Usher Manual

Training Guide

I. PURPOSE

The ushers serve the ministry and the people of Cornerstone Church so that the services
can flow in decency and order, thus enhancing the move of the Holy Spirit and the
ministry of God's Word.

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. In order to be an usher at Cornerstone Church, one must:

1. Be active and faithful to Cornerstone Church.

2. Be active in a Christian Education class (maintaining 80% attendance).
3. Maintain an overall lifestyle, character, and reputation that are above
reproach.

B. The Pastoral Staff will work closely with the Lead Ushers and the appointed
ushers in providing oversight, instruction, and supervision.

C. Ushers are to conduct themselves with the attitude of a Servant.

1. A spirit of teamwork and cooperation should exist among the ushers and
all other facets of the Helps Ministry of Cornerstone Church.
2. It is important to avoid the temptation of developing an authority
complex of seeking the spotlight, and of doing things to draw attention to
oneself.

D. Ushers are to be very warm, friendly and hospitable in:

1. Opening doors.
2. Greeting the people.
3. Helping them find seats.
4. Answering basic questions that people might have.

E. Smile, Smile, Smile!

F. Treat members and visitors like Royalty.

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G. Good hygiene, proper dress and common courtesy should be observed in

representing Cornerstone Church as an usher.

1. Ushers should see to it that their breath is fresh, their hair is clean and
neatly cut, their clothes are clean and pressed, and their shoes shined.
2. Good posture should be maintained. Do not stand with hands in pockets.

H. Every usher should know his specific responsibilities and duties, pre-service
duties, offering, welcoming visitors, and post-service duties, etc. Ushers should
become knowledgeable of other positions, as well.

1. Ushers should become knowledgeable about as many areas and functions

of Cornerstone Church as possible. Some of the things which an usher
should familiarize himself with are:

a) The schedule of services.

b) The location of restrooms, water fountains, phone, etc.
c) The locations of the Welcome Center and the Lost-and-Found
area.
d) The location of all Christian Education, Youth, and Children’s
classes along with information on the teachers and class age
groups.
e) The location of fire extinguishers and the first aid kit.
f) Current announcements and events happening at Cornerstone
Church.

I. It is necessary for ushers to be punctual in arriving at the church and be in place

30 minutes before service. Also, you should remain at church until you are
dismissed by the Usher Captain. (For special events you may be asked to be in
place up to 2 hours prior to service times.)

J. In the event that an usher will not be able to attend one of his assigned services, it
is his responsibility to note the dates of absence on the calendar in the usher’s
room. If the absence is sudden, then the usher must notify a Captain or the
Connections Pastor by phone as soon as possible so alternate ushers can be
utilized.

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K. Commitment

1. Attendance and commitment by all ushers are essential for this ministry’s
success and the impact it has in our community. Individual commitment
directly impacts our team commitment, and team commitment directly
impacts the effectiveness of our services.

2. Becoming an usher is a calling and is not to be taken lightly. The Holy

Spirit will direct you to where you should use your gifts and talents. Make
prayer a top priority before you make a decision on where you are to
serve.

3. The usher ministry is a vital part of the overall operation of church services
and events. Each Pastor, member, visitor and all other ministries rely on a
fully staffed Usher Ministry to provide essential tasks and services with
excellence.

4. Decide to put your ministry responsibilities first, as unto the Lord. Know
your assignment and execute it with a glad heart. It is a high honor to
serve others.

5. Be ready and willing to take any assignment given and perform it with
excellence. The staff, congregation, workers, children, and the Lord are
counting on you. Take offenses captive, for those thoughts will only steal
your joy.

III. USHER ATTIRE

A. Ushers should, at all times, present themselves with excellence in appearance,

demeanor, and in a manner that honors the position they uphold. People will
trust you if you look like you are supposed to be involved in ministry.

B. Weekend service appearance is of the utmost importance as we are ministering

to our greatest number of visitors. It is recommended:

1. During the weekend services, ushers should make every attempt to wear a
black suit, along with a tie and neatly polished shoes. Dark blue and dark
charcoal are acceptable if they are truly dark; however, black is preferable.

2. On Wednesday, appropriate attire would include business casual attire

such as “docker-style” pants and dress shirt or polo golf-type shirt. Do
your best (jeans are acceptable if nice).

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3. Other than on special occasion and outdoor events, ushers should not
make it a practice to wear blue jeans, T-shirts, sandals or athletic shoes.

IV. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Changes may be necessary depending upon special ministries or conditions.

Always follow your Lead Usher’s or Usher Captain’s directions, as well as being
attentive to the directions given from the platform speaker. Remember that
change is good!

