Service Types allows you to predefine details of services that you hold regularly.
For example, if you run a service every Sunday at 9:00 AM, you can input the details of how these services typically run under a Service Type for reference. This means that every time you add a new service for Sunday, you can select the particular Sunday Morning Service Type and it will auto-fill the data for you.
Service types offer the ability to build things like set call times, the volunteering positions required for that type of service and the expected run time of certain service elements in the Service Plan. We recommend spending some time setting these up as you get started in the system.
Using Service Types
It’s best to set up individual service types for each of the different services you hold on a regular basis. While certain details may change on each occurrence, Service types will allow you to define which departments and positions will be needed, as well as set up a general structure for each service type.
Service Types Basics
Service types are basically templates for your services. In them, you can set up a generic plan, define which departments and positions you’ll need, how many people are required in each position, additional times for your service, and what information Elvanto will automatically compile into reports at the end of the service.
Service Types vs Locations
You might have a single service type at each of your locations. You might have many. Some service types might cross-over between locations. In most cases, you’ll find that you’ll use only service types, or service types paired with the actual locations your church has.
Things to consider
Times
Your services have plenty of other times. Your band practice, for example, will start at least an hour before the service. You might also have a set up/pack down crew. They probably only have to be half an hour earlier than everyone else, but they probably also need to start pack down fifteen minutes after the service ends.
For some things, however, a pre-service time is not appropriate. Pre-service music, for example, is best done as part of the Service Plan – rather than a pre-service time – so that you can manage any last-minute changes through Elvanto LIVE.
Reporting
Elvanto automatically generates a number of reports based on the statistics you collect during a service. Most of these are related to attendance. If you want to keep track of other statistics, you’ll have to set up custom service reporting statistics.
Custom service reporting statistics can be whatever you want! If you want to see how the amount of hard-copy bibles in your services change, then set up a Reporting statistic. If you want to look for trends in people making commitments and recommitments to Christ, then set up a Reporting statistic.
Like departments, service reporting can be turned on or off for different service types. This means that you can be very specific in which statistics you want to collect for each service.