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Church management software frees staff members to do their jobs more efficiently. They communicate better using one common tool, and they help control the costs related to running a church. Yet it's often hard to know what to expect when considering a new church management program. Here are three tips to consider:

One of the key benefits to church management software is in how it frees staff members to do the work of the church and not spend as much time on the computer. It's important to choose a tool that staff will use regularly, does not have a high learning curve, and actually solves most of your church management issues.

Brandon Ganz, the director of operations at Christ Community Church in Rochester, Minnesota, uses PDSLive Online (recently renamed Elexio.com) because the software works in "real time," meaning it is available anytime. That's helpful for addressing church management issues as they arise, or for Sunday morning tasks that often waited to get completed, such as when staff members enter attendance information.

"Using the check-in system has increased the efficiency of the office staff by eliminating the need to enter attendance information on Monday," Ganz says. The staff also has become more efficient because entering data previously was a manual process, he says.

Andrew Lang, the systems administrator at Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis chose Fellowship One (fellowshipone.com) because it offers greater visibility for ministry groups. All of the management tools are in one bucket. The alternative involved a more manual process of Excel spreadsheets or disparate database tools, making it harder for staff to find contacts, plan events, reach out to ministry partners, and just do their daily jobs.

Church management software helps staff members become more efficient in their jobs and spend more time doing ministry, and this also leads to better communication. The best church management tools become a one-stop shop for information. For example, one staff member might enter a note about a new family attending the church, allowing another to see the note and reach out to that family."PDSLive Online gives our key ministry leaders the ability to communicate with others in their small groups or ministry teams, opt in to the different newsletter and mailing lists, update personal information, and check their registration status and giving," Ganz says.

Ganz says the communication benefits also extend outside of the church office, since the tool runs on the web and staff can access it from home or even when they "go mobile" at a coffee shop or library. He says this access also helps recruit and retain volunteers because non-staff can use the management tools outside the office, too.

Some church management software costs $1,000 or more, and the web-based options charge a monthly fee per user. There is always a ramp-up period with new software as staff members are trained and learn how to enter data for membership roles and track attendance, and perform basic contact management steps. These costs savings might not be noticeable at first—it may take several months to see the benefits.

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