[LCFinance] LCFinance Digest, Vol 14, Issue 6

Fri Jan 16 12:25:05 EST 2009

Jim,
I was hired as the church's first business administrator in Feb 2008.  At 
Pine Valley United Methodist Church in Wilmington we have been using ACS 
(Automated Church System) since 2002.  We are changing to Quickbooks for 
Non-profits this year.  We currently utilize 4 ACS modules:

1)  Finance Module for general ledge, AP and payroll
2)  Calendar Module for scheduling the facility and meetings
3)  People Module to track membership information and giving
4)  Volunteer Module to manage volunteer ministry, Lay Committee member 
information

I would say that our staff and volunteers utiziling these modules for the 
past 8 years are advanced users.  They find the system "limiting" and 
"cumbersome".  Because of this we are switching to Quickbooks for  Finance, 
People/Giving, and volunteer management. We are looking for a Facility 
Scheduling/Calendar software program to better manage our campus programs 
and activities.

Please feel free to call if you want further details on our experience with 
ACS.  Good Luck!

Mark Edquid, MBA
Church Business Administrator
Pine Valley United Methodist Church
Wilmington, NC  28412
910-791-0353

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lcfinance-request at listserv.nccumc.org>
To: <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 11:24 AM
Subject: LCFinance Digest, Vol 14, Issue 6

