User Support Forum

We purchased PowerChurch for our church at the beginning of the year with a shiningly optimistic treasurer. Although there were some bumps in the road reports were coming out for our monthly meetings and things seemed to be going reasonably well. Here we are at the end of the year and suddenly I have a treasurer the insists she has no idea how to use this software and would rather do all the books with pen and paper.

I have helped on occasion but have no experience with bookkeeping more detailed than my personal finances. She insists that if only we could find someone who could sit down with her and explain how these things function and help get us off on the right foot then she could use it. Otherwise she is kicking and screaming about continuing with this program and as tight as she can pinch pennies even threatened to buy new software.

The problem is we use Powerchurch for its many other features as well and integration of information has proven to be fantastic for every other issue besides the bookkeeping. She spent a great deal of time on the phone with the support staff at the beginning of the year which made me think she knew what was going on, instead it seems she does not learn well over the phone and needs a real live human being.

I apologize for the wall of text but if anyone is in Central Indiana and able to come help I would happily give you some money for gas and buy you lunch.

You might also consider the Online Training Classes. There are two different Fund Accounting classes available, as well as Accounts Payable and Payroll.

https://powerchurch.com/training_classes

She took a look at those. I'm not sure if she participated or not, but she was adamant about a real-live human being sitting next to her. I told her I would look. Thank you though.

dmleitch wrote:She took a look at those. I'm not sure if she participated or not, but she was adamant about a real-live human being sitting next to her. I told her I would look. Thank you though.

FWIW there is someone in Indianapolis that can help you. Check this page for Powerchurch consultants in Indiana:

http://powerchurch.com/training/consultants.php

However, given your description of the treasurer, she may not want to pay for it. Is there a specific area she's having problems with, or just a general lack of familiarity ??

General lack of familiarity.

Often she will mention that if she understood the "flow" of money then it would be much clearer. Not she would understand completely but it would help greatly.

dmleitch wrote:General lack of familiarity.

Often she will mention that if she understood the "flow" of money then it would be much clearer. Not she would understand completely but it would help greatly.

Not sure what she means by the flow of money. Money comes in through the Contributions module, is then posted to Funds Accounting by means of a set of transactions created. In Funds Accounting these transactions are then posted, and the money is credited or debited to the correct accounts.

Does she understand double-entry bookkeeping ??

Sorry for the delay, Christmas week and all.
She has done double entry before and with some help from a very computer literate assistant is getting closer to her questions being asked. I am sorry for how large and vague my initial inquiry was. I asked too much with too little detail.

Thank you for the responses that I have gotten but I think it would be best to close this thread and I can work with her on addressing individual questions one at a time with the general questions and accounting folks in the other forum topics.

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to chime in and say I'm sorry for your struggles. I understand where you are coming from with your treasurer as I had to deal with a similar situation a few years ago. I'd hate for anybody to lose their job or duty but sometimes you just have to make a change for the better. Hope everything has worked out for you.