About Epworth Software Solutions
Built for the Connection
At Epworth Software Solutions, we bridge the gap between traditional church administration and modern technology. Deeply rooted in the connectional spirit of the United Methodist Church, our mission is to build robust software systems that respect your time, your data, and your mission.
We design our systems to reflect the method of United Methodists.
It's not generic corporate software that we try to force onto a church structure. We're not trying to shoehorn your church's data into software aimed at a different denomination. Our software is focused on United Methodism from the ground up.
We recognize that United Methodist churches work differently than other denominations.
From multi-charge circuits to district tracking to annual conference realities, our software is engineered to handle the unique way the UMC does things. We know the difference between a visitor, a professing member, a baptized child member, and a constituent and so should your church management software. No more fighting your software to give accurate information.
Rev. Dr. Scot Bontrager
Founder & Architect
- 🛡️ 35+ Years Dev & Security
- 🕊️ 20 Years Pastoral Ministry
- 📚 PhD in Systematic Theology
Meet the Architect
Brother Scot brings a unique dual lineage to church technology: over 35 years of software development and network security expertise combined with nearly 20 years of active pastoral ministry. He has navigated the connectional system at every level—from serving a 20-member rural congregation to a 6,000-member multi-site church, and sitting on the floor of his first Annual Conference as a youth member back in 1992. He ran a regional Internet service company back when all we had was dial-up. Some of his other software projects are used by millions of people.
Holding a PhD in Systematic Theology, Brother Scot engineered Epworth CMS because he believes that data integrity, strict privacy, and denominational compliance are faithful expressions of stewardship and connectionalism. He understands the anxiety of Charge Conference season, the nuances of the "Red Book" sacramental ledgers, and the absolute necessity of keeping pastoral care notes secure.
Why Choose Epworth?
Our Philosophy
We believe in keeping things clean, clear, and easy-to-use. That's why our primary software platform, Epworth CMS, uses secure storage, high-speed logic, and a modern interface. We strive to make our tools accessible for the smallest churches while remaining robust enough for the needs of the largest.
Guiding Principles
- Our predictable pricing structure comes from a deep love of the UMC and an understanding of the needs of small congregations.
- The functionality of Epworth CMS is rooted in the realities of church life. The first version of the Caring Ministry module was written while serving a six-thousand member church with dozens of hospital visits each week.
- Safety and security are the underpinnings of all our technical solutions. We're not just protecting personal and financial data, we're protecting friends, family, and our church homes.
- We build our tools to be easy-to-use because we know that pastors, church administrators, and volunteers have more important things to do than spend hours fighting ill-fitting programs that are designed to work like a business or a Baptist church.
Whether you are a historic downtown church, a suburban megachurch, a town-and-country church, or a 3-point rural circuit, Epworth Software Solutions provides the technical solutions for your ministry to thrive.