What’s the difference between a CMS and a ChMS? A CMS is a Content Management System. A ChMS is a Church Management System. Most Content Management Systems are designed with the following features:

• Make it easy to manage the content of the web site
• Allow multiple people to contribute to the site without being developers
• Improve overall communication with the community
• Enable specific roles for various types of contributors
• Generate reports on content and how it is being used

In contrast, a ChMS or Church Management System needs to do more than simply manage the content of the web site. That is not to say that it could not also include CMS software, just that it is also designed to provide management. I would suggest that a Church Management System needs the following features:

• Membership Management
• Financial Accounting
• Worship Planning
• Calendar Tracking
• Newsletter Support
• Web site Content Management
• Sermon Repository
• Bible Study Resources
• Small Group Support

What does your Church need? Are you still using multiple software packages for multiple tasks – sometimes with little coordination between them? If so, feel free to comment on your wish list for a Church Management System below.

Churches need to be well managed. Many Churches these days have a Church Administrator, a staff member dedicated to management tasks. This used to be the prerogative of the Senior Pastor; but larger Churches have discovered that they really want the Senior Pastor to be a visionary, not an administrator. And having an administrator means they can enjoy longer service, and consequently really know the ins and outs of the job.

Large Churches also need an information system, a Church Management System if you will. This is used by the Church Administrator to manage the day to day business of the Church. It needs to have at least the following functions:

• Membership Records
• Donor Database Management
• Web Site Management
• Administrative Reporting

The Church is blessed by many good software packages designed for this task. Here are just a few to check out:

This list represents a variety of features and prices, with something for every Church from a small to megachurch congregation.