B. Prior to service, remain in your area to greet people and assist them in any way
possible. Greet people with a sincere smile and a warm handshake.

1. Ushers should be aware that they can set a spiritual attitude in the church
sanctuary prior to the beginning of the service by their attitude.

2. Each usher should understand that he is responsible for his section.

3. Prior to the service the ushers should spend time praying over their
section and praying for the people who will be sitting in that section even
before those people arrive.

4. Set a spiritual climate in your section that will enhance the service.

5. Remember that confidence produces a presence. Be confident in

everything that you do!

C. Do not congregate with other ushers and talk. We are there to be of service to
the people and to the Ministry.

1. Ushers are to make sure their area is fully prepared before each service.

2. Work together in your section.

3. Visually scan your area for any potential problems.

4. Pick up any waste paper or trash that may be found on the floor.

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D. Handicapped persons should be directed and assisted to their designated area.

E. No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the tiered sections without an

accompanied parent.

F. Always keep Jr. High and High School sections reserved for those students only.

G. Beverages are allowed in the sanctuary during all services.

H. Using tact, all gentlemen should be asked to remove their hats upon entering the
building.

I. Written messages given to an usher for the pastoral staff or a guest speaker
should be channeled to the Connections Pastor or Senior Pastor by the Head
Usher.

J. If a visiting Pastor or an Elected Official attends a service, notify your Captain or

the Head Usher. They will be responsible for notifying the Pastor(s).

K. Be willing to correct, move and address kids or adults acting in an inappropriate

manner. Please do not wait for the captain or Pastor to tell you to do so.

L. It is the job of the Ushers to enforce these rules. If there is a problem, notify your
Captain or Head Usher.

M. Seating in the Sanctuary

1. Be aware of available seats in your section in anticipation of filling them.

a) If availability is questionable, it is advisable to ask someone on that

row whether the seats in question are taken or available.

b) See that the upper tiers seating flows smoothly when curtains and
chains are being used.

2. Always escort people to seats rather than pointing only.

3. Attempt to fill the unoccupied seats near the front early, saving the back
seats for latecomers.

4. Ask latecomers to sit near the rear to minimize disturbing others.

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5. Refrain from seating people during prayer, offerings, or special Holy Spirit
visitation.

6. Know the designated locations for wheelchairs and offer these to anyone
needing them.

7. Visitors should be seated near members so that they will feel more
comfortable. Avoid seating visitors on the front rows at anytime. Also,
please do not sit parties with children on the first 5 rows of the
sanctuary. This will assist in our control of those leaving the sanctuary
and not being able to return to their seats once service has begun.

N. Persons desiring to see a member of the pastoral staff should be advised to either
call the church office or to see one of them at the front of the sanctuary after
service. You should never take anyone to the Pastor’s room.

1. Ushers should never make promises on behalf of the pastoral staff

concerning counseling, benevolence and the outreach ministry.

2. All decisions pertaining to counseling, benevolence or the outreach

ministry are made at the discretion of the pastoral staff.

O. From time to time a reserved section may be established for special events. The
reserved section is for the pastoral staff and their guests only unless otherwise
directed. If a latecomer seats himself in this section after the service has begun,
he/she should not be asked to move.

P. At no time is any usher to give specific information to anyone from the media.

1. This includes people from the newspaper, TV, and radio or free-lance
writers.

2. Refer all these persons to one of the pastoral staff.

Q. No printed material of any type is to be distributed on the premises of

Cornerstone Church without prior approval from the pastoral staff. This includes
pamphlets left on vehicles, as well as company or multi-level marketing-type
business cards.

R. When receiving offerings, make sure you know your area of responsibility ahead
of time. Ask your captain if you are not sure. Some ushers will pass out offering
buckets, some will collect offering buckets, and some will do both.

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S. All ushers are to keep their eyes open at all times during the service, even during
Praise & Worship times.

1. Be led by the Holy Spirit. He will show you things to come.

2. Be reverent.
3. Stay alert.
4. Be watchful of your section and the platform in case someone requests
assistance or desires to give you directions.

T. There are times of disruption whether they come from a crying infant or an
irreverent adult.

1. All mothers with children under the age of 2 should be encouraged to use
our nursery facilities. However, if they insist on keeping their child with
them, they must utilize the “Mothers with Infants” room that is located just
outside the Sanctuary next to the tape booth. This must be
communicated in a caring but firm way. It is the job of all Ushers and
Greeters to ensure this happens…specifically for the Ushers working the
inside doors to the Sanctuary.

