Ministry Structure & Departments
Operational activities and formal volunteer programs in Kononia are organized into Ministries. These serve as the official departments of the organization.
1. Ministries vs. Groups
While both handle lists of people, they serve distinct operational purposes:
| Aspect | Ministries (ministries) | Groups (groups) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Operational departments of the church (e.g., Worship, Ushers, Media). | Social and fellowship circles (e.g., bible study, home groups). |
| Leadership | Managed by a department head (leader_id). | Managed by small group leaders (role = 'leader'). |
| Sub-Entities | Often parent to volunteers, rosters, and shifts. | Self-contained list of participants. |
| Permissions | Gated globally or via ministry scopes. | Scoped down to the specific group_id. |
2. Core Fields
ministry_type(text): Categorizes the department (e.g.,'general','worship','education','hospitality','media').leader_id(uuid): References the primary director/servant in charge of the ministry. This contact is responsible for scheduling volunteer rosters and coordinating resources.is_active(boolean): Toggles the department’s active status. Deactivating a ministry hides it from default schedules but preserves historical rosters.
3. Associated Operations
- Worship Planning: The Worship ministry can link services directly to liturgy files, set lists, and scripture readings.
- Volunteer Rosters: Ministries function as parent entities for scheduling volunteer opportunities, defining shifts, and assigning teams.
- Event Linking: Church-wide calendar events can be associated with specific ministries, establishing a clear line of responsibility.