--- title: FAQs | Shepherd’s Staff Church Management Software description: Have questions about Shepherd’s Staff? Check out our FAQs for information on everything from security features and system requirements to free trials and software training. --- [![CTS logo](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CTS-Images/CTS_Logo_Gray.png?width=500&height=75&name=CTS_Logo_Gray.png "CTS logo")](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/?hsLang=en) [![Resource Center](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/3ced8e96-2cb7-4fb2-a892-3be2d095bead.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/3ced8e96-2cb7-4fb2-a892-3be2d095bead) [![Shepherd's Staff - Complete Church Management Software](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cts/ss/images/ss-background.jpg?width=3264&name=ss-background.jpg "Shepherd's Staff - Complete Church Management Software")](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds_staff?hsLang=en) # Frequently Asked Questions [![SS-logo-oneline](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cts/ss/images/SS-logo-oneline.png?width=2016&name=SS-logo-oneline.png "SS-logo-oneline") ](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff?hsLang=en) [![Download Free Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/b6216f23-da3e-42d1-8541-5d50e8ec3c8f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/b6216f23-da3e-42d1-8541-5d50e8ec3c8f) ** I’m ready to purchase Shepherd’s Staff. What do I do now? To purchase the latest Shepherd’s Staff [church CRM software](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff?hsLang=en), email us at [softwaresales@cts.cph.org](mailto:softwaresales@cts.cph.org) or call 1.800.325.2399 to speak with one of our sales representatives. What are the system requirements for Shepherd’s Staff? Recommended: - Windows 10 or 11 - 1 GHz dual-core processor or faster - 4 GB RAM - 120 GB hard drive or larger - 1920 x 1080 graphics resolution up to 125% scaling - Wide-screen monitor - Microsoft Office - Laser or inkjet printer - Internet connection Is Shepherd’s Staff network ready? Yes, our program can be networked right out of the box. Since the release of Shepherd’s Staff 2007, all licenses include unlimited use within the same church. Do you offer a free trial of Shepherd’s Staff? We offer a full working demonstration version of the software that allows you to view all the features of the full version. The trial includes sample data to give you real-world examples. You can [download the trial](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds_staff/free_trial?hsLang=en) or call **1.800.325.2399** to request a trial CD. Does Shepherd’s Staff offer any security features? Yes. It offers as much or as little as you need. You can restrict user access to an entire module or to specific functions within a module. Can I use Shepherd’s Staff to email members or groups within our church? Shepherd’s Staff makes it easy to email individuals, specific groups, or the entire congregation. You can even attach reports so your church’s officers and board members can stay up to date. Shepherd’s Staff also works with Church360° Unite to provide a [complete church management](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/?hsLang=en) and communication package for your church. Can I export my data from Shepherd’s Staff? Yes. You can export information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers with the export utility. Can Shepherd’s Staff help me with our church photo directory? Yes. We have an export utility that is compatible with all major photo directory companies. You also can create and print your own photo directory. Some of our staff prefer to work at home. Can Shepherd’s Staff accommodate this? Yes. In fact, many functions within the program are designed specifically for that purpose. The Finance module works independently from all other modules so all of the functions contained within it can be done from a remote location, then imported to the main database. The same can be done with attendance and offering batches. What about record keeping for families with different last names? Shepherd’s Staff is designed to accommodate blended families. Our software makes it easy to keep track of separate last names, alternate addresses, and phone numbers. Can Shepherd’s Staff handle payroll preparation? Yes. By linking with Paycor, you can easily manage your payroll and be certain you are using the most up-to-date withholding and tax figures from the payroll software experts. To learn more, visit our [Paycor integration page](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff/features/paycor?hsLang=en). We have a small congregation. Is our church too small for Shepherd’s Staff? Our software is currently being used in churches with fewer than 50 members as well as in churches with membership exceeding 10,000. We recognize the limited financial resources of many small churches, missions, and start-up congregations, and that’s why we offer a Small Church Edition at a low price—to help smaller congregations meet their needs affordably. Can you track tuition payments in Shepherd’s Staff? You can record income from a day school or day care program in