Service types categorize the different gatherings your church hosts. Properly configured service types help you track attendance patterns and trigger appropriate follow-up for each context.

What Are Service Types?

A service type represents a specific gathering or event at your church. Common examples include:

  • Sunday Morning Worship
  • Sunday Evening Service
  • Wednesday Night Bible Study
  • Youth Group
  • Small Groups
  • Special Events (Easter, Christmas, etc.)

Each check-in is associated with a service type, allowing you to analyze attendance by category.

Managing Service Types

Navigate to Settings > Service Types to view and manage your church's service types.

Adding a New Service Type

  1. Click + New Service Type.
  2. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Sunday Morning Worship").
  3. Optionally add a description for internal reference.
  4. Configure settings specific to this service type (see below).
  5. Click Save.

Editing a Service Type

Click on any service type in the list to edit its name, description, and settings. Changes apply to future check-ins; historical records retain the service type that was active at the time of check-in.

Archiving a Service Type

When a service is discontinued, archive it rather than deleting it. Archived service types:

  • No longer appear in the check-in dropdown
  • Remain attached to historical check-in records
  • Can be reactivated if the service resumes

Service Type Settings

Each service type can have its own configuration:

Follow-up Rules

Specify whether check-ins for this service type trigger automated follow-up sequences. For example:

  • Main Worship Services: Trigger full follow-up sequences.
  • Special Events: Send a single welcome email but no phone call tasks.
  • Internal Meetings: No automated follow-up.

Visit Counting

Decide whether check-ins for this service type count toward visitor status progression. You might count main worship services but not special events.

Default Service

Mark one service type as the default. This service is pre-selected in the check-in dropdown, speeding up the process for your most common scenario.

Reporting by Service Type

Service types enable detailed attendance analysis:

  • Compare attendance across different services
  • Track visitor trends for specific ministries
  • Identify which services attract the most first-time visitors
  • Generate service-specific attendance reports
Tip: Create separate service types for distinct ministries (e.g., "Youth Group" vs. "Adult Bible Study") even if they meet at the same time. This allows for more precise tracking and follow-up.

Service Types and Bulk Check-in

When using bulk check-in, you select a service type at the start. All attendees in that bulk session are checked in for the same service type. This is useful for small group leaders who want to record their group's attendance in one action.