Leaders ability to track member outreach, circumstances

[tonynocchi]

I'm surprised that this thread has progressed so far without someone mentioning that this type of data collection already exists by full-time missionaries using the official Preach My Gospel (previously Area Book Planner) app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... t.areabook

This app has different records capabilities depending on the nation it's used in, but in the US there are missionary-created notes on most members going back nearly a decade. Oftentimes, missionary records for current addresses can be more up to date simply because some missionaries reach out to less-active people more frequently than some wards, and afaik there isn't an easy way to submit a correction to the ward clerk through the app. You can see in the play store comments that many ward members and returned missionaries want continued access for a variety of reasons, one of which would be to improve ministering outreach. You also have to remember that missionary phones are loaded with MDM software that (in addition to internet filtering) plays a role in data privacy compliance, though the MDM is not required for use of this app.

Being an adult convert I have heard of the app but have never seen it. Sounds like a great thing to have...only I'm not authorized to use it (I tried) and I'm the one person in my Ward that would probably have the most positive effect with a tool like that. Right now all of our feedback is going through various channels and ends up on a Google Sheet so we can action it through the Ward Council (primarily the Bishopric, EQ/RS Presidencies, and Ward Mission Leader).

[winwardut]

Thanks for all the good information and insight on this. I am familiar with the tool the missionaries use and thought, why can't we have something like that. In my mind, regarding contacts, I was just thinking basic captures such as: visited on date, ok with church contact, not coming to church right now, has health challenges, etc. like someone mentioned, it would be nice to have the basics so I'm not causing the person I contact to get upset or frustrated... As they might say, I told so and so XYZ. Why don't you know that. But, given the way this gone for years, the people we're reaching out to are used to the lack of information.

[GrasseDD]

The church directs that confidential information must not be stored outside the church's systems. That isn't a suggestion, it's an instruction.

Thanks.
Where is that instruction?

[BrianEdwards]

Where is that instruction?

That would be GHB 38.8.31 "Privacy of Members", as referenced by @russellhltn a couple of posts above. That Handbook section talks about confidential Church information being only maintained on Church-provided applications, systems, or internet services.

Like many others, when I was in a leadership position I struggled with where exactly to record specific details about a member's temporal needs -- balancing the need to specifically minister to and track a member's status, with the lack of a church-approved method for retaining any of that confidential information. I definitely followed the counsel in GHB 0.4 to help determine what I should do, based on my presiding authority's guidance. But sharing that counsel here won't help, since every leader needs to follow GHB 0.4 in their specific stewardship.

[GrasseDD]

Thanks for that reference - very helpful!

And, thanks for great counsel!