Statistician's Corner
January 1, 2009, is upon us. It is time
to report your congregation’s successes for 2008. Again this
year, you will use Eagle, a General Council on Finance and Administration
(GCFA) web site.
Eagle is open now for our use. All data
must be entered and saved by February 28, 2009. I am
extending the deadline this
year. Eagle makes both of our jobs easier,
so I am giving you more time to gather and report your data.
Please note: Each of you must create your logon, even if you used
Eagle last year. All logons have been reset to accommodate changes
in appointments as well as church staff changes.
How to Get Started
The appointed senior pastor is responsible for reporting statistical
data for the charge; however, many pastors delegate the task.
I allow each church two users, the pastor and one other.
Begin by logging onto Eagle at
www.eagle.gcfa.org
Username is your church’s six-digit GCFA number plus a suffix
letter ‘p’ for Pastor or ‘o’ for Other, for
example, “555555p”or “555555o.” The password
is password, all lowercase. You will be taken to a User
Information screen. Please complete the form and click on the Update
button.
Exit and log back on using your newly-created username and password.
NOTE: Eagle is browser dependent, working
best with Microsoft’s
Internet Explorer. I have tested it with Firefox with good results,
but some formats may be off. I suggest you use IE 6.0 or 7.0. Disable
the popup blocker as some reports may not print if popup windows
are blocked.
Suggestions
 Click on the main menu’s “Add/Edit Tables” and
print blank copies of Tables I, II, and III and distribute copies
to those individuals responsible for gathering the necessary
information. These blank reports may also be printed from
http://gcfa.org/statisticsalTables.html
Instructions for each table are available from this site.
Saving
each table’s data does not submit the data. Submitting the
data is a separate step. Submitting the completed three tables
is done by selecting “Submit
Stats Process” from the main menu, see the following illustration
(click image for larger view).
This allows you to enter and save your data as time allows. You
may go back and change entries until you submit the finished tables
using the Submit Stats Process option.
GCFA
has added a charting function this year accessible from the Reports/Charts
option
(click image for larger view).
You might find this interesting as you examine your
congregations history. I am told more charts will be added in the
future. Check back on this option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Having trouble getting all three tables completed
at one sitting? Remember, clicking on the Save button on each table
does not submit
the data. Save as you go. You can change entries up to the time
you submit the completed tables using the Submit Stats Process option.
I can’t log on! Your Username is the charge’s GCFA with
the added suffix of either ‘p’ or ‘o’ The
password is ‘password’ - no kidding. Change it if you
wish, but keep a record of it.
What is my GCFA number? The GCFA number is the one
you used last year. You did keep copies of last year’s work.
Correct? As a last resort, click on email to Administration. This
comes to me
and I will look up your number.
What’s wrong with my addition? Unlike our system of two years
ago, Eagle doesn’t do your arithmetic for you; but it does
check it! There are more checks in place this year.
Trying to log on and the screen comes back blank?
Eagle must "drop a cookie" on your computer. If your security/privacy
mode is set to reject all cookies, you won't be able to use Eagle.
You have two choices: You may change settings to accept all cookies,
or you can allow only Eagle to place its cookie. While you are at
it, disable the popup blocker; otherwise, you may have trouble printing
reports.
grace and peace,
Dr. G. Bruce Maxwell, Statistician
Rocky Mountain Annual Conference
bruce@rmcumc.com
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