This ministry’s charge is to develop strategies to identify, invite and incorporate new members into the congregation. The ministry members are responsible for developing and implementing a ministry of welcome after each worship service.

The ministry is divided into two areas:

WELCOMING: Trains and schedules parishioners to serve as greeters at the Sunday morning services, coordinates follow up with newcomers, plans welcoming socials for newcomers about four times per year, and makes sure that newcomers are aware of the parish’s offerings.

INCORPORATION: the most significant indicator of a healthy and successful church community is the active participation of its members in the ministry and life of the parish; with this in mind, the ministry works to ensure that every member of St. Thomas’, new or established, is invited and encouraged to participate fully in the ministry and life of the Church. The ministry’s focus is two-fold: first, to work with the Rector to coordinate newcomers orientation sessions for those who are interested in joining the parish; and second, on a regular basis to identify the skills and interests of both newcomers and current parishioners who are not actively engaged in parish life, encouraging other ministries to develop programs with these people in mind or to invite them to get involved.