Church software
Encyclopedia
Church software is any type of computer software
specifically designed for use by a church
. There are administrative packages tailored to handle membership databases and finances, and also worship presentation programs to generate images for video projector
s.
designed for displaying images (primarily song lyrics) during some forms of Christian worship
. Some programs also include other features to help plan the service
or schedule participants.
Churches adopting a contemporary worship
style often project song lyrics for congregational singing. Originally, overhead projector
s were most frequently used, but video projector
s have become commonplace as they increased in performance and decreased in price.
A resulting need was for a software package to produce the images for display. Originally, general purpose presentation program
s such as PowerPoint were used, but these were found to be of limited value, primarily because of the need to display lyrics of a selection from a large number of songs.
Worship presentation programs were developed by a number of vendors to solve this problem. A common feature is a database which stores the song lyrics and enables them to be easily retrieved and projected. This may keep records for copyright licensing
. Other features in current programs include the ability to display bible texts (often from a number of translations) and PowerPoint slides (often used for notices and sermon illustrations), as well as use graphics or video clips as a background. Another common feature is the ability to play DVDs or show live video from a camera.
Although these software packages may be used by the person leading the service or speaking, larger churches generally have a computer operator to control what is projected.
There are many programs available both commercially and as shareware
. Among the most popular programs are EasyWorship for Windows
, and MediaShout and ProPresenter for both Macintosh and Windows
. Free cross-platform
alternatives, which operate on both of these systems as well as Linux
, include OpenSong, OpenLP
and Quelea.
s for religious activity.
Christian Computing Magazine provides an annual survey of commercial church management programs every October. The magazine's website also includes a table summarising the features of alternative products, which is updated as new versions are released.
Free open source
church management systems are also available; these are not listed by the Christian Computing Magazine survey, which only covers commercial applications. An example of a free open source application for church management is the ChurchInfo project, hosted on SourceForge
.
Other alternatives include online products, some of which also facilitate collaborative planning of church service
s.
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
specifically designed for use by a church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. There are administrative packages tailored to handle membership databases and finances, and also worship presentation programs to generate images for video projector
Video projector
A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system. All video projectors use a very bright light to project the image, and most modern ones can correct any curves, blurriness, and other...
s.
Worship presentation software
A worship presentation program is a specialised presentation programPresentation program
A presentation program is a computer software package used to display information, normally in the form of a slide show...
designed for displaying images (primarily song lyrics) during some forms of Christian worship
Christian worship
In Christianity, worship is adoration and contemplation of God.-Overview:Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns, with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, particularly the Psalter;...
. Some programs also include other features to help plan the service
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
or schedule participants.
Churches adopting a contemporary worship
Contemporary worship
Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a...
style often project song lyrics for congregational singing. Originally, overhead projector
Overhead projector
An overhead projector is a variant of slide projector that is used to display images to an audience.-Mechanism:An overhead projector typically consists of a large box containing a very bright lamp and a fan to cool it. On top of the box is a large fresnel lens that collimates the light...
s were most frequently used, but video projector
Video projector
A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system. All video projectors use a very bright light to project the image, and most modern ones can correct any curves, blurriness, and other...
s have become commonplace as they increased in performance and decreased in price.
A resulting need was for a software package to produce the images for display. Originally, general purpose presentation program
Presentation program
A presentation program is a computer software package used to display information, normally in the form of a slide show...
s such as PowerPoint were used, but these were found to be of limited value, primarily because of the need to display lyrics of a selection from a large number of songs.
Worship presentation programs were developed by a number of vendors to solve this problem. A common feature is a database which stores the song lyrics and enables them to be easily retrieved and projected. This may keep records for copyright licensing
Christian Copyright Licensing International
CCLI is a privately owned company that was founded in the US in 1988 by Howard Rachinski, who is the President/CEO. CCLI was launched after being developed by Howard for 3½ years while he was a Music Minister at a large church in Portland, Oregon. This prototype was called Starpraise Ministries,...
. Other features in current programs include the ability to display bible texts (often from a number of translations) and PowerPoint slides (often used for notices and sermon illustrations), as well as use graphics or video clips as a background. Another common feature is the ability to play DVDs or show live video from a camera.
Although these software packages may be used by the person leading the service or speaking, larger churches generally have a computer operator to control what is projected.
There are many programs available both commercially and as shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
. Among the most popular programs are EasyWorship for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, and MediaShout and ProPresenter for both Macintosh and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Free cross-platform
Cross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
alternatives, which operate on both of these systems as well as Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, include OpenSong, OpenLP
OpenLP
OpenLP is a worship presentation program licensed under the GNU General Public License. It includes the ability to search through lyrics for certain words; search for Bible verses in the Bible; display lyrics and Bible verses in a friendly way to the congregation; interact with Microsoft PowerPoint...
and Quelea.
Church management software
Church management software is a specialized software that assists churches and other religious organizations in organization and automation of daily operations. These packages typically assist in the management of membership and mailings, fundraising, events, and report generation. Churches use the packages to reduce the cost of operations and track the growth in their congregations. The growth in the church management software business coincides with the growing trend of using computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s for religious activity.
Christian Computing Magazine provides an annual survey of commercial church management programs every October. The magazine's website also includes a table summarising the features of alternative products, which is updated as new versions are released.
Free open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
church management systems are also available; these are not listed by the Christian Computing Magazine survey, which only covers commercial applications. An example of a free open source application for church management is the ChurchInfo project, hosted on SourceForge
SourceForge
SourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
.
Other alternatives include online products, some of which also facilitate collaborative planning of church service
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
s.
External links
- Church Management Software Guide
- Church Management Software Feature Chart, Christian Computing Magazine