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Best Church Member Directory Software [2024]
What is a member directory?
A membership directory is a booklet, either paper or digital, that keeps a record of the membership but even more than that it allows and facilitates the means by which members can know and pray for one another.
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Why a member directory?
Garrett Kell would say that the member directory is the pastor’s second most important book. Why? Because according to Hebrew 13:17, pastors are keeping watch on the souls of their congregation as those who will have to give an account. There should be an elevated importance at the very least for your membership to be known and cared for by the elders as well as known and care for by each other. A membership directory is often overlooked and undervalued, but can play a key role in your members getting to know one another, pray for one another, and growing in Christ together.
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How to put together a member directory?
There are a couple options that you have when it comes to member directories:
1. Manage it by yourself.
This is certainly the most complicated and difficult to maintain. It can work at the beginning when you’re only a handful of individuals and families, but even then, most members already know each other. Your best option is really to start with #2 below.
2. Use a member directory tool.
If you already use a CRM or platform for storing your member data, like Planning Center, you can use a tool like Church Membership Directory which integrates with Planning Center and other software to automatically take in your member data and export a physical, printable member directory. This has limitations in terms of styling and customizations, but is the simplest way to produce a member directory for your church.
3. Use an app. An app can be a great alternative, but it also comes with other security and usability requirements. We currently don’t have a membership app that we recommend, but if you know of one please reach out as we’d love to feature it here!