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May 8, 2008 - Church Management Software

Present
Church Management Software

Present

Barb Anderson, Hosanna, Rochester
Paulette Gieseke, Christ the King, New Ulm
Joanne Hamilton, Our Savior’s, Rochester
Mark Ingebretson, Hosanna, Rochester
Kathy Jacobson, Urland, Cannon Falls
Wendy Kauffmann, Zion, Stewartville
Mary Larson, St. John's, Mapleton
Marge Maetzold, First, LeSueur
Amy Olsen, Christ the King, Mankato
Donna Perryman, Trinity, Blue Earth
Lois Smook, Messiah, North Mankato
Geraldine Williams, Our Savior's, Spring Valley

Church Management Software

The short version is that the following programs are/were used by people at this meeting:

1. Microsoft Access (database software, not specifically CMS)

   • Versatile & flexible, but requires quite a bit of knowledge of how to use it

   • Used by the synod office currently

2. ACS

   • One of the top three

   • Used in part by the synod office currently and by Wendy

3. Church Windows

   • One of the top three

   • Used by Joanne

4. CDM

   • Not discussed much as the congregation represented that it is currently using it has an outdated version

5. Shepherd's Staff

   • One of the top three

   • Used by Lois and Amy

6. Membership Plus

   • Not user-friendly

The top three (Shepherd's Staff, Church Windows, and ACS - my order based on this meeting, though certainly not definitive and these three were fairly equal) all seemed to offer the same/similar things. Keep in mind that the other two CMS programs were only represented by one person each and one, at least, was using an outdated version.

Some things you can expect your software to do:

• Save a search/group, meaning tell the program you want all people in a certain group (ex. parents of 5th graders) and it should be able to save the list and/or save the search so anyone added before the next time will show up.

• E-mail features to quickly e-mail a group from the database.

• Have components to use for contributions and/or accounting if desired.

• Restrict access of certain parts to certain people (ex. only the people who work with money can see the giving, others can look up phone numbers, etc.)

• Easy backup features. The backup should be stored in a fire safe, off-site, in a secure online location, etc. - somewhere where if the computer storing the database is destroyed the backup will not be. Weekly (or more frequently) backups are recommended.

• Enter alternate addresses (ex. winter addresses, college). Some programs also allow you to enter a date to automatically switch to that address.

• Calendar/scheduler so you can see other staff people's schedules too.

• Training is available for most software. Phone support is also available.

• Extra fields are available, but have different limitations. Some programs limit the number, some the types of information (numbers, text, checks, etc.), etc.

• There wasn't really a program represented that quickly/easily printed a single envelope.

Some additional options that not all have:

• A web-based version. This may save money over the long-term as you don't have to buy the software, but there is a higher monthly fee. The addition benefit is that it can be accessed from anywhere. Check with the company, but most are very secure. The downside is you should check to see what happens to the data when you get out of the arrangement, who in their company has access to it, and what methods they have for safe transmission of information to get it set up.

• ACS can connect children to more than one household (maybe other software too). This helps for divorced families and other multi-household situations.

• At least ACS and Church Windows have a feature allowing you to click on an address and see a map to that location.

• Concordia Technology Solutions, publisher of Shepherd's Staff, also offers MemberConnect, which, to put it briefly, offers ways for members/committees to interact without a physical meeting, update information without contacting another person, etc. It can also supplement your current website or BE your congregation's website.

Considering switching? Some questions to ask:

• What are the conversion capabilities? Many will convert your data, but abilities are limited and some are better than others.

• How to set up network capabilities, meaning more than one person can be on it at a time. If you plan to do this, make sure to discuss it with the sales and/or tech rep so it's set up appropriately. If not, having more than one person in at a time can result in errors and lost data.

• How does pricing work? Pricing can based on which pieces of the software you want and/or how many people will be using it and/or how many members you will enter. Also, a monthly fee (or other set up) can often give you support and product updates.

Submitted by

Communications Director
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA