At Rooted Worship, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and trust of our church members, regular attendees, ministry partners, visitors, and any third parties who connect with us. This Information Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, safeguard, and handle the personal information you entrust to us through our website, mobile applications, connect cards, communication portals, and direct interactions.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to better serve our community, facilitate spiritual growth, coordinate ministry activities, and keep you informed. This information is provided voluntarily by you and may include:

• Contact Information: Name, physical address, phone number, email address, and communication preferences.
• Demographic & Family Information: Date of birth, marital status, gender, and family relationships (including names and ages of children registered for youth or children's ministries).
• Financial Information: Credit/debit card numbers, bank account numbers, billing addresses, and donation histories when you tithe or give financially through our secure portals.
• Ministry Involvement Data: Small group participation, volunteer schedules, prayer requests, event registrations, and attendance records.
• Digital Tracking (Cookies): IP address, browser type, and interactions with our website to optimize your online browsing experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used strictly within the scope of church operations, pastoral care, and community enrichment. Specifically, we utilize your data to:

• Maintain accurate church membership records and directory systems.
• Distribute church updates, newsletters, teaching materials, and ministry announcements.
• Process tithes, offerings, and registration fees, and issue year-end charitable giving statements for your tax records.
• Provide pastoral care, answer prayer requests, and coordinate counseling or support services.
• Manage volunteer schedules, nursery check-ins, and safety compliance for children's ministries.

3. Information Sharing and Third Parties

Rooted Worship values your privacy and enforces strict boundaries regarding data distribution:

No Commercial Sharing

We do not sell, rent, trade, or distribute your personal details to any outside marketers or commercial entities.

Authorized Service Providers

We share necessary information with trusted third-party platforms that help us operate (e.g., specialized Church Management Systems (ChMS), email distribution services, and secure merchant processors for tithing). These partners are legally bound by strict data processing agreements to keep your information entirely confidential and secure.

Legal Obligations

We will only disclose personal data if required to do so by law, or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to protect public safety, comply with legal processes, or safeguard the rights of Rooted Worship.

4. Data Security and Retention

We implement a robust suite of technical and administrative measures designed to shield your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or alteration:

• Encryption: All online financial transactions and data entries via our website utilize industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption protocol.
• Access Controls: Access to sensitive personal records is strictly restricted to authorized staff members and designated ministry leads who require the information to perform their roles.
• Physical Security: Hard-copy records (such as physical check-in slips or paper tithe envelopes) are handled securely and filed under lock and key before being securely shredded when no longer required.

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfill church operational needs, provide pastoral care, and satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting obligations.

5. Children’s Privacy

Protecting children is a foundational priority for Rooted Worship. We do not intentionally collect or maintain personal information online directly from individuals under the age of 13. Any data concerning minors (such as for Sunday School check-ins or youth camps) must be explicitly provided by a parent or legal guardian and is protected under heightened internal access controls.

6. Your Rights and Preferences

We believe you should maintain ownership over how your information is handled. At any time, you have the right to:

• Review, update, or correct the personal and family details we have on file for you.
• Opt-out of specific digital communication channels (such as unsubscribing from newsletters via the "unsubscribe" link provided at the bottom of our emails).
• Request to be removed entirely from our church database, provided the deletion does not conflict with statutory financial reporting laws (e.g., tax-deductible tithing tracking).

7. Policy Updates

Rooted Worship reserves the right to modify this Information Privacy Policy as church practices adapt or legal frameworks change. Any updates will be instantly reflected on this webpage, with a revised "Effective Date" posted at the top of the policy.

8. Contact and Privacy Inquiries

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is treated by Rooted Worship, please feel free to reach out to our administration office: