Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how {{org.name}} ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects personal information about people who interact with our church, our staff, our digital services, and our community programmes.

We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This policy reflects the rights you have under POPIA and the responsibilities we have when processing your information.

Information We Collect

We collect information that you give us directly, for example when you fill in a contact card, register for an event, sign up for a small group, give a donation, or send us a message. This typically includes your name, contact details, family relationships, attendance, giving history, prayer requests you ask us to record, and any preferences you tell us about. We may also collect information automatically when you use our digital services, such as your IP address, device type, and pages visited.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Stay in touch with you about church life, services, and events you've shown interest in.
Operate ministries you participate in (small groups, volunteer teams, prayer ministry, pastoral care, follow-up).
Process donations, issue tax receipts, and meet our financial reporting obligations.
Improve our communications, services, and digital experience.
Comply with our legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information. Ever.

Sharing With Others

We share your information only:

With our staff and approved volunteers who need it to serve you.
With service providers who help us run the church (for example payment processors for donations, email and SMS providers, and our IT systems). These providers operate under contracts that bind them to confidentiality and POPIA-aligned safeguards.
Where the law requires it (for example in response to a lawful court order, or to report safeguarding concerns).

Retention

We keep your information for as long as it's needed for the purposes above, and as long as we're required to by law. Financial and donation records are kept for the period required by tax legislation. Other records are reviewed periodically and removed when no longer needed.

Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the right to:

Ask what information we hold about you and request a copy.
Correct anything that is wrong or out of date.
Ask us to delete your information where we no longer have a lawful reason to keep it.
Object to direct marketing communications at any time.
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable time and at no cost to you.

Cookies and Digital Tracking

Our digital services use a small number of cookies and similar technologies for essential functions (sign-in, security) and to understand how the service is used. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

Children

We collect information about children only with the consent of a parent or guardian, and only for legitimate ministry purposes such as check-in, kids' programmes, and youth events.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. The current version is always available at this URL. Material changes will be communicated to active members through our usual channels.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your information, please contact us:

Email: {{org.email}}
Address: {{org.address}}
Website: {{org.website}}