ParishSOFT and LOGOS Partner to Serve Churches

Ann Arbor, Mich. (September 23, 2011) -  ParishSOFT LLC and LOGOS Management Software, Inc., the market-leading developers of church management and fund accounting software, have partnered to serve churches, dioceses, and denominational headquarters, officials from both companies announced today.  

ParishSOFT has acquired LOGOS, and the two organizations are merging their resources into one unified team to become an even stronger provider of technologies that power ministry, improve communication and engagement and help make church operations more effective.

ParishSOFT’s browser-based technology, first introduced in 2008 under the ConnectNow brand, will be incorporated into the LOGOS product suite, delivering great advantages over traditional desktop or hosted church management software. Browser-based products are accessed, updated, and backed up on the Web, alleviating the time and expense of managing in-house systems. More importantly, they provide church staff with secure anytime, anywhere access to information needed for pastoral care, stewardship, ministry, finance and administration, offering pastors and their staff the mobility they need to serve God and His people more effectively in today’s culture.   

Tony Ferraro, chief visionary officer for LOGOS, said, “When we looked at the strategies for taking LOGOS’ products to the mobile Web platform, we realized that partnership with ParishSOFT was God’s plan. They share our vision, and they had already developed the technology innovations we needed. Joining forces lets us stay true to our mission to serve the church and practice solid stewardship, and it puts LOGOS in a position to deliver tomorrow’s Web platform products today.”

Bill Pressprich, president and CEO for ParishSOFT, said, “This partnership leverages the strengths of two companies with very talented staff in ways that will bring exciting new technologies to the faith-based organizations we serve. We’re glad to also announce that LOGOS customers will continue to work with the same staff and software they have always worked with. Over time, we’ll be introducing our ConnectNow Web applications to them so they can use these powerful, mobile tools when they are ready.”

Pressprich added that product development efforts will be a collaboration among teams comprising staff from both organizations, allowing a more efficient, agile path for enhancements and new technologies for all churches. The move makes it possible for the new organization to gain efficiencies, share best practices and technology, and provide the highest level of service to the church.

Mike Cusick, vice president of sales and marketing for ParishSOFT, said, “Dioceses that have had to choose between the top two software providers can now benefit from the best practices and years of experience of both ParishSOFT and LOGOS. And diocesan staff are in an ideal position to tell us exactly what they want in the next generation of solutions.” It’s the best possible scenario in strategic partnerships, with both companies working together to address diocesan organizational and business management needs with technology. And while dioceses can always set the pace of change, solutions are going to come faster than ever before with the powerful development and service forces now in place.

“We’ve long known and respected ParishSOFT’s products and people,” said Wes Haystead, LOGOS’ president and CEO. “Moving from a competitive relationship to a partnership lets us channel all of our energies and strengths into a singular focus: providing the best software and services to churches.”

ParishSOFT was founded in 1998 to serve the Catholic Church. Today, the company serves more than 6,800 Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches and 51 arch/dioceses with integrated products and services that connect churches with the communities they serve and help reduce administrative work. ParishSOFT’s products help churches manage membership, sacraments, volunteers, scheduling, offertory, pledges, Online Giving, religious education, communications, and much more from a single technology platform. Their ConnectNow Web platform, which includes the ConnectNow Church Accounting suite, leads the market in fully browser-based solutions for the church.

LOGOS began in 1980 and has proven its commitment to meet the changing needs of churches with great service, reliable and easy-to-use products, and regular enhancements that empower ministries with current technology. LOGOS presently serves 4,600 Protestant and Catholic churches and 20 arch/dioceses with products that track membership, attendance, volunteers, scheduling, pledges, online giving, small groups, child check-in, and more. The flagship LOGOS Fund Accounting suite offers a full set of accounting modules including fixed assets and benefits.

Both companies offer a full range of services, including U.S.-based, technical support, data conversions, training, implementation, and consulting. Together, ParishSOFT and LOGOS will serve churches with a combined staff of 85 full-time employees.

Visit www.parishsoft.com or www.logoscms.com for more information about ParishSOFT and LOGOS’ products and service