Choosing a Church Management System (CMS) is a ministry decision, not just a technical one.

In this episode, Toby Neal (Lead Pastor of Vine Church, Sydney) shares what he learned while evaluating and changing CMS platforms in a real church context. We talk about how systems shape workflows, staff capacity, and follow-up — and how to tell whether a platform actually supports disciple-making or just stores information.

In this conversation:

• How Toby tested whether a system supported ministry rather than just data

• The features that became deal-breakers

• What to expect in the first three months after switching platforms

• Why usability and design matter much more than we often assume

A practical conversation for church leaders wanting tools that serve people and support the work of the gospel.

TOOLBOX:

Ep 405 Church database nightmares and how to avoid them

Rejoice and Tremble by Michael Reeves

Church Management Systems mentioned:

• Planning Centre
• Fluro
• Tithe.ly
• ChurchSuite

Toby's list of checks:

• Name tags and checkin process
• Automated workflows (care, connect, explore, serve) from forms, from attendance, from tag
• All in one
• Robust registrations for events
• Groups that remind leaders to mark attendance
• Metrics and dashboards
• Workflows
• Automations
• Giving integrated with database rather than tithely and xero. tax statements that can be sent and can integrate bank info from xero.
• Robust system, apps work, online, speed, bugs
• Calendar for managing room bookings, venue hire
• Forms
• Clean easy to use aesthetic
• Big company, unlikely to be sold or close down.
• Manages duplicates well
• Secure

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by EA Insurance

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