Privacy Policy

Revised Date: 5/30/2023

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of information we collect from you when you visit our website (the “Website”), how we use and protect that information, and your rights regarding your personal information. By accessing or using our Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy Overview

At St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, we prioritize your privacy. We use cookies on our website to improve your browsing experience. Your email address is used solely for parish communication and not shared with external parties. We may capture photos or videos at church events for promotional purposes, but you can opt-out. Our parish directory is private and accessible only to church members. We employ security measures to safeguard your information. Trusted services like MailChimp, Google Analytics, and Facebook enhance our communications and website functionality. SSL encryption ensures data security. You have rights regarding your personal information. For further inquiries, contact us. Trust us with your privacy at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

1. Collection and Use of Information

1.1 Cookies

Our Website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how people use our Website. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your device when you visit a website. It enables the website to remember your actions and preferences (such as login information, language, font size, and other display preferences) over a period of time, so you don’t have to keep re-entering them whenever you come back to the website or browse from one page to another. We use cookies to improve the functionality of our Website and analyze trends, track user movements, and gather demographic information about our user base as a whole. You can control and manage cookies in your browser settings.

1.2 Email Addresses

If you provide your email address through forms on our Website, we will collect and store it for parish use only. We do not share your information with anyone outside of the parish or our marketing organization, which also maintains strict confidentiality. If you subscribe to receive email updates, the purpose is to communicate parish-related information and updates. We do not share any private information with individuals or organizations outside the parish.

1.3 Photography and Videography

By attending a St. Margaret’s event, you acknowledge and consent to the possibility of being photographed or recorded on video. We may use these photographs or videos on our Website or social media platforms for promotional purposes. However, we make every effort to exclude individuals who express their preference not to be included. If you wish to opt out of our photography or videography, please notify us in writing using the contact information provided below.

1.4 Contact Forms and Comments

When you submit a contact form or leave comments on our Website, we collect the information you provide, which may include your name, email address, and other personal details. We use this information to respond to your inquiries, provide requested services, and improve our communications with you.

2. Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information with the following trusted service providers for specific purposes:

MailChimp: We use MailChimp as our email delivery service provider. They process your email address to send parish communications as requested.
Google Analytics: We utilize Google Analytics to track website traffic and usage. This helps us analyze user behavior and improve our Website.
Facebook: We may share content from our Website on Facebook for social sharing purposes and to measure the effectiveness of our Facebook presence in driving traffic to our Website.
These service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your personal information.

3. Website Security

Our Website utilizes SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology to encrypt your information during transmission. SSL is a standard security technology that establishes an encrypted link between your device and our server. This ensures that all data transferred between your device and our server remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access.

4. Parish Directory

The parish directory is considered private and accessible to church members only. We take reasonable measures to ensure the confidentiality and security of the directory information. The parish directory may contain personal information such as parish members’ names, email addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, or birthdays. This information is voluntarily provided by individuals for inclusion in the directory.

4.1. Purpose of Collection

The purpose of collecting this information is to facilitate communication and foster community within the church. It enables parish members to connect with each other for religious, social, and community purposes.

4.2. Use of Information

The information within the parish directory is intended for internal church use only. It is used to facilitate communication among parish members and support church-related activities and events. We do not disclose the information within the parish directory to external parties or individuals without the explicit consent of the individuals involved. The directory is meant to be a private resource exclusively accessible to church members.

4.3 Security of Information

We take appropriate measures to protect the security and confidentiality of the information within the parish directory. We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or misuse of the data.

4.4. Access and Control

Access to the information within the parish directory is limited to authorized individuals within the church community. This includes church staff, clergy, and designated administrators responsible for maintaining the directory. We strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information within the parish directory. Parish members are encouraged to review and update their personal information as necessary to ensure its accuracy. By voluntarily submitting personal information for inclusion in the parish directory, parish members consent to its use within the church community for communication and connection purposes.

4.5. Retention of Information

We retain the information within the parish directory for as long as it remains relevant and necessary for its intended purpose. When a parish member requests removal or updates to their information, we will promptly accommodate such requests in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access, update, or correct your personal information in our records.
  • Object to the processing of your personal information.
  • Request the deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations and legitimate interests.
  • Opt out of receiving future communications from us.

To exercise your rights or make inquiries regarding your personal information, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

6. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date.” We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us using the following information:

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
150 Elm Street
Emmaus, PA 18049

Email: webmaster@stmargaretsemmaus.org
Phone: 610-967-1450

Thank you for entrusting us with your personal information.