Getting started with the Small Groups module

Introduction to the Small Groups module

Welcome to the Small Groups module. This module is for managing all the aspects of your small group ministry. Here, you're able to create groups, organise them in oversight Clusters, categorise them using Labels, manage group member lists and roles and maintain group attendance. Group features include sign-up functionality designed to help prospective group members more easily find a group to join, with sign-up confirmations and group leader notifications keeping everyone in the loop. You can embed group lists and maps on your website, and there's a wide range of reports to help you understand engagement and small group ministry health.

We encourage you to read this article in full to familiarise yourself with the module's key features and customisation options, as well as some of the basic concepts and terminology you'll encounter in it, and in our related support articles and training videos.

Small Groups module features at a glance

• Easily add, import and duplicate groups
• Manage online groups and their meeting links and groups that meet physically in person
• Create custom group fields to record additional group details
• Manage group visibility in the member-facing My ChurchSuite and embedded lists and maps on your website
• Categorise groups using Labels and group your groups using Clusters for oversight
• Produce promotional group flyers to print or share by email and social media
• Maintain group attendance for safeguarding and reporting purposes
• Comprehensive reporting to help you visualise small group ministry health, engagement and attendance
• Empower leaders to self-manage group details, member lists and attendance records using My ChurchSuite without needing Small Groups module access

Next Steps

Terminology

Here's a list of key terms you'll encounter in the Small Groups module and the related support articles and training videos for this module:

• Small Groups: A generic term used to describe your church's smaller, typically mid-week, gatherings. You might call them life groups, home groups, connect groups, hubs, cells, pastorates, community groups, growth groups, or something else entirely. Your groups might have a strong discipleship emphasis or a much lighter social purpose. This module can be used for groups of any type or purpose and is ideal where you want to maintain group member lists, track engagement or record attendance.
• Clusters are all about grouping groups for oversight and pastoral care. Designated cluster overseers can see and manage their cluster groups in the member-facing My ChurchSuite.
• Labels will help you categorise your various groups. Used for reporting, targeted communications and as filters on the web embeddable group lists and maps.
• Members: A member list is maintained of the contacts and children who belong to each group. Key dates are recorded when members join and leave groups.
• Roles: Create and assign roles, such as "Leader" or "Host". Optional role permissions include managing group details and member lists, submitting attendance, and notifying sign-up notifications.

Got a question?

You’ll find the answers to most questions in our support articles - they're all available through the Support menu located in the top-right corner of each page in ChurchSuite. Select Get help and search by topic, phrase or keyword. You can also access the Support Article library on our website. And if you still can't find something you're looking for, click to contact one of the ChurchSuite team - we’re happy to help!