2. Under no circumstance should an usher ever take a baby from a mother.

3. In the event that an adult is blatantly disrupting the service:

a) The usher should first make his way to the area of the disruption.

b) Calm the person.

c) Escort the person outside if necessary.

d) Deal with problems as tactfully, discreetly, and as positively as

possible.

e) In many cases the speaker may simply let the usher handle the
situation while the service continues.

f) At other times, the speaker may deal with the problem from the
platform.

g) In either case, the usher should be sensitive to the speaker and act
accordingly.

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h) Should the case arise and the authorities are called, please let the
officer take charge when he or she arrives.

i) If this occurs, please document in writing every detail of the event,

as well as communicating to the usher captain verbally.

V. ALTAR CALLS & MINSITRY LINES:

A. When an altar call is given for salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and/or
rededication, the ushers will assist by scanning the congregation for raised hands.
Always help the Senior Pastor. The lights may make it difficult for him to see.

1. Ushers should not stand or conduct themselves in such a way as to disturb

the service or those around them during an altar call.

2. If the pastor asks for the ushers to assist him locating those with raised
hands, then it would be proper to draw the pastor’s attention to those
whose hands are raised by discreetly pointing in their direction.

B. As the pastor asks for individuals to come forward, two ushers should be available
to direct them to the center of the altar area with one usher on each side of the
front of the platform to help direct traffic.

C. It is of the utmost importance that we allow for the anointing to be present in

these times of ministry. At times, the altar can become very cluttered and
unorganized in our pursuit of God, but God is a God of order and organization.

D. Ushers are to remain alert and available for immediate direction by either the
Lead Usher or the ministering pastor.

E. Ushers should be able to determine who has been prayed for and who has not,
and be able to assist the pastors in the appropriate direction of need.

F. Again, while it is important for ushers to participate in the services as much as

possible, they should keep their eyes open and alert at all times.

G. Whenever a pastor is praying for an individual, there should be an approved

usher behind that person in case that person “falls-out” in the spirit or begins to
loose their balance. We do not assist people in falling!

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H. An usher should never have hands on a person being prayed over, but he should
be close enough to catch that person should they fall. Ushers are to be available
for assistance in ministry, not ministry itself.

I. Prayer cloths should never be removed from the person. Please allow the cloth to
drop to the floor before picking it up. This will ensure that we are not
inadvertently touching someone inappropriately.

VI. OFFERINGS:

A. When passing the offering buckets, move quickly and smoothly without
appearing hurried.

B. When you have received all the offering buckets in your section, immediately take
them behind the sound booth or to a designated usher. Once turned over you
may return to your assigned duties.

C. When emptying offerings, do not leave any buckets unchecked, even if you think
they are empty.

D. Late offerings should be given to the Head Usher immediately so that he can give
them to the counting crew.

VII. COMMUNION:

A. At direction of the Senior Pastor, ushers will be invited to present the communion
elements to the congregation.

B. Each usher is only to take those trays they have been assigned to administer.
Ushers are NOT to grab trays themselves, but be served.

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C. When passing the communion trays, move quickly and smoothly without
appearing hurried. Approximate time to administer elements should be no
longer than 5-7 minutes.

1. In passing the elements, they should be treated with reverence and care.
Should a mistake happen, remain quiet and discreet and proceed.

2. If a tray has been dropped, get another and continue. Another usher will
assist in cleanup if needed.

3. Work together as a team.

C. If Communion elements become low or empty, notify a Captain who will bring
you another tray. Do not make any attention-grabbing gestures, but do
everything neatly and in order.

D. Once each usher has completed his assigned section, he is to return his trays to
the proper location, serve himself, and have a seat.

E. When served, return to assigned location and wait for pastoral instruction to
receive the elements.

VIII TRAINING:

All ushers will be required to go through periodic training sessions. These sessions will
review skills already learned along with updating any changes that might arise from
growth or need. Remember that change is good!

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USHER HANDBOOK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

This is to acknowledge that I have received and thoroughly read the Cornerstone Church
Ushers Manual from which this form was obtained. I have asked for and received to my
satisfaction an explanation of anything I did not understand. I will endeavor to follow the
rules and guidelines to the best of my ability. I will retain a copy of the manual for my own
reference.

I further understand that this manual is a guide, and that from time to time, changes, both
oral and written, can be made by the Connections Pastor to update or clarify these guidelines.

I understand that the responsibility for interpreting any of Cornerstone Church’s policies,
procedures, rules, and benefits is entirely that of Cornerstone Church and its managers.

Date:

Usher Name Printed:

Usher Signature:

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