Manuel White Chapel (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information entrusted to us. This Privacy and Data Protection Policy (“Policy”) outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information obtained through our various activities, including but not limited to worship services, events, programs, online platforms, and administrative functions.  This Policy applies to all members, attendees, volunteers, donors, and other individuals whose personal information we process.

 

 

We collect personal information necessary for fulfilling our religious, charitable, and administrative purposes. This information may include:

 

Membership Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, family details (for family memberships), emergency contact information, employment details (if relevant for volunteer roles), and any other information provided during membership registration or updates.

Donation Information: Name, address, payment information (credit card details are processed securely through a third-party payment processor, and we do not store this sensitive data directly), donation amounts, and donation dates.  We may also retain records of pledges.

Event Registration Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, dietary restrictions (if applicable), and any other information relevant to the specific event.

Volunteer Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, background check information (if required), skills and experience, availability, and any other relevant information pertaining to their volunteer role.

Communication Records: We may retain records of communication with individuals, including emails, phone calls, and letters, to maintain a history of our interactions and to address any inquiries or concerns.

Website and Online Platform Data: We may collect information through our website and online platforms, such as IP addresses, browsing history, cookies, and other data collected through analytics tools. This data is typically used for website improvement and to understand how individuals interact with our online resources.

Children’s Ministry Information:  For children participating in our children’s ministry programs, we may collect additional information such as parent/guardian contact details, allergies, and any other relevant medical or safety information.  We adhere to strict procedures to protect the privacy of children’s information and ensure compliance with all applicable child protection laws.

Photographs and Videos:  We may take photographs and videos during church services, events, and activities. These may be used for promotional purposes, including on our website, social media platforms, and church publications. We strive to obtain consent whenever possible but may use images where individuals are part of a larger group and are not individually identifiable.  We will respect requests to remove images or videos upon reasonable notification.

 

 

We use the collected personal information for a variety of purposes, including:

 

Fulfilling Membership Requests: Processing membership applications, managing membership records, and providing member benefits.

Facilitating Religious Activities: Organizing and conducting worship services, bible studies, and other religious programs.

Managing Events and Programs:  Organizing and managing church events, classes, and other programs, including registration and communication with participants.

Processing Donations:  Acknowledging donations, issuing tax receipts, and managing church finances.

Communicating with Members and Attendees: Sending newsletters, announcements, event invitations, and other relevant communications.

Managing Volunteers:  Recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers for various church activities.

Improving Church Services:  Analyzing data to improve our services, programs, and communication strategies.

Legal Compliance:  Complying with legal and regulatory requirements, such as tax laws and reporting obligations.

Protecting Church Interests:  Protecting the church’s assets and reputation.

 

 

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.  We may disclose your information under the following circumstances:

 

Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with various functions, such as website hosting, payment processing, email marketing, and data analytics. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the specific purposes we authorize.

Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.

Protection of Rights and Safety: We may disclose your information if necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of [Church Name], our members, or others.

With Your Consent: We may disclose your information with your explicit consent.

 

 

We employ reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.  These measures include:

 

Data Encryption: We use encryption to protect sensitive information, such as payment details.

Access Controls: We limit access to personal information to authorized personnel only.

Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Employee Training:  We provide training to our employees on data security and privacy best practices.

 

 

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law.  We have established data retention policies for various categories of personal information, which are reviewed and updated periodically.

 

 

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

 

Access: Request access to your personal information that we hold.

Correction: Request correction of any inaccuracies in your personal information.

Erasure: Request erasure of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Restriction: Request restriction of processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Data Portability: Request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

Objection: Object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal information where consent is the legal basis for processing.

 

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided in Section 10.  We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

 

 

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent.  If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under this age without parental consent, we will take steps to delete the information.

 

 

If we transfer personal information to countries outside your jurisdiction, we will take steps to ensure that the transfer complies with applicable data protection laws.

 

 

If you have any questions or concerns about this Policy, or if you wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

 

12 5th Close, Dansoman.

P.O.Box KIA 9005 Airport

Accra-Ghana

 

 

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on our website and notify you as appropriate.  We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

 

 

This Policy is governed by and shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of Ghana

 

Appendix A: Data Retention Schedule

 

This appendix provides a schedule outlining the retention periods for different categories of personal information.  This schedule is subject to change and will be updated as needed to reflect changes in legal requirements and best practices.