Project Status · Update October 2026
Kirchenwerk is in daily use at Herzfabrik. At kirchenwerk.de (German only) the pilot phase for more churches is running - free of charge until the public launch planned for the end of 2026.
The Problem: Administration and Community Kept Apart
Many churches in Germany manage their members in Excel lists, coordinate events through WhatsApp groups and plan services on paper. That isn’t a theoretical problem - we saw it first-hand at Herzfabrik. With two locations and many volunteers, the chaos becomes tangible.
Existing solutions are often either pure administration tools or pure community apps. That was the starting point for Kirchenwerk: a platform that connects the work of the church office with that of staff and volunteers.
The Solution: Everything in One Place
Kirchenwerk is church management software for Protestant, Catholic and free churches. Members and families, services with sermon series, events for every location, groups, home groups and ministry teams, chat and tasks - with one login for everyone.
The core is the same for every church. Everything else churches add as a module when they need it: children’s and youth work, media with podcast and YouTube livestream, donations and campaigns, photo releases and consents, several locations with their own roles.
The Tech Stack: Real Time and TypeScript
For Kirchenwerk we deliberately chose a stack that combines development speed with long-term maintainability. The result feels like an app - in real time, on every device.
Frontend: React + TypeScript + Vite
The interface is a single-page application with React and TypeScript. Vite keeps builds fast. The UI is based on Tailwind CSS with our own shared building blocks for tables, labels, dialogs and cards - so every module looks and works the same way.
What someone sees depends on their permissions - per location and per module. Leadership sees everything, volunteers exactly the areas they have been given access to.
Stack: React, TypeScript, Vite, Tailwind CSS
Backend: Convex, Hosted in Germany
Instead of a classic REST API we use Convex - a reactive database with a built-in backend. The decisive benefit: changes are pushed automatically to every connected device. When the office creates an event, the team at the other location sees it immediately - without reloading.
All logic is written in TypeScript, from the database schema to the interface. The backend runs in a data centre in Germany; every church works in its own separate area, and an audit log keeps changes traceable.
Features: real-time sync, end-to-end TypeScript, tenant separation, scheduled tasks, file storage
Privacy: GDPR, DSG-EKD and KDG
Beyond the GDPR, churches in Germany are bound by their own data protection laws. Kirchenwerk is aligned with them - and built to store as little as possible. One example: for background checks in youth work, Kirchenwerk stores only “on file” and “valid until”. No upload, no copy.
Foundations: hosting in Germany, separate areas, permissions per location and module, audit log
A Pilot Phase Instead of a Price List
We are developing Kirchenwerk further together with the first churches. During the pilot phase it is free of charge and cancellable monthly; pilot churches get help with the data import, an onboarding session and a dedicated contact. Regular terms will be published before the public launch.
The Ecosystem: Administration, Website and Calendar
Kirchenwerk is more than administration. Data is entered once and shows up wherever the church needs it:
Kirchenwerk
The central administration for members, services, events, groups and teams.
Church Website
The public presence. At Herzfabrik, the Sulu website shows events and offerings straight from Kirchenwerk.
Calendar & Apps
Events as a subscription in your own calendar; further websites and apps can connect through an interface.
Features That Make the Difference
Children’s and Youth Work
All children and young people of an area with school year, parents’ contacts and groups. Saved lists like “Confirmands 2027” are one click away.
Ministry Teams
Every team has a lead, a location and members. Open spots and required training are shown right there.
Media & Livestream
Sermons, podcast and YouTube livestream in one place, with sermon series and a media library.
Switching With Import
Data from ChurchTools, ChurchDesk or Excel lists comes along - churches don’t have to start from scratch.
Status: In Use, Pilot Phase Running
Kirchenwerk is in productive use.
- âś“ Administration with permissions per location and module
- âś“ Members, services, events, groups and ministry teams
- âś“ Optional modules, including youth work, media and donations
- âś“ Calendar subscription and print view
- ✓ Integration with Herzfabrik’s Sulu website
- âś“ Import from ChurchTools, ChurchDesk and Excel
Next steps: support further pilot churches, work in their feedback and prepare the public launch at the end of 2026.
Conclusion: SaaS for an Underserved Market
Kirchenwerk shows that niche software benefits from modern stacks too. Real-time sync, TypeScript throughout and clear tenant separation aren’t buzzwords - they solve concrete problems in church administration. And because data entered once shows up everywhere, the platform relieves exactly the people who already do the most in churches: the volunteers.
Interested in a SaaS platform or church management software? Contact us - we look forward to exciting projects.