Summary: This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Tithely Groups dashboard. It covers how to access the feature, understand user permissions, navigate the interface, and utilize key tools for managing small groups, events, and Church App integration.
Before You Begin
Account Requirements: To access Groups, your church must have the appropriate Tithely plan:
No Access: Free Accounts or accounts with only Sites or Apps.
Limited Access: Accounts with Paid ChMS but no Church App.
Full Access: Accounts with Paid ChMS and a Church App (or All Access).
User Permissions: You must have specific permissions to perform actions within Groups:
View/Edit all groups: Full access to view, edit, add/remove members, and contact members.
Create Groups: Ability to create new groups.
Delete Groups: Ability to delete existing groups.
View My Groups: Ability to view only the groups you belong to.
Group Leaders: Leaders have automatic View/Edit access to their assigned groups (this is not permission-based). They cannot delete groups or create new ones.
Event Integration Permissions:
To link a group to a new event: Requires "Groups Edit" + "Event Create" permissions.
To link a group to an existing event: Requires "Groups Edit" + "Edit Events" permissions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Navigate to the Groups Dashboard. Click the More tab in the top navigation bar, then select Groups.
Note: Group Leaders will only see the specific groups they are assigned to lead.
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Review the All Groups Overview. The dashboard displays an alphabetical list of your groups with the following details:
Group Icon: Custom image or default icon.
Group Name: The title of the group.
Meeting Frequency: How often it meets (e.g., Weekly, Monthly).
Location: Where the meetings take place.
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Use the Search Bar or Create New Groups.
Search: Type a name in the bar at the top to filter results dynamically.
Create: If you have permission, click the '+ New Group' button to open the setup dialog box.
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Click on a Row to Access Group Details. Selecting a specific group takes you to its individual page where you can:
Manage Members: Add/remove members and assign leaders.
Communicate: Send emails or text messages to the group.
Customize: Update names, descriptions, and schedules.
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Integrate with Tithely Events. You can link groups to events for streamlined management:
Associate: Link a group to a new or existing event.
Series Support: Linking to a series event automatically links the group to all events in that series.
Create Group Event: Use this button on the Groups page to quickly make a new event pre-linked to that group.
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Connect to the Church App. Groups seamlessly sync with your custom app to drive engagement:
Visibility: Toggle specific groups to be Public or Private in the app.
Sync: Name, description, frequency, and location auto-sync to the app.
Chat: Enable in-app chat to foster community.
Requests: Allow members to request to join; Leaders can approve/deny these in the app.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why can't I see the "Groups" tab? This feature requires a paid ChMS plan. If you are on a Free account or only have Sites/Apps packages, you will not have access to the Groups dashboard.
I am a Group Leader; why can't I create a new group? Being a Group Leader gives you access to manage your specific group. To create new groups or delete existing ones, you must be assigned a User Role with the specific "Create Groups" or "Delete Groups" permissions by an Admin.
How do I link a group to an event? Navigate to the Groups page or the Event Settings page. Remember, you need "Groups Edit" permission combined with either "Event Create" (for new events) or "Edit Events" (for existing events) to perform this action.