> Send LCFinance mailing list submissions to
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: saftware feedback appreciated (Ellen F. Chambers)
>   2. Re: software feedback (TomSchmidt)
>   3. Re: saftware feedback appreciated (Peggy Viser)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:09:32 -0500
> From: "Ellen F. Chambers" <ellenfchambers at mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
> To: "Local Church Finance Committee and Treasurers"
> <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID: <006201c97766$556ebce0$6401a8c0 at CHAMBERS>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Jim, I work at First UMC in Fuquay Varina.  We use Church Windows for 
> everything (contribution, payroll, accounting.)  It is absolutely great 
> for contributions, and I really have no complaints about the accounting 
> piece, although I find it a bit more cumbersome that QuickBooks, which we 
> used previously.  Although I believe the general feeling among financial 
> people would be that ACS is the "gold standard" for churches, it is quite 
> expensive.  We looked at it when Church Windows was chosen, but found it 
> was too expensive for a smaller church.  I will say support for Church 
> Windows is really good, and I have no real complaints about the software. 
> I use QuickBooks for another client, and think it is perfect for a small 
> business, but not adequate for churches because it does not do true fund 
> accounting.  Church Windows does that quite well.
>
> However, I want what the guy who said he'd quit if they stopped using it 
> has!!
>
> Good luck.
>
> Ellen Chambers
> FUMC Fuquay Varina
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Jim Shaw Photography
>  To: LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
>  Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM
>  Subject: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
>
>
>  Greetings all.
>
>  As the new chair of finance at McMannen UMC, I'm looking for some 
> guidance and feedback from this group.
>
>  Specifically we are in search of a new software package to support the 
> Financial Secretary and track and report our incoming contributions. This 
> would integrate our membership database and provide more functions as we 
> grow. Some of the packages we are reviewing include Church Helpmate, 
> Membership Plus, PowerChurch, Servant Keeper, and Shepherd's Staff.
>
>
>
>  Can you folks share your experiences and thoughts (good and bad) about 
> any of these? Is there a "gold standard" or one package that is head and 
> shoulders above the rest? Is there a package that we do not have on our 
> list that is worth a look?
>
>
>
>  Just as a quick poll.what is your church using?
>
>
>
>  Thank so very much for your help in this.
>
>
>
>  Jim Shaw
>
>
>  -- 
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>
>  _______________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:31:22 -0500
> From: "TomSchmidt" <tomschmidt at embarqmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] software feedback
> To: <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID: <63025E1595154C9E98EFA3D671DC9DB0 at thomas>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> For Jim Shaw
>
> We have used CCIS Church Management Software http://www.ccissoftware.com/
> for several years. All pledges and contributions are managed with this
> program. It also has a good membership management program and a query
> feature plus a large menu of reports for membership, contributions and
> member activities. We record all contributions using this program and 
> issue
> statements through the program as well. Although there is an accounting
> package available with it we have elected to import all contributions to
> QuickBooks and use that program for Financial Management.
>
> Let me know if you need further info.
>
> Tom Schmidt
> Church Treasurer and Administrator
> First United Methodist Church
> Havelock, NC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org
> [mailto:lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org] On Behalf Of
> lcfinance-request at listserv.nccumc.org
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 4:48 PM
> To: lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org
> Subject: LCFinance Digest, Vol 14, Issue 5
>
> Send LCFinance mailing list submissions to
> lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://listserv.nccumc.org/mailman/listinfo/lcfinance
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> lcfinance-request at listserv.nccumc.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> lcfinance-owner at listserv.nccumc.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of LCFinance digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: saftware feedback appreciated (diane corbin)
>   2. Re: saftware feedback appreciated (Holly Babcock)
>   3. Re: saftware feedback appreciated (Cathy)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:46:09 -0500
> From: "diane corbin" <dcorbin002 at nc.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
> To: "Local Church Finance Committee and Treasurers"
> <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID: <000d01c97749$ea1432c0$6601a8c0 at Diane>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> We have membership plus at Avent Ferry UMC and I think you could do 
> better.
> Wish I could help you with which of the others.
> Diane Corbin
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Jim Shaw Photography
>  To: LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
>  Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM
>  Subject: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
>
>
>  Greetings all.
>
>  As the new chair of finance at McMannen UMC, I'm looking for some 
> guidance
> and feedback from this group.
>
>  Specifically we are in search of a new software package to support the
> Financial Secretary and track and report our incoming contributions. This
> would integrate our membership database and provide more functions as we
> grow. Some of the packages we are reviewing include Church Helpmate,
> Membership Plus, PowerChurch, Servant Keeper, and Shepherd's Staff.
>
>
>
>  Can you folks share your experiences and thoughts (good and bad) about 
> any
> of these? Is there a "gold standard" or one package that is head and
> shoulders above the rest? Is there a package that we do not have on our 
> list
> that is worth a look?
>
>
>
>  Just as a quick poll.what is your church using?
>
>
>
>  Thank so very much for your help in this.
>
>
>
>  Jim Shaw
>
>
>  -- 
>  This message has been scanned for viruses and
>  dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
>  believed to be clean.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
>
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  LCFinance mailing list
>  LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
>  http://listserv.nccumc.org/mailman/listinfo/lcfinance
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:28:11 -0500
> From: "Holly Babcock" <holly.babcock at apexumc.org>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
> To: "'Local Church Finance Committee and Treasurers'"
> <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID: <005101c97758$2b09f4f0$811dded0$@babcock at apexumc.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Jim,
