Ministry Template #1

Overview

The Ministry Template is a versatile template that can be used for ministries, campus detail pages, and more. Unlike other Ekklesia templates, you will be able to reuse this template as many times as you'd like. The sections are fully editable, making it easy to drop in new content or rearrange the order of content on the template. Specific sections can pull in specific content from the CMS, making it easier to display staff members, events, sermons, or articles. 

Locate Your Template

Upon receiving the layout, the Ministry Template #1 will be added to your site and an example page setup for you.

Content > Pages. If you can't locate it in the list, use the Template Filter.

Editing the Template

Familiarize yourself with this screen as it will be the base of all the moving parts and sections of your template. The template is pre-built with sections and monklets for you to begin editing.

Sections: The majority of this template is built using sections, which are selected under the "Sections" area of your page settings. A section can display any type of content you create: text, images, videos, links, and monklets. Some of the pre-built sections are using monklets to pull content from different modules (events, sermons, etc).

Monklets: The template includes pre-built monklets in the page content and sections to displays specific information from other modules of Ekklesia 360. For example, an events monklet will display the event information you've entered into the Events Module.

In order for the content to pull for a specific ministry, a "ministry category" needs to be added into the "description" field of your page. For any pre-built sections using monklets, these will only display content assigned to the specific ministry category or group that's added to your page settings (ie: children, youth, etc). See more info here >> 

For the monklets in the page content, you can set parameters within the specific monklet tag to pull in content by category or group, like a category of events. See more info here >>

Note: The following pre-built sections are using monklets: Events, Staff, Resources, Volunteer and Sermon.

Help Site: Editing Sections and Using Monklets

Header Image

The image header will fill the entire screen making it fullwidth. The image is responsive and will change depending on a user's screen size. We recommened that the image does not include text. Instead you can use the "Header Text" field to add a text overlay or logo graphic to display on top of the header image (more to come below).

Header Image Specifics:

  • JPEG
  • Recommended Size: use recommended dimensions in the setup guide for your theme/site
  • Color Space: RBG

Help Site: Image Editing Tools

PRO-TIP: To ensure your page title or logo is legible, it's helpful to blur the background or choose an image with opposite colors from your font or logo.

Page Title

The page title will display overtop of the header image and the font style will match your site’s style guide.

Description Field

The content that displays in the pre-built sections is determined by a Ministry Category, which needs to be added to the "Description" field of your ministry page. The pre-built monklets are used in conjunction with the Ministry Category to pull content from the CMS based on one group or category (ie: children, youth, etc). This setup is used for the following modules: events, staff, resources, volunteer and sermons.

Be sure you type the exact name of the Ministry Category and that you use the same category/group name for the various modules throughout the CMS. 

Within the page settings, the "Header Text" field can be used to add text or a ministry logo graphic overtop of the header image. The page title will be replaced if the Header Text field is used.

NOTE: some older versions of the ministry layout may not have this option or will use a "header logo" field instead. If you don't see this field available and would like to have it added, please contact our Support Team.

Looking for a logo refresh for a specific ministry? Contact us and our design team will partner with you!

Anchor Page Navigation

One of the best features of the Ministry Template is the sticky Anchor Page Navigation. Each title is linked to a section on the template, and when clicked, page visitors will be moved down to the anchor points. The navigation bar remains at the top as visitors move down the page.

Adding Anchor Titles

All titles of the Anchor Nav item are entered in the “Description” field of each section (managed under Content > Sections).

Example: The text "Staff" is entered into the "Description" field of the section and displays as the anchor link in the Anchor Page Navigation.

PRO-TIP: We recommend using short titles for the anchor links to ensure that the navigation doesn't become crowded.

Content

Any content entered into the “Content” field of the Ministry Template page will display as the first section below the Anchor Page Navigation.

The Content field is a WYSIWYG editor that supports all text, media, links, etc. It's a great space to place a welcome message to visitors, the mission statement or any other intro info about your ministry. 

Content Monklets

In the Content field, the template has two pre-built monklets available for you to pull in bits of information about your staff or events. Parameters can be added to these monklets to pull content from a specific category or group.

Staff Monklet

In order to display a staff member using this monklet in the Content field, you will first need to add the member to a specific group and then enter the group title into the monklet tag.

Monklet tag: {{ministry-layout-1-staff-monklet|find_group="children"}}

Add Staff to a Group
  1. Create your ministry group under People > Groups > Add a New Group
  2. Navigate to People > Members > Add a New Member or Edit an existing member.
  3. Add/edit the staff member’s information.
  4. Navigate to the Groups tab, click the "Add to  Group" link and then select the desired group in the dropdown menu

Note: you can also bulk add members to a group under People > Groups > select the group in the list > and click the "edit group" tab. You can then use the "add members" field to add multiple staff members from the People module.

Add the Group Title to the Monklet

Next you’ll need to make sure the monklet is pulling the correct group of staff members. 

  1. Navigate back to the Ministry Template to the Content field.
  2. Enter the group name into the monklet code using Inline Parameters: {{ministry-layout-1-staff-monklet|find_group="children"}}
Events Monklet

To display an upcoming event using this monklet in the Content field, you will first need to add events to a specific category (or group) and then enter the category title into the monklet code.

Monklet tag: {{ministry-layout-1-featured-event-monklet|find_category="children"}}

Add Events to a Category
  1. Navigate to Events > Add a New Event or Edit an existing event
  2. In the event details, assign the specific category used for the Ministry Template
  3. Add/edit additional details and publish the event

Note: If you are using a group instead of a category, then this would need to be added to the event on the "Publish" screen.

Add the Category to the Monklet

Next you’ll need to make sure the monklet is pulling the correct category of events. 

  1. Navigate back to the Ministry Template to the Content field.
  2. Enter the category into the monklet code using Inline Parameters: {{ministry-layout-1-featured-event-monklet|find_category="children"}}

Note: If you are using a group instead of a category, then the monklet parameter would change to "find_group="group-name"

Help Site: How to Set Up Inline Parameters

Sections

The Ministry Template features up to seven sections that you can fully edit and rearrange. These are assigned under the Sections area of your page settings, and you can use as many or as few sections as you want on each ministry page.

We have six pre-built sections that require minimal set-up on your end (see below). You can also create your own sections for your ministry pages (under Content > Sections) to highlight certain parts of your ministry.

The following Sections are edited within the Section Module. You can access each section from the Ministry Template or by going to the Section Module and searching for the following titles: 

Within the Sections, the folllowing fields are used:

  • Name: internal use only
  • Description: controls the anchor navigation title for the section
  • Content: contains the section title and editable content, monklets, etc.

Other optional fields include background color, background image, dark background and parallax background. These control the display and functionality of the specific section. Please refer to your setup guide for an overview of section options available for your theme/site.

Note: Some themes will include a separate field for the section title. Please make sure to refer to your specific setup guide regarding the defaut section title setup for your site.

Sections, Monklets and the Ministry Category

The pre-built sections include monklets that work in conjunction with the Ministry Category added to the "Description" field of your page. So, these sections will only display content assigned to the respective category or group. Note: be sure the name of the Ministry Category is an exact match to the category/group used for your modules in the CMS.

The following pre-built sections are using monklets, and the details of each section are outlined below.

  • Ministry Example - Staff -> {{ministry-layout-1-section-staff}}
  • Ministry Example - Events -> {{ministry-layout-1-section-events}}
  • Ministry Example - Resources -> {{ministry-layout-1-section-featured-resources}} and {{ministry-layout-1-section-resources}}
  • Ministry Example - Volunteer -> {{ministry-layout-1-section-volunteer}}
  • Ministry Example - Sermon -> {{ministry-layout-1-section-sermon}}

Note: you can re-use any of these pre-built sections for your various Ministry Template pages, and the content will automatically filter by the ministry category added to the page settings. Any new sections would need to be created/copied for each instance of the template.

Pre-Built Sections

Below is an overview of each pre-built section containing monklets.

Staff Section

Uses the "Ministry Example - Staff" section

The content pulls staff members from the People module (People > Members), and this section will display three staff members assigned to the respective group (matching the ministry category in the Description field of your page).

Add Staff to a Group

In order to display a staff member using this monklet in the Section, you will first need to add the staff member to the specific group called on in the Ministry Category (in the Description field of the page). 

Add Members to a Group

  1. Navigate to People > Members > Add a New Member or Edit an existing member.
  2. Add/edit the staff member’s information.
  3. Navigate to Groups and create a group for the staff members you’ll display on the Ministry Template. 
Events Section

Uses the "Ministry Example - Events" section

The content pulls from the events module (Events > Events), and this section will display events assigned to the respective category or group (matching the ministry category in the Description field of your page).

