Version 7.4 Release Notes (Q4 2025)
General/Congregate CMS
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- Cloud Servers – all of our sites and systems have been fully migrated to our new infrastructure for faster, more reliable service and load times.
- Status Page – check the status of our platform and our partners/providers in real-time on the status page.
- Multi-Member Attendance Report – this report has been optimized on our new infrastructure and now provides additional data and filters.
- Message Center – if you’re included in a member group and are the sender of a message, you’ll receive the message you sent to the group you’re a part of without having to choose the “CC myself” option.
- Directory PDF Export – this PDF has been optimized on our new infrastructure and now generates in real-time with a download link when it’s completed.
- Email Formatting – special characters are now supported and encoded when sending emails through the message center.
- Bug Fixes – numerous bug fixes and performance improvements have been made.
Congregate for WordPress
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- 2FA Verification Pages – password reset, new user account requests, and data verification pages have a unified design, matching that of the login page on WordPress sites.
- Widgets – “Recent Sermons” has been renamed to “Recent Media” to accommodate non-sermon media.
- Directory – the Christian indicator (*) is now supported, if enabled.
- Directory PDF export – this PDF has been optimized on our new infrastructure and now generates in real-time with a download link when it’s completed.
- Message Center – if you’re included in a member group and are the sender of a message, you’ll receive the message you sent to the group you’re a part of without having to choose the “CC myself” option.
- Message Center – Send to All Members – the “send to all current members” option now appears in the group messaging selection dropdown for easier access.
- Error Messaging – clearing error messaging is in place for connection-related issues, username/password-related issues, and WordPress permalink rewrites-related issues.
- Bug Fixes – numerous bug fixes and performance improvements have been made.
Version 7.3 Release Notes (Q3 2024)
NEW! AI Sermon Audio Transcription
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- Using the power of AI, Congregate can transcribe your entire sermon and output its content into a formatted text file. This premium add-on is perfect for finding references within a sermon using text search, determining what was said in a sermon without listening to the sermon audio, posting the sermon’s transcript to your website for better SEO, or even keeping private transcript records for preachers and teachers.
- Add sermon transcription to your account (view pricing)
- View documentation
- Using the power of AI, Congregate can transcribe your entire sermon and output its content into a formatted text file. This premium add-on is perfect for finding references within a sermon using text search, determining what was said in a sermon without listening to the sermon audio, posting the sermon’s transcript to your website for better SEO, or even keeping private transcript records for preachers and teachers.
Version 7.2 Release Notes (Q2 2024)
NEW! 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)
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- If you enable 2FA, a user who attempts to login from a device Congregate does not recognize will be required to enter a code sent to the email address associated with his or her account. The user can elect to remember a browser/device, meaning 2FA will not be required for the next 90 days. Ensure cookies are not disabled in your browser to properly utilize this feature. 2FA can be enabled for Congregate Admin and/or your member website.
- Enable 2FA at Church Membership > User Accounts > Options > 2FA
- View documentation
- If you enable 2FA, a user who attempts to login from a device Congregate does not recognize will be required to enter a code sent to the email address associated with his or her account. The user can elect to remember a browser/device, meaning 2FA will not be required for the next 90 days. Ensure cookies are not disabled in your browser to properly utilize this feature. 2FA can be enabled for Congregate Admin and/or your member website.
NEW! Member Feedback Form
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- Create a special form where members can provide feedback or ask a question, anonymously or tied to their name/email address. Create and select the fields you wish to use, whether the form is allowed to be submitted anonymously, and to what email address(es) submissions should be sent. Then create a page in your members section for your new form to appear on.
- Configure your member feedback form at Communication > Member Feedback
- View documentation
- Create a special form where members can provide feedback or ask a question, anonymously or tied to their name/email address. Create and select the fields you wish to use, whether the form is allowed to be submitted anonymously, and to what email address(es) submissions should be sent. Then create a page in your members section for your new form to appear on.
