Church Directory
The Church Directory helps you connect with fellow church members. Browse profiles, find contact information, and stay connected with your church family.
Accessing the Directory
- Log in to the Member Portal.
- Click Directory in the sidebar navigation.
Note: For privacy, the Church Directory is turned off by default. It is not a self-serve setting -- a church admin must contact TimelyChurch support to have it enabled. If you do not see "Directory" in your portal navigation, your church has not turned it on.
Browsing the Directory
The directory displays members in an easy-to-browse grid layout. Each member card shows:
- Profile photo (or initials if no photo is uploaded)
- Full name
- Email address (if the member has chosen to share it)
- Phone number (if the member has chosen to share it)
- City (if the member has chosen to share it)
Members are sorted alphabetically by last name, then first name. The directory is paginated, showing 24 members per page.
Searching for Members
To find a specific person:
- Use the search bar at the top of the directory page.
- Type a name or email address.
- The list will filter to show matching results.
- To clear the search, click the X icon in the search bar or the Clear link.
The search checks against first name, last name, and email address. Results now show each person's suffix (such as Jr. or Sr.) alongside their name so people with the same name are easier to tell apart, along with their photo.
Contacting a Member
If a member has shared their contact information, you can reach them directly from the directory:
- Email -- Click the email address to open your email app with their address pre-filled.
- Phone -- Click the phone number to initiate a call (on mobile devices).
You can also use the Messages feature in the portal to send a direct message to any member who is listed in the directory.
Controlling Your Own Directory Visibility
You have full control over what other members can see about you. To manage your privacy settings:
- Go to My Profile.
- Expand the Directory Privacy section.
- Use the toggles to control:
- Show me in directory -- Toggle off to remove yourself from the directory entirely.
- Show email -- Toggle off to hide your email address.
- Show phone -- Toggle off to hide your phone number.
- Show city -- Toggle off to hide your location.
Changes take effect after you save your profile.
Tip: Even if you hide yourself from the directory, church administrators can still see your information for church management purposes.
Viewing a Member's Profile
Clicking a member's card in the directory opens their detailed profile page. The profile shows:
- Full name and profile photo
- Contact information that the member has chosen to share (email, phone, city)
- The member's family/household, if they belong to one
- Groups they participate in
- A Send Message button to start a portal conversation with them (see
09-messages.md)
What you see on a member's profile is always filtered by their privacy settings. If they have hidden their email, you will not see an email address even though the field exists in the system.
Who Appears in the Directory
First, the directory itself only exists if your church has asked TimelyChurch support to enable it (see the note under "Accessing the Directory"). When it is turned on, the directory shows members who meet all of the following criteria:
- They have an active account in the church system.
- They have opted in to show in directory in their privacy settings.
- Their record has been set up by the church administrator.
Members who have chosen to hide from the directory will not appear, even in search results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I cannot find someone in the directory. Why? A: That person may have chosen to hide themselves from the directory in their privacy settings. They may also not be in the church system yet. Contact your church office if you need to reach someone.
Q: How do we turn on the directory for our church? A: The directory is off by default for privacy and cannot be switched on from the admin settings. A church admin should email TimelyChurch support, and we will enable the directory for your church. Once it is on, members will see "Directory" in their portal navigation (subject to their own privacy settings).
Q: Can visitors or non-members see the directory? A: No. The directory is only accessible to logged-in members. You must sign in to the Member Portal to browse the directory.
Q: Can I export or download the directory? A: The directory is designed for online browsing only and cannot be downloaded. This protects the privacy of church members.
Q: How do I add my photo to the directory? A: Upload a photo from your My Profile page. The same photo will appear in the directory if you have opted to show yourself.