How the join link works

There are two ways someone joins your church in Volunteer Circle: they can use your join link, or an admin or leader can add them directly. They behave differently on purpose.

The join link (self-join)

Each church has one join link. You can share it however you like — from the platform, in a bulletin, a group text, a QR code at a sign-up table, or a “serve with us” page.

When a person uses the link, they don’t drop straight into your roster. Instead they become a pending volunteer — a request waiting for approval. An admin then reviews pending requests and approves (or declines) each one. Only after approval does the person become an active member with access.

This keeps the front door open without letting just anyone in. You get the convenience of self-signup with a deliberate gate, which matters for a church handling real people’s information.

The flow in short:

1. You share your church’s join link.
2. A person opens it and submits their details.
3. They land in a pending list — not yet active.
4. An admin approves them, and they become an active volunteer.

Adding someone directly

When an admin or leader adds a person themselves, that person is invited straight in — there’s no pending step, because someone with authority already vouched for them by adding them. This is the right path when you’re entering a known volunteer, building out a team, or importing your existing people.

Which should I use?

• Join link — best for open, self-serve sign-ups where you want a review step before people are active. Good for new-volunteer drives and public “get involved” moments.
• Add directly — best when you already know who someone is and want them active without waiting on an approval.

Both end in the same place: an active member with a role on your teams. They just differ on who initiates and whether there’s an approval gate.

Related

• Roles explained — what a person can do once they’re in
• Merging duplicate people — when the same person enters through more than one door
• What is Volunteer Circle?