Church Directories & Privacy — What to Share
Published August 2026 · Last verified August 2026
The old church directory was a printed booklet with a family photo and a phone number, kept on the shelf by the phone. Today many congregations use an online directory or an app instead, and it can be wonderful: you can find a friend's number, see a face to match a name, and coordinate rides and meals in a tap. But an online directory also raises a fair question: what should you share, and who can see it? This book helps you stay connected without oversharing. No jargon. No judgment. No rushing.
The old church directory was a printed booklet with a family photo and a phone number, kept on the shelf by the phone. Today many congregations use an online directory or an app instead, and it can be wonderful: you can find a friend's number, see a face to match a name, and coordinate rides and meals in a tap. But an online directory also raises a fair question: what should you share, and who can see it? This book helps you stay connected without oversharing. No jargon. No judgment. No rushing.
What's inside this guide
The printable PDF walks through 18 short chapters, in plain language. It also includes an everyday cheat sheet and at-a-glance pictures.
- What An Online Directory Is
- Members-Only Is The Whole Point
- Getting Signed In
- What Is Safe To Share
- Should I List My Home Address
- Setting Your Own Privacy
- Photos And Family Pictures
- Using It To Find People
- Coordinating Rides, Meals, And Care
- Keeping Your Listing Current
- The Scams That Use A Directory
- Protecting Your Directory Login
- If You Help Run The Directory
- Welcoming Newcomers Through The Directory
- If You Still Prefer A Printed Directory
- Common Worries, Answered
- Connection And Caution, In Balance
- When To Just Call Me
Get the printable guide
Everything above is a quick summary. The full, printable guide — the same words, laid out to read and keep by the computer — is a free PDF.
Last verified August 2026. Information accurate as of October 18, 2026.
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