At Waterford Central UMC, the data we collect provides us with information that allows us to aid you in your spiritual journey by providing information on topics and events that you may be interested in. With this information, we provide services and create programs tailored to the congregation’s needs, both individually and collectively.
This website and all of its content is owned by Waterford Central UMC. The term “you” refers to the user or viewer of WaterfordCUMC.org. By using WaterfordCUMC.org, whether you have read this Privacy Policy or not, you are fully consenting to this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
a. Information You or Others Provide to Us
We may collect personal information that you provide to us, including, but not limited to, name, address, contact information, login information, household relationships, demographics, skills, interests and donation/payment information.
We collect information when you interact with us in person, offline, through this website [and/or apps] or by telephone, email, mail, or your mobile device. We also receive information when you make an offering or donation, or participate in our programs or services. We also may receive information from other organizations we work with (e.g. when we host or market an event with another organization} or when you connect or interact with us through social media.
This information may include:
- Contact information, (e.g. name, address, phone number, email address, etc.)
- Information from your interactions with our website [and/or apps], including information you post or information shared through one of our website forms
- Donation information
- Payment information
- Family information
- Demographic information
- Religious preferences
- Survey responses
- Information from social media
- Any other information you provide us
b. Information We Collect Automatically
Some information (e.g. IP address and/or browser and device information) is collected automatically when you visit our website [and/or apps].
For example, we may use “cookies” on your device to help us recognize your device when you visit our website [and/or apps], or interact with advertising or emails. A cookie is a small piece of information placed on your device that identifies the device. We may also allow other parties to place cookies on your device when you visit us online (third-party cookies). For more information about cookies and similar technologies, please go to Section 4, titled “Cookies and Similar Technologies.” Not all information collected in this way can be used to identify you.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for a variety of purposes such as to communicate with you, run the Church, and improve our website [and/or apps]. We may use information, as described below, to:
- Conduct Church activities or to minister to you;
- Communicate with you about worship services, events, opportunities to volunteer, giving, or other reasons to facilitate the operation of the church;
- Facilitate your donations or purchases;
- Verify your identity (online or offline);
- Establish and maintain account(s);
- Protect you or other church members;
- Improve the services we offer;
- Investigate, prevent, or take action regarding unlawful or harmful activities;
- For statistical purposes, such as identifying donation or attendance trends;
- Recognize you online;
- Analyze usage;
- Facilitate any other purpose for which you provided the information;
- For any use you otherwise agree to;
- Create aggregated, anonymous, or de-identified information, which we may use and disclose without restriction (e.g., for analysis, research, or marketing purposes).
3. How We May Share Your Information
We share information with your consent, to comply with laws, to protect your rights, to provide you services, with trusted partners, or to fulfill business obligations. We may share and disclose your information in the following situations:
- To service providers who help us run our Church, manage donations, recruit members, and provide services. We also use service providers to help with giving and donations, website and/or app management, email services, advertising and marketing, and other functions. Any of the information described in this Policy may be shared with service providers;
- With other organizations with which we may co-sponsor or co-market a program, service, or event;
- To help us detect and address fraud, credit risk, security, or technical issues;
- Without restriction when the information is aggregated, anonymous, or de-identified;
- When we believe that sharing is necessary to take action regarding possible unlawful activities or to comply with legal processes or other legal requirements;
- If the Church merges or combines with another church, we will share information with them;
- In situations involving potential threats to the safety or rights of the Church or any person or organization, for example with law enforcement agencies; and
- In any other circumstances where we have your permission or are otherwise permitted by law to share it.
Viewing by Others
Whenever you voluntarily provide information you have consented to that information and its content being seen, collected, and used by others. We cannot be responsible for any unauthorized or improper use of the information that you voluntarily share (i.e., sharing a comment on a blog post, posting in a Facebook group that we manage, sharing details during livestream worship, etc.)
4. About Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies
We and third parties use automated means to collect information about you and your device when you use our website and/or app. These automated means may include technologies such as cookies, web server logs, web beacons, and JavaScript, as well as functionality that can collect data from a mobile device.
Cookies. Your internet browser may be able to notify you when you receive certain types of cookies or be able to restrict, delete, or disable certain cookies. Note that without cookies you may not be able to use all of the features of our website and/or app.
Web Beacons or Pixels. Web servers may log information such as your device type, operating system type, browser type, domain, and other system settings, as well as the language your system uses and the country and time zone where your device is located. They also may log information about your interaction with our website [and/or app], such as which pages you visit. To control which Web servers collect information, we may place tags on our website called “Web beacons” or “pixels,” which are files that link websites [and/or apps] to particular servers. We also may include Web beacons in e-mail messages. We or third parties may send instructions to your device to store or gather the sorts of information described above and other details about your interactions.
Do Not Track Signals. Like most websites, we do not respond to “do not track” signals.
5. Your Options
You may review, change, or delete your information upon request.
Accessing Your Information. You may have a right to request that we give you access to your information, or to delete or modify your information. You may exercise this right by contacting us using the information provided in Section 10 of this privacy policy. We do our best to consider all requests of this nature, even if we are not legally required to do so.
Other Opt-Out Choices. We may provide you with additional choices regarding our communications with you. For instance, we provide you with a way to opt-out or unsubscribe from emails we send about the Church and our events. You may also change or remove your information from our database by contacting us using the information found in Section 10 of this privacy policy.
6. Children’s Information
We do not knowingly solicit data from or market to children under 13 years of age. We may collect information about children under 13 years of age to administer youth and family programming (Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Youth Groups, Worship Arts Groups, etc.) If you believe we might have any information from or about your children or any other child under 13, please contact us at the email address listed in Section 10 of this privacy policy.
7. Data Security
Information obtained by WaterfordCUMC.org is stored internally or through a data management system. Your information will only be accessed by people who are responsible for gathering, managing, or storing it, or who have a legitimate need to access it. (i.e., our hosting provider, database provider, newsletter provider, payment processors, or team members).
We may transfer information internationally. If you are using our website in the European Union, please understand that your Personal Information may be transferred outside of the European Union. By using our Website and providing us with your Personal Information, you are consenting to these transfers exactly as stated within this Privacy Policy.
We understand and respect the importance of the security of the information we collect. Nonetheless, no organization can provide complete assurances that its security measures will avoid all risks or breaches. In the event of a breach, we may contact you using any means available to us.
8. Third-Party Links, Programs, and Services
Our website [and/or apps] may contain links to third-party websites or services. When you interact with these websites or services, those parties’ privacy policies – not ours – will apply. Likewise, if you provide information to third parties at events, that information will be handled according to their – not our – policies. We are not responsible for the content, security, or practices of any third parties. We do not vet, endorse, or make any representations about third parties or their websites, applications, or services.
9. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to stay compliant with relevant laws, adjust policies based on our activities, and to improve our products and services, and the expectations concerning them. The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Revised” date and the updated version will be effective as soon as it is accessible. Your continued use of this website [and/or apps] after we make changes is acceptance of those changes, so we encourage you to review this privacy policy frequently. We may also notify you of material changes via email or through a notice on the website [and/or apps].
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or about how we use your information, please contact us at: [email protected].
Last modified: 1/31/2024