Design and Development of a Web-Based Church Information System for a Protestant Church under the Synod in East Java

Abstract

The rapidly-evolving nature of information technology is both a challenge and an opportunity for non-profit organisations, as they seek to apply digital solutions to their administrative processes, as it does for organization XYZ Church in East Java. As the XYZ Synod of East Java is developing a more and more networked local church, managing congregation data has never been so sophisticated. Because the systems are not integrated, church data is often managed in a fragmented manner, making it difficult to track congregation data, use church activities intelligence, and provide adequate pastoral services. This research has the purpose to create a church information system in a web-based environment so that it can solve these problems, manage centralized but flexible in gathering the congregations data in a web-based, and can access in different churches. It proposes a cloud-based system that will be cost-effective, ensuring scalability, security and removing the need for expensive IT infrastructure while still ensuring data is available and protected. Additionally, the system architecture is based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to ensure a detailed analysis of stakeholder needs and organizational complexities occurring in the church ecosystem. SSM, in conjunction with problem structuring methods, also means we can identify not only the primary challenges and stakeholder perspectives among the members of Church XYZ,  but also explore the core system functionalities to ensure the solution fits the operational and pastoral needs of Church XYZ as it seeks to engage East Java. It is hoped that the thorough model formulated will significantly improve administrative effectiveness, increase data accuracy, refine pastoral care methodology and safeguard privacy of ministry while allowing efficient integration between local churches. This study combines contemporary solution of digital transformation with structured methodological analysis to appropriately support the digital transformation of church management while maintaining the core values and mission of Church XYZ in East Java.