To Tag or Not to Tag?

by William Cowles

Some churches have historically embedded strong feelings about nametags – “They’re our culture; our tradition.” Others don’t care a bit. Yet, the debate rages on.

At the risk of alienating people on both sides of this burning issue, it’s time to weigh in on the ongoing argument in churches across the land. Does your church use nametags to isolate members from visitors, or to identify valuable resource people who can engage and connect with visitors?

Here are some of the unhelpful ways I’ve found nametags used among the variety of churches I’ve visited over the past three years. At the end, I’ll give you some tips on how nametags can be the best things you ever used in your welcome ministry.

• Badges of Honor – Many churches spend huge sums on glossy, decorative, personalized nametags for their members. For really active members, there are a plethora of add-on pins, stickers, and embellishments with which high achievers can glorify their accomplishments and advance their status in the group. People in these churches are committed to showing each other how proud they are to be members of that group. The most controversial issue is whether or not the badges should be affixed with pins, clips, or hangers. To a visitor, not having a badge is not having a place in that group.

• Tree of Names – I visited one small-town church and the first thing I saw inside the main door was a seven-foot wooden “tree” with a couple of hundred nametags hanging on it. It was on a rolling cart and the nametags cascaded down all sides. As members first walk in, they find their tags on the tree, wear them during services, and then re-hang them on their way out. To their way of thinking, it was a convenience for their members. To a visitor’s eyes, it was immediately apparent that no one wanted to know who they were because there were no blank tags for a guest or visitor to use. It was all about those already in the in-crowd.

• Wall of Fame – Many churches love to post big boards – some magnetic, some felt, some with clips – to collect and display all of their nametags. People who don’t keep the tags with them at home or in their cars are encouraged to post them on the boards. Trouble is, people forget, and the boards are usually full of tags not being used. The impressions made on a fresh set of visiting eyes are: 1) There are a lot of people not attending church there that day; 2) My name isn’t on the board because “I don’t belong.”

• Forced March – Here’s an attempt to have it all. One church I visited places a long table full of blank tags and sharpie pens immediately inside the main entrance doors. The objective is for everyone to come in, stop at the table, and fill out a nametag. Because all the nametags are the same, everyone is viewed equally. Right? Maybe, if everyone truly did that, and if name-bearing had some intentional purpose during the Worship service. But, can you imagine the traffic jam at busy times? Not to mention the annoyance factor to someone who is running a bit late, or who comes in with a large family. And, frankly, most of today’s keyboard-spoiled handwriting prohibits easy recognition, so what’s the point?

Bottom line, here’s why I don’t like nametags: The every-member nametag marks only those people who “belong.” Those without a nametag, then, don’t belong. Nametags exclude more people than they include. It was the Pharisees who formed membership clubs, not Jesus. He didn’t distinguish between the “ins” and the “outs.” Neither should we.

And, here’s why I like nametags: Nametags can identify people who are serving at that time – people who can answer questions and provide assistance. Many of the larger churches I visit have all of their volunteers either dressed in identifying t-shirts, or wearing “official” nametags. Just looking at them, visitors know these people are working, and they will be the ones who can answer their questions and direct them to a restroom, coffee, or the worship center. Wearing a nametag at these churches means you are on duty as a resource to a wandering visitor.

When you have a ministry reason to set yourself apart from a visitor by wearing a nametag, make sure your tag identifies your role – Hospitality Team, Teacher, Pastor, or whatever. And, the role you are serving in should be the most visible thing on the tag, with your name secondary.

And, please, think about the kind of nametag to wear. Make them simple, big, bold, colorful, easy to read. Do not hang them on a lanyard that stretches to or below your waist. Remember, too, that nametags always are worn on the right side. A nametag on the left is too hard to glance at during an introductory handshake.

Yes, nametags can be used for good. Just make sure they’re good nametags.