Add Events to a Category (or Group)

In order to display events using this monklet in the Section, you will first need to add the events to the specific category of group called on in the Ministry Category (in the Description field of the page). 

Event Setup

  1. Navigate to Events > Add a New Event or Edit an existing event
  2. In the event details, assign the specific category used for the Ministry Template
  3. Add/edit additional details and publish the event

Note: If you are using a group instead of a category, navigate to Publish tab and assign the group for the Events you’ll display on the Ministry Template. 

Resources Section

Uses the "Ministry Example - Resources" section

The content pulls from the Articles module (Content > Articles), and this section will display resource articles assigned to the respective category or group (matching the ministry category in the Description field of your page).

This section can be used for ministry resources, stories, or updates. You can attach audio files, videos, or PDF's to each Article.

Create Article Resources

Help Site: How to Create an Article

Add Articles to a Category (or Group)

In order to display Article resources in this section, you will first need to add Articles to the specific group called on in the Ministry Category (in the Description field of the page). 

Add Articles to a Group

  1. Navigate to Content > Articles > Add a New Article or Edit an existing Article.
  2. Add/edit the Article content
  3. Navigate to Publish and create a group for the Articles you’ll display on the Ministry Template. 

Note: If you are using a group instead of a category, navigate to Publish tab and assign the group for the Articles you’ll display on the Ministry Template. 

Volunteer Section

Uses the "Ministry Example - Volunteer" section

The content pulls from the Articles module (Content > Articles), and this section will display volunteer articles assigned to the respective category or group (matching the ministry category in the Description field of your page). This section can be used to highlight ministry specific volunteer opportunities.

Note: The "volunteer" category also needs to be assigned to your volunteer articles, in addition to the ministry category.

Note: this section will only be available for use if you also purchased one of the Volunteer Templates.

Add a Volunteer Opportunity & Category

In order to display a Volunteer Opportunity using this monklet in the Section, you will first need to add the opportunity to the specific category (or group) called on in the Ministry Category (in the Description field of the page). 

  1. Navigate to Content > Articles > Add A New Article
  2. Indicate the Title of the volunteer opportunity
  3. Assign the specific category used for the Ministry Template AND the "Volunteer" category. Additional sub categories under "Volunteer" can also be assigned.

Note: If you are using a group instead of a category, navigate to Publish tab and assign the group for the Articles you’ll display on the Ministry Template. The "Volunteer" category still needs to be assigned in the Article details.

Add an Author

The author can be assigned in the Article details and will display as the Volunteer Opportunity leader. The email address connected to the author will display as the contact method.

Help Site: Add A New Article Author

Volunteer Opportunity Details

Now that all Categories and Authors have been added, it's time to start adding Volunteer Opportunities content like a summary and description.

  • Summary: Content entered into the Summary field will display on in the list view of the Volunteer Opportunity template. This can be a brief description that is quick and easy for a reader. 
  • Content: The Content field will display on the Volunteer Opportunity detail page. In this area you can add images, videos, text formatting, Ekklesia forms, or links to your ChMS form.
  • Image: Each Volunteer Opportunity can have it's own image displayed in the section. All images are entered into the Image field on the media step.

Don't have a Volunteer Template? Contact Support about how we can get you set up!

Sermon Section

Uses the "Ministry Example - Sermon" section

The content pulls from the Sermons module (Content > Sermons), and this section will display the latest sermon assigned to the respective category or group (matching the ministry category in the Description field of your page).

Help Site: Adding Sermons

Add Sermons to a Group

In order to display a Sermon in this section, you will first need to add the sermon to the specific category or group called on in the Ministry Category (in the Description field of the page).  

Add Articles to a Group

  1. Navigate to Content > Sermons > Add a New Sermon or Edit an existing Sermon.
  2. Add/edit the Sermon content & media
  3. Navigate to Publish and create a group for the Sermon you’ll display on the Ministry Template. 

Note: If you are using a category instead of a group, the ministry specific category can be assigned in the sermon details.

Create Your Own Sections

In addition to the pre-built sections, you can also create your own to highlight ministry information, campus location, etc. When setting up your sections, the "content" field is a full WYSIWYG editor, so you can add in text, buttons, links, etc.

The "Ministry Example - Columns" section is an example freeform content section with columns.

Help Article: Creating Responsive Columns