Font Rants on Many Subjects

CRM and the Church

I think every church should have a form on their website that lets a person make contact the ministerial team. This form should get name and contact information for the person and allow them to select from a menu of potential subjects such as, "prayer request", "visitor information", "meet the ministry", "questions about activities". Also captured on this form should be some basic demographic information designed to help the minister reach out to the person.

This form should be tied into customer relationship management system (CRM system). CRM has been a big deal in the secular corporate world for some time; but I don't think churches have really tried to adapt it. Imagine if you will every prayer request, every request for hospital visit, or information request from a potential new member logged in the computer. How many people did your ministry team meet with last week? How many of those folks are turning out for church on Sunday?

Consider the following scenario: a person requests a visit from a minister. After the visit is completed they get an email asking them "how was the visit? Do you have further questions?, etc." The leader of the ministry team can look at the results and provide coaching. Rolling these stats up on a Diocesan or regional level. Evaluate the patterns of ministry. What kinds of ministry is being done? Is the minisry successful? How will successful ministries be grown; and unsuccessful ones reconsidered.

CRM would also open up new possibilities for managing donor lists, fundraising, and growing the church funds. Though I put this last because I think it's more important to think about the gathering of the flock rather than the fleece.