Job Assignments Improvements
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- If a member who is currently assigned job(s) enters blockout dates during their already assigned date(s), an admin will be automatically notified via email informing them of the conflict and the need to select another member to fulfill their duties.
- An admin can now elect be notified via email if a member is unwilling to perform a job, giving the opportunity for the admin to re-assign the job if need be.
- Configure your job assignment admin notifications at Congregational Tools > Job Assignments > Options
- View documentation
Message Center Improvements
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- You can now send messages to multiple member groups in Congregate Admin, your member website, and the Congregate Members app.
- After clicking “send” on email and text messages, an indicator will show your message is being processed before a success or error message appears.
Podcast, Calendar Feed Links Improvements
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- Instead of linking directly to RSS or iCal feeds, visitors will be presented with an explanation of how to copy and paste your feed’s URL into their podcast or calendar application. (This avoids confusion when linking directly to an XML file/feed on a device without a designated application to handle such a format.)
Social Media Sharing Improvements
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- New sharing options and updated icons: Facebook, X, copy link to clipboard, and your device’s native “share” option full other choices.
- Sharing on social media now will include a sermon’s thumbnails or your church’s logo.
Additional Homepage Customization
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- Now any content, HTML, images, etc. you place on your “home” page will appear under the dynamic content on your homepage. This means you can use a Congregate template with multiple widgets to build your homepage, and then have your own custom content, layout, etc. appear underneath it. Note: if sudden unwanted content appears on your homepage with the version 7.2 update, go to your homepage and edit/remove any preexisting unwanted content that may not have shown prior to the 7.2 update.
- Configure your custom homepage content at Website CMS > Pages > Manage > Home (click edit, then add/edit content using the page editor)
- Now any content, HTML, images, etc. you place on your “home” page will appear under the dynamic content on your homepage. This means you can use a Congregate template with multiple widgets to build your homepage, and then have your own custom content, layout, etc. appear underneath it. Note: if sudden unwanted content appears on your homepage with the version 7.2 update, go to your homepage and edit/remove any preexisting unwanted content that may not have shown prior to the 7.2 update.
Other Enhancements
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- Account request email verification links now expire in 60 minutes (instead of 15 minutes)
- Calendar event duplication takes you directly to the ‘edit’ screen of the duplicated event
- Multiple bug fixes
Version 7.1 Release Notes (Q4 2023)
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- Google Analytics 4 display support shows website visitor data in Congregate Admin (requires additional setup with Google Cloud)
- Page manager now shows pages and corresponding Congregate modules (so it’s easy to see what Congregate module is assigned to a specific page on your site)
- Bug fixes and expanded platform messaging/error explanations
Version 7.0 Release Notes (Q3 2023)
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- Fully redesigned Congregate public website, packed full of detailed information on the platform and its features
- Updated Congregate support website for quicker access to documentation, FAQ’s, and new feedback/feature suggestion form
- Updated upgrade and payment websites for current clients to upgrade their account and make online payments
- Congregate Members 3.0 app, with all-new features and expanded navigation
- Free Pitch Pipe app (for everyone; non-Congregate subscribers included!) to assist song and worship leaders
- Over 20+ new books, workbooks, material added to the virtual library
- Polished Congregate Admin website with larger, clearer font display
NEW! Sermon Thumbnail Support
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- Now you can choose to upload thumbnail images for your sermons
- Thumbnails can be viewed publicly on sermon pages in the current list view, or all-new sermon gallery view
NEW! MMS Text Messaging Support (Premium Feature)
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- Now you can attach images and files to your text messages with multimedia message support
- Add MMS to any account that already has our premium text messaging service
- Pricing starts at $25/mo for up to 1,000 MMS/mo
NEW! Non-Member Subscriptions
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- Now you can elect to have non-members received automated emails from Congregate
- Choose to send your daily announcements reap, attendance recap, and/or weekly recap to anyone outside your membership
- Perfect for non-members you wish to keep updated
Digital Member Photo Wall
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- Now you can choose to randomize your member photos instead of showing them in alphabetical order