smaller or larger. 

·       For groups of 10-30: divide people into 5 groups for each of the five stages. 

·       For larger groups: assign additional groups to consider the needs of Friends with previous Quaker experience at the various levels, considering what they would need different from complete beginners to Quakerism. 

·       For groups of 5-10: do stage 0 in the large group, and split into two groups to consider two stages each, or have one group consider the five stages for complete beginners, and the other consider the needs of experienced Friends. These variations will take additional time for the groups to brainstorm. 

Prep:

1) On a whiteboard or on five side-by-side sheets of flipchart paper, draw the timeline 

… 0  … 1A … 1B … 3-4 visits … 6 months …

and label it “Needs of Newcomers.”

2) List these five items on a white board or flip chart paper so that groups can refer to them during their discussions. (If a large group, you may want to distribute a few of these) 

Information about the meeting

Connections within the meeting

Opportunities for spiritual deepening

Information about the Quaker Way (Faith & Practices)

Treatment from people in the meeting

Instructions to group: 

Think about a newcomer to a Quaker meeting at these different points in time.

Zero is someone who is considering a visit to a Quaker meeting.  

1A is someone who is walking through the door for the first time on a Sunday morning. 

1B is immediately after worship, most likely during coffee hour, if they stay for coffee hour that first time.

After 3-4 visits 

After 6 months

What does this newcomer need at each of these points in time? 

Let’s break into 5 small groups. (See above for groups smaller than 10 or larger than 30) Each group will discuss the needs of the newcomer at one point in time. Think about what an individual might need in terms of:

Information about the meeting

Connections within the meeting

Opportunities for spiritual deepening

Information about the Quaker Way (Faith & Practices)

Treatment from people in the meeting

Suggest that it might be helpful to have one person record the group’s thoughts.  

Report back

After about ten minutes, return to the large group and ask each group to share the top 3-5 things they listed as needs of newcomers at different points in time.  Some examples might include:

0: Clear information on a website about how to find the meeting, times of worship, what to expect during worship, what Quakers believe, how to dress, to know that they are welcome to visit…

1A: warm greeting with handshake and a smile, Welcome packet about worship, activities in the life of the meeting, “when to speak in worship” diagram, directions to the bathroom/worship room/coffee, Cards for Newcomers (FGC resource), opportunities for children.  

1B: access to a collection of materials for Newcomers that give basic and more in-depth resources on Quakers and the meeting, depending on familiarity with Quakers, interests & or the meeting itself. Introductions to Friends with similar interests.  To be met where they are, with sensitivity and a welcoming smile, and not to be pressured…

3-4 Visits:  invitations into the life of the meeting, introductions to Friends with similar interests, opportunities for service to the meeting (help with prepping food for potluck), opportunities to learn about the Quaker Way without pressure

6 months: talking about membership or committee service without pressure, invitations to participate in small groups, opportunities for friendship and connection. (Always be open to possible conversation about these deeper commitments, especially in terms of having information available, but most likely not bringing it up before now unless interest has been expressed.)

What about someone with a Quaker background?

Now, let’s think about a newcomer who has been a member or attender of another meeting, attended a Friends School or Quaker college, served as a volunteer with Quaker Voluntary Service, or is otherwise familiar with the Quaker Way.  Looking at what we’ve already written, what might be the needs of this person?  How are this person’s needs different than someone who is totally new to the Quaker Way?

Participants might point out a newcomer with a Quaker background might need the same information and introductions as a newcomer with no Quaker background, but at a different pace.  A newcomer with a Quaker background may be more ready to jump into inreach groups or committee work sooner than someone who is being introduced to the basics of Quaker faith & practice.

Notes for Facilitators: 

At all points, Friends need to listen intently to newcomers to see what they want, what they think they need, and how they want to be treated. 

A newcomer who makes 2-3 friends during their first six months with a meeting or church is far more likely to stay than one who remains disconnected.  Building friendships is key at each stage!  Make opportunities within your meeting for building relationships – shared projects, work days, game nights, social outings, shared meals, small groups that enjoy a hobby such as baseball games or hiking – and invite newcomers to join in the fun!

We can assume that all newcomers are on a spiritual journey and many may have had deep spiritual experiences.

When someone new walks in the door, we need to ask gentle, open-ended questions rather than assume someone is or is not already a Quaker.

Conclusion: 

Suggest that effective integration efforts must meet the newcomer where they are along their spiritual journey.  

Successful meetings invite newcomers to learn about the Quaker Way, Quaker processes, and Quaker worship, AND to build connections and relationships between Friends in the meeting and newcomers.  

We also have to remember that some newcomers may face heightened barriers to entry, such as people of color, people with disabilities, people of different political or economic backgrounds, young adults, or trans or gender nonconforming people.  It is our responsibility as Welcoming Friends to help in addressing these issues.