If you just signed up and the member list is empty, here is the path I recommend. It is the same path I walked three smaller churches through last quarter.
Decide: type them in, or import?
If you have fewer than 30 members, just type them in. Open the list page, tap Add new member, and you will be done in about an hour. The form is organised into tabs so you can skip anything you do not have yet. Only first name and last name are required.
If you have more than 30, do yourself a favour and import. On the member list, download the Excel template. It is already filled in with your tenant's membership stages, types, and centers — which means you do not have to guess at codes.
Tab by tab: what to fill in first
Profile basics — Identity & profile: First name (required), last name (required), preferred name, birthdate. Skip the envelope number if you do not use one.
Profile basics — Contact preferences: Email or phone, and the preferred contact method. This is what enables future communication.
Admin — Membership: Set the stage (Visitor, Active, etc.), type (Attender, Covenant), and center.
Everything else — spiritual gifts, serving assignments, giving tier — can be added later as you learn your people. Do not try to fill every field at once. You will burn out and your data will be half-accurate.
The one shortcut I use every time
For families, I always enter the head of household first, completely. Then when I add the spouse and children, I use the Family Memberships section to link them to the same family. The address auto-fills from the primary family, so I only type it once per household.
A hundred members, done properly, in about a weekend. Then you are ready for everything else StewardTrack does.