>
>
>
> We have been using ACS since 2002.  They have many modules that can be 
> used
> as you need them now or you can add them later.  We also use the Financial
> Module to have the contributions amounts feed directly into the ledger.
>
>
>
> I think ACS is one of the best out there because it was written with
> churches in mind.  It has modules to track attendance, a calendar to
> schedule rooms (or people), they are starting to have modules you can use
> over the internet.  If I can answer any questions, let me know.
>
>
>
> Holly Babcock
>
>
>
> Finance Administrator
>
> APEX UMC
>
> Phone: (919) 362-7807  Ext 228
>
> From: lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org
> [mailto:lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org] On Behalf Of Jim Shaw
> Photography
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM
> To: LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
> Subject: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
>
>
>
> Greetings all.
>
> As the new chair of finance at McMannen UMC, I'm looking for some guidance
> and feedback from this group.
>
> Specifically we are in search of a new software package to support the
> Financial Secretary and track and report our incoming contributions. This
> would integrate our membership database and provide more functions as we
> grow. Some of the packages we are reviewing include Church Helpmate,
> Membership Plus, PowerChurch, Servant Keeper, and Shepherd's Staff.
>
>
>
> Can you folks share your experiences and thoughts (good and bad) about any
> of these? Is there a "gold standard" or one package that is head and
> shoulders above the rest? Is there a package that we do not have on our 
> list
> that is worth a look?
>
>
>
> Just as a quick poll.what is your church using?
>
>
>
> Thank so very much for your help in this.
>
>
>
> Jim Shaw
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by  <http://www.mailscanner.info/> MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:08:43 -0500
> From: "Cathy" <aldersgate.cs at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
> To: "'Local Church Finance Committee and Treasurers'"
> <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID: <84E14707C8394B779615D8F59E89601B at aumc8d669d7eb6>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I am at Aldersgate UMC in Durham - they had Membership Plus but changed to
> PowerChurch a few months before I started here.  I am pleased with it but
> then I've never tried anything else.
>
>
>
> Cathy Sheffield
>
> Aldersgate UMC
>
>
>
>  _____
>
> From: lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org
> [mailto:lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org] On Behalf Of Jim Shaw
> Photography
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM
> To: LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
> Subject: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
>
>
>
> Greetings all.
>
> As the new chair of finance at McMannen UMC, I'm looking for some guidance
> and feedback from this group.
>
> Specifically we are in search of a new software package to support the
> Financial Secretary and track and report our incoming contributions. This
> would integrate our membership database and provide more functions as we
> grow. Some of the packages we are reviewing include Church Helpmate,
> Membership Plus, PowerChurch, Servant Keeper, and Shepherd's Staff.
>
>
>
> Can you folks share your experiences and thoughts (good and bad) about any
> of these? Is there a "gold standard" or one package that is head and
> shoulders above the rest? Is there a package that we do not have on our 
> list
> that is worth a look?
>
>
>
> Just as a quick poll.what is your church using?
>
>
>
> Thank so very much for your help in this.
>
>
>
> Jim Shaw
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by  <http://www.mailscanner.info/> MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> LCFinance mailing list
> LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
> http://listserv.nccumc.org/mailman/listinfo/lcfinance
>
>
> End of LCFinance Digest, Vol 14, Issue 5
> ****************************************
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:23:00 -0500
> From: "Peggy Viser" <peggyviser at saintfrancisumc.org>
> Subject: Re: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
> To: "Local Church Finance Committee and Treasurers"
> <lcfinance at listserv.nccumc.org>
> Message-ID:
> <D60EB497FFD297488D10D5013DBA026720B8CE at winserver.SaintFrancisUMC.local>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I've only used ACS and PowerChurch Plus; and of the two, I prefer ACS.
> One of the other respondents commented that ACS is top of the line and
> expensive.  I do agree to an extent.  The things that I like most about
> ACS are its clean interface between contributions and GL and its
> adaptability to what a church needs.  Because the available modules can
> be purchased separately as needed, the initial investment can be
> controlled.
>
>
>
> Having said all that, the church where I am a member (mid-sized
> congregation) recently purchased the people side of Shelby Software (the
> other top-of-the-line package), and is still using Quickbooks for the
> financial side.  I have not heard any negatives.
>
>
>
> My feeling is that ACS and Shelby are much more useful and affordable
> for large churches, while smaller churches would be more pleased with
> one of the other packages.
>
>
>
> Peggy A. Viser
>
> Business Director
>
> Saint Francis United Methodist Church
>
> 2965 Kildaire Farm Rd.
>
> Cary, NC  27518
>
> Phone 919-362-1666 Ext. 23
>
> Fax 919-362-1691
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org
> [mailto:lcfinance-bounces at listserv.nccumc.org] On Behalf Of Jim Shaw
> Photography
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:45 PM
> To: LCFinance at listserv.nccumc.org
> Subject: [LCFinance] saftware feedback appreciated
>
>
>
> Greetings all.
>
> As the new chair of finance at McMannen UMC, I'm looking for some
> guidance and feedback from this group.
>
> Specifically we are in search of a new software package to support the
> Financial Secretary and track and report our incoming contributions.
> This would integrate our membership database and provide more functions
> as we grow. Some of the packages we are reviewing include Church
> Helpmate, Membership Plus, PowerChurch, Servant Keeper, and Shepherd's
> Staff.
>
>
>
> Can you folks share your experiences and thoughts (good and bad) about
> any of these? Is there a "gold standard" or one package that is head and
> shoulders above the rest? Is there a package that we do not have on our
> list that is worth a look?
>
>
>
> Just as a quick poll...what is your church using?
>
>
>
> Thank so very much for your help in this.
>
>
>
> Jim Shaw
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is
>
> believed to be clean.
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1895 - Release Date:
> 1/15/2009 7:46 AM
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
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>
>
> End of LCFinance Digest, Vol 14, Issue 6
> ****************************************
>
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