Phase 1: Five basic areas that ALL staff need to know (training dates: every other week in Feb/Mar).

Training Schedule:

1. People - Feb 3 (Wed)

2. Workflows - Feb 16

3. Forms - Mar 2

4. Registration/Events - Mar 16

5. Groups - Mar 30

Phase 2: Planning Center deep dive for specific staff groups - hands on training by invitation (training dates: weekly through April/May)

Training Schedule:

1. Communications & Lists (Reports) - Apr 13

2. Groups Part 2 & 3 - Apr 20 & 27

3. Check-Ins - May 4

4. Volunteer - May 11

5. Mobile App - May 18

6. Multi-site - May 25

Phase 1: Training

We want this transition to be painless! We have broken down Planning Center and created lessons with only the items you actually need to know.

Below you will see sections with lessons that include a summary, short articles and/or videos, and a checklist for you to complete. You will only see lessons for items we have already reviewed in our trainings.

Introduction

Welcome to planning center! In this lesson, you'll learn how to log into our new church database system.

You will have received an email with your Planning Center login information. If you didn't receive it or can't find it please contact Natalie DeAmicis Fu.

Save the following URL. This is what you will use to log in each time: https://login.planningcenteronline.com/login/new

Please read the article below and complete the check-list.

If you need help with something within Planning Center, you can search their database of "how-to" articles or submit a "help ticket." The article & video below will walk you through how to do that. Planning Center support is addressed from from minute 1:00-2:00 in the video.

People

In this lesson, you will learn how to

1. Search for people

2. Edit a profile

3. Edit/create households

Please read the articles below and complete the check-list.

In this lesson you will learn

1. How to add a person

2. How to update info in their custom fields

3. How to add a note to their profile

Please read the following articles below and complete the check-list.

Workflows

A workflow is a series of steps to help church staff or leaders communicate with people in your church through processes, such as becoming a member, receiving information as a first time guest, or serving in a ministry.

In this lesson you will learn:

1. What a workflow is

2. The most common ways churches utilize workflows

In this lesson you will learn:

1. How to follow up with a workflow card (i.e. something that is assigned to you).

2. How to add an internal note, send an email, or reassign a card.

Forms

Planning Center uses forms to get necessary information from people (i.e. phone #, email addresses), which saves time on data entry and follow up. Some examples would be: connect cards, prayer requests, or volunteer interests. Forms are not used for event registration.

In this lesson you will learn:

1. How to create a form

2. How to share a form URL

3. How to view form submissions

Events/Registration

In this lesson you will learn:

1. Overview of Calendar module

2. Overview of Registration module

3. How to get help

Groups

The Groups module within Planning Center will help you manage your members, plan events, take attendance, and share resources.

In this lesson you will learn:

1. How to access your groups

2. How to edit your groups

3. How to communication with your groups

Church Center is the public side of Groups. It’s where people who are not on staff can learn which groups are open, where they're located, how often they meet, and other important group details.

In this lesson you will learn:

1. Where to view all open groups

2. How to search/filter groups

3. The basic components of a group’s page

Phase 2: Training

In the following trainings, we will break each module down into specific actions you will need to know. If you haven’t completed Phase 1, you may want to do that before starting these next lessons. Phase 1 sets the foundation that Phase 2 will build upon.

At Gateway we have three types of groups: Life Groups and Freedom Groups are the first two. These are listed on Church Center (the public side of Planning Center) and Gateway members will be able to search these groups and join them. Our third type is Unique groups. These are groups that are listed internally only and not viewable to the public.

In this lesson, you will learn:

1. How to request a group be added to PCO

   -Fill out the Gateway Groups Request Form.

2. How to add/remove group members

   -Add member to a group

   -Remove member from a group

3. Report for your group

   -Reports/Group Analytics

4. Resources for your group

   -Group Resources

5. How to filter/search for information about your groups

   -Finding Group Members
   

   Your Homework:

   -Add your members into your groups
   -Download the Church Center App

In this lesson, you will learn to:

1. Create a Group Event

2. Take attendance (on a desktop & on the Church Center App)

3. Manage Group Settings

4. Group Communication:

   • Messaging on the app

   • Send group event reminders

In this lesson, you will learn:

1. When to request an event in Planning Center (PCO)

   • Most events are approved during our master calendar planning meeting each fall. After the calendar is set, you will submit the request within Planning Center (PCO) to reserve the date/time, room, and any resources needed. If additional event ideas come up throughout the year, they will need to be approved before entering into PCO (For San Jose, events are approved by Pastor David/Chris/Cari).

2. How to submit a complete event request in PCO:

   • Selecting template, inputting event info, reserving rooms

   • For resources email Ruby Montoya & Jeremy Chase.

   • Make any changes/edits

3. How to know when your event request (including rooms/resources) has been approved.