Local Church Online Charge Conference Summary

This is now set up as a form that you fill out online in the Church Dashboard (the online tool where you update church information). 

Step 1: Read all of the information below to help you gather your information, and understand how this new online form is set up.

You can also print the instructions. Click here to open the word document>>

We recommend that  you gather all the required information (see list below) as this form will not save if any required fields are blank.

Step 2: Log in to the Church Dashboard

Here is the link:

www.nyac.com/churchdashboard/login

IMPORTANT: Please use Internet Explorer; the dashboard does not work well in other browsers (like AOL, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome)

Your username and password are your church GCFA number without the first zero (where applicable); this can be found in the Conference Directory.  Your dashboard username and password may have been changed by a previous pastor. If you cannot log in using this criteria, please send an email to website@nyac.com to have your information reset back to the GCFA number.

Step 3: Go to the Charge Conference Summary Form

When you get into the Church Dashboard, click the link at the top that reads, "Charge Conference Summary."

You’ll notice right away that this looks familiar – that’s because we set it up to mirror the Word document that many have used for years.

Important:
1) Do not type in ALL CAPS or all lower case. Use capital letters at the beginning of proper nouns (names, street addresses, cities, etc.), and
2) Use the abbreviations for state names (NY, CT, etc.).

Step 4: Review and update the church information at the top.

The top section is statistical information about your church. Please edit any of this information as appropriate. To edit, just highlight the incorrect information and type in the new information. To add new information, put your cursor in the field and type. Once you are sure the information is correct, check the box in front of “I have reviewed and updated the information above.” 

Any of the information that is not in an editable field (within a blue box) cannot be changed within this form. If you find that any non-editable information is incorrect, please send an email to your District Superintendent so that it can be updated.

Step 5: Review and update pastor information.

The next section is about your pastor(s). Please update the home and mailing information, phone numbers and email as appropriate.

Step 6: Go through the list of Leadership positions.

a) Update the information that is already there, or
b) Click "Add" and choose existing laity from the drop-down box. If the laity name is not in the drop-down list, type their information into the fields provided. Do not type over the information for a person no longer serving to add a new person; that new person will end up with the photo and service record of the person you typed over!
c) For charge-level committees, only include the committee members from the church on which you are working in the dashboard – don’t list the entire committee in each of the church dashboards.

Click “add assignment” after you either choose the person from the list, or type in their information.

Please note: This information will not appear on the nyac.com Web site; it is for internal purposes only!

Step 7: Save!

This updates the Conference database. Only when you have completed every required field (marked with a *) will you be able to save. After you click Save, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to see if you received any error messages.

Step 8: Print and bring to your Charge Conference.

Helpful Information

Required Fields

There are required fields for each person added to a leadership role, and required leadership roles. Please see the list below, and be sure that you have all of the information needed when you sit down to fill out this form.

A Few Points of Clarification

Many of your current church leaders will already be listed in your form; this information came from past form submissions. Please check this information carefully -- there may be required fields that need to be filled in prior to saving the form.

When you delete a person from a leadership role, they will not disappear from your screen in that role until you save the entire document. (This doesn't delete the person; it only deletes them from that role.)

When you add a new person into a leadership role, you must press the "add assignment" button below the area where you type that person's information. (That's not necessary for people already listed.)

When you are finished, hit the "save" button, then scroll to the bottom of the page to see if there are any error messages. For example: the system will tell you that a required field has not been filled, and it will also turn the label for that field red so that you can easily find what is missing.

Help is Available

More detail about this form is available by clicking the link "Church Dashboard Manual" after you log in to the Dashboard.

Thanks for your patience and cooperation in the implementation of this new process!

Required Fields

Required fields for each person

Title
First Name
Last Name
Mailing address, city, state, zip
One phone number
Email address (If the church leader does not have an email address, please use the church email address. Keep in mind that if you do this, all emails to the church email address that are applicable to that church leadership position need to be printed and given to that person.)

Required leadership positions

Church Admin/Council Chair
Treasurer
Finance Chair
Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Chair
Board of Trustees Chair

If the church does not have a person in any of these positions due to special circumstances, click the box "This required position is purposely not filled."

One other required field

Be sure to check the box, "I have reviewed and updated the information above." (Just below the church info.)

What will the Conference do with this information?

• Lay and Reserve Members will receive the emailed Call to Conference each year, along with other communications regarding Annual Conference.
• Treasurers and Finance Chairs will receive important information from our Conference Treasurer.
• Chairs/leaders of certain committees will receive targeted email messages applicable to their position.

Folks within the Conference and Districts will be able to reach out to your leaders in appropriate, position-specific ways.

While you are in the Church Dashboard, check out the other options available. You can add events and classifieds that will appear on your church page on nyac.com. The information under the "Church Info" link is that which appears on the church page of nyac.com. You can update your worship times, church school times, etc. to make your church page as up to date as possible. To view your church page, go to nyac.com, click on Church Locator, and search for your church.