What is a Workflow?
A workflow is the process your church follows from idea to finished communication—plan, create content, schedule channels, collaborate, then activate. Communicate doesn’t ship a separate “Workflow” screen; you use campaigns, calendar tools, status, optional campaign approval, and (on Plus) assignments, comments, and requests to run the process you define.
Related: Team Collaboration, Campaign, Communication.
Why Does Workflow Matter for Church Communications?
A clear process reduces skipped steps, duplicate work, and last-minute scramble. Roles and plan features only help if the team agrees on the order of work.
How Does Workflow Work in Communicate?
Map steps to real product pieces (you choose how strict the process is):
1. Plan
Create campaigns (dates, category, color, brief fields). Overview: Calendar, Timeline (Quick Add on Essentials and Plus; drag/resize bars on Plus). Optional multi-campus on Plus with multi-campus enabled.
2. Create content
Campaign Images & Content and per-communication Content / copy (Essentials and Plus; image size limits differ by plan). See Content Management.
3. Schedule
Place communications on channels and dates (Calendar or campaign Communication Schedule). Templates and channel schedules are Plus. Channel preferences (preferred days) are Essentials and Plus.
4. Collaborate
Assignments and comments (Plus) for ownership and discussion. Requests (Plus) for ministry promotion requests. Optional campaign approval (one-person sign-off) on both plans. Notifications follow those features. See User Permissions and Roles.
5. Activate & finish
Move campaigns and communications from Draft to Active when ready to treat them as live. Activating a campaign does not auto-activate its communications—they stay Draft until you activate them. Communications can mark Done; campaigns use Archive (not a separate “Complete” campaign status).
Roles (throughout)
Owners / Admins / Managers / Editors do most create/edit work; Viewers are largely read-only (can comment on Plus, submit request forms, and be asked to approve a campaign). Category and campus limits may further restrict what’s visible.
When Should You Use a Workflow?
Whenever more than one person or campaign is in flight. Keep it light for small teams; add Assignments/Comments (Plus) when handoffs and review matter.
Related Terms
- Campaign · Template · Assignment
- Content Management · Team Collaboration
- Draft Status · Active Status
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Workflow a feature in the app?
A: No—it’s your process. The app gives campaigns, Calendar/Timeline, content tools, status, optional campaign approval, and (on Plus) assignments, comments, and requests to support it.
Q: Do I need a complex process?
A: No. A common path is: create campaign → add content → schedule communications → activate when ready. Add Plus collaboration when needed.
Q: Does Communicate enforce or approve my steps?
A: Optional campaign approval is a one-person stamp; it does not lock editing. A request Approved status is separate and does not auto-create a campaign. You still decide when something leaves Draft.
Q: How do Essentials and Plus differ here?
A: Core plan/create/schedule/status work is on both plans. Templates, channel schedules, Timeline bar drag, Assignments, Comments, and Requests are largely Plus.
Q: Who can run which steps?
A: Creators/editors are Owners, Admins, Managers, and Editors (delete limits vary). Viewers don’t drive creation; they can submit request forms and be asked to approve a campaign. Assignments sidebar isn’t for Viewers.
Q: Different people, different steps?
A: Same overall process; roles, Assignments (Plus), and optional category/campus access split responsibilities.