the Finance module, but you cannot track tuition payments for individual students. How often do you release upgrades for Shepherd’s Staff? We release new versions of Shepherd’s Staff on an annual basis. Periodically, we will also release service packs and/or feature packs. Can our current data be converted to Shepherd’s Staff? You can convert membership data such as names, addresses, and dates to Shepherd’s Staff. We also offer a data conversion service for a small fee. Please call **1.800.325.2399** for more details. Do you offer training for Shepherd’s Staff? Yes. We offer many [training options](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds_staff/training?hsLang=en)—including seminars in St. Louis, manuals, webinars, and videos—to help you get the most out of your software. How do I install Shepherd’s Staff? **If you are currently using at least Shepherd’s Staff 8.7 **release 20190503**, you can automatically update to Shepherd’s Staff 8.8 with the following steps:** 1. Make **two** new backups from your current church database. 2. On the Login screen, go into Utilities and click “Check for software updates”. 3. You will either get a notification saying that you are on the latest version or a pop-up window will appear. 4. Follow the prompts on the window to proceed with your update. **If you are updating from a version earlier than 8.7 or installing Shepherd’s Staff onto a new computer:** 1. Make **two** new backups from your current church database. 2. Disable any antivirus software, other than Windows Defender, prior to installation. 3. Download an 8.8 installation file from the [Shepherd’s Staff Help Center](https://shepherdsstaff.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052170394-Where-can-I-download-an-installation-file-FAQ-) or [submit a request to CTS.](https://shepherdsstaff.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044887773-How-do-I-request-an-installation-file-from-support-FAQ-) 4. Extract the zipped file by right clicking and selecting Extract All and double click the .exe file that's inside to run through the prompts. When you install SS on a new PC, it might ask to set up a new church. If so, enter dummy data into the fields in blue. Once this is completed, you will be asked to login. The credentials to that new database are: Login: SYSADMIN Password: password. 5. Once you get access, go up to Utilities, go to “Switch church database” to connect via a mapped drive or “Restore a database backup” to create a new database on your computer’s local drive. **Note:** The installation process updates your database’s internal structure. This means after you install Shepherd’s Staff, your database can no longer be read using an older version of Shepherd’s Staff. For help with updating or installation, please contact Software Support at **1.800.346.6120**. **Here is how to install Shepherd’s Staff 2020 Check-in:** 1. Download the .msi file from [concordiatechnology.org.](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff/features/attendance/check-in?hsLang=en) 2. Use Windows® Explorer to find the file named “Shepherds Staff CheckIn” typically located in the Downloads folder. 3. Double-click the .msi file and follow the prompts on the screen. --- [![liferaft-150](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cts/ss/images/liferaft-150.png?width=150&height=150&name=liferaft-150.png) ##### [Help Center](https://shepherdsstaff.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) ](https://shepherdsstaff.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) [![directions-150](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cts/ss/images/directions-150.png?width=150&height=150&name=directions-150.png) ##### [Resource Center](https://resources.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff) ](https://resources.concordiatechnology.org/shepherds-staff) [mailto:support@cts.cph.org](mailto:support@cts.cph.org) [mailto:support@cts.cph.org](mailto:support@cts.cph.org) [![customer-support-150](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cts/ss/images/customer-support-150.png?width=150&height=150&name=customer-support-150.png) ##### [Contact Support](mailto:support@cts.cph.org) ](mailto:support@cts.cph.org) --- ### Submit a Request Have a question that isn’t answered here? Ask it in the online help center, and our software support team will answer it as soon as possible. [![Submit a Request](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/43e8ca16-11f1-4dd5-87c2-799a5880b95f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/43e8ca16-11f1-4dd5-87c2-799a5880b95f) ### Speak with a Software Consultant Your consultant will learn what your church is looking for to match you with the best solution for your church. [![Schedule a Conversation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/d3b8e344-7a6d-40a2-82dc-491c134c959d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/d3b8e344-7a6d-40a2-82dc-491c134c959d) [![Concordia Technology Solutions](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/hubfs/CTS-Images/cts-logo.svg)](https://www.concordiatechnology.org?hsLang=en) © 2026 Concordia Technology Solutions. All rights reserved. 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