Summary: Learn how to securely configure the Default Member Role in your account. This role is automatically assigned to new users joining through ChurchApps and controls exactly what information they can access the moment they register.
Before You Begin
When someone joins your church through ChurchApps, they are automatically assigned your Default Member Role before you've had a chance to review their account. Choosing a role with too many permissions can unintentionally expose sensitive congregation data (such as giving records, personal addresses, or staff notes) to anyone who self-registers.
To protect your congregation's data, the Default Member Role is restricted by the system and can only include the following:
Required (must be present):
My Profile > Read: Name, Age, Phone, Email, AddressAllowed (optional): Any other
My Profilepermissions (custom fields, edit profile, view tags, attendance, contributions, etc.) andEventspermissions (View Events, Access to All Events, Restrict Access to Events).Not Allowed: Any permission not listed above. Anything that grants access to other members' data or administrative functions is strictly blocked from being a default role.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Navigate to Users & Roles in your main menu, then select Roles.
Click the Edit Default Access button.
Review and Select an appropriate role from the Default Member Access dropdown menu. (Note: If a role contains forbidden administrative permissions, the system will not allow you to select it as the default).
Confirm your selection to save your changes.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why isn't my custom role showing up in the Default Member Access dropdown? As a strict security precaution, only roles with limited permissions can be selected as the Default Member Role. If the role you created contains any administrative permissions or grants access to other members' data, it will be hidden from this dropdown menu.
How do I give a specific user more access if the default role is restricted? The default role is only a starting point for self-registered members. To give a specific user (such as a staff member or volunteer) additional access, you simply need to upgrade their role individually within the Users & Roles dashboard.