Slack

Slack transformed workplace communication by replacing endless email threads with organized, searchable conversations. For church staff teams, it offers a modern alternative to email-heavy coordination while keeping communications more organized than group texting. The channel-based organization is Slack's defining feature. Create channels for different purposes: #staff-general for team-wide announcements, #worship-team for Sunday planning, #facilities for building issues, #prayer-requests for pastoral needs. Conversations stay with relevant topics rather than cluttering everyone's inbox with replies to all. Real-time messaging suits the quick questions and coordination that fill church office days. Instead of emailing 'What time is the meeting?' and waiting for replies, get instant answers in Slack. The typing indicator shows when someone is responding. The overall tempo of communication accelerates. Direct messages handle private conversations, while group DMs bring together small clusters without creating full channels. This flexibility mirrors how teams actually communicate - some discussions need the whole team, others just three people, others are one-on-one. The free tier works for many small church staffs. You get unlimited channels and members with access to the last 90 days of message history. The history limit is the main constraint - older messages become inaccessible without upgrading. For teams focused on current coordination rather than historical records, this rarely matters. Integrations connect Slack to other tools. Receive notifications from Google Calendar, Trello, or your church management system directly in Slack channels. The app directory offers thousands of integrations. Zapier enables custom connections for tools without native Slack support. Paid plans ($7.25/user/month, with 85% nonprofit discount available) unlock unlimited message history, longer video calls, and advanced features. The nonprofit discount makes paid plans quite affordable. Slack works across devices - desktop apps, web browser, and mobile apps stay synchronized. Start a conversation on your laptop and continue from your phone. Notifications are customizable to prevent overwhelm while staying responsive.

Create a workspace at slack.com - this becomes your church's Slack environment. Choose a workspace name and URL (yourchurch.slack.com). You'll be the initial administrator. Create channels for your team's major communication needs before inviting others. Start with obvious needs: a general channel for team-wide discussion, channels for major ministries or functions, and a social/random channel for non-work conversation. You can add more channels later as needs emerge. Invite your team members via email. They'll create Slack accounts and join your workspace. Give a brief orientation - many people know Slack from other contexts, but some will be new. Establish team norms for Slack use. When should people use Slack versus email? What response time expectations exist? How should urgent matters be flagged? Which channels should everyone monitor? Clear expectations prevent frustration. Configure notifications thoughtfully. Default notifications can be overwhelming. Show team members how to adjust notification settings, mute busy channels, and set do-not-disturb hours. The goal is staying informed without constant interruption. Add integrations for tools your team uses. Connect Google Calendar to see meeting reminders in Slack. Link Trello or project management boards. Integrate with Planning Center or your ChMS if supported. These connections reduce app-switching. Apply for the Slack for Nonprofits program if you'll exceed free tier limits. The 85% discount makes paid plans very affordable for churches. Apply through Slack's website with your nonprofit documentation.