Privacy Policy - Wolfe Island Pastoral Charge

Introduction

Wolfe Island Pastoral Charge ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, attend our services, or interact with our church community.

As a registered Canadian charity (Charity Registration ID: 132145178RR0001), we comply with all applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) where applicable.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

Information You Provide Directly:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
Demographic Information: Age, family composition (for pastoral care and program planning)
Donation Information: Contribution amounts and payment details for tax receipt purposes
Communication Preferences: Newsletter subscriptions, event notifications
Prayer Requests: Personal information shared for prayer support
Pastoral Care Information: Information shared during counseling, hospital visits, or pastoral support

Information Collected Automatically:

Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages
Cookies: Small data files stored on your device to improve website functionality

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

To communicate with you about church services, events, and programs
To provide pastoral care and spiritual support
To process and acknowledge donations and issue tax receipts
To maintain membership and attendance records
To coordinate volunteers and ministry activities
To send newsletters, prayer updates, and church announcements (with your consent)
To respond to your inquiries and requests
To improve our website and services
To comply with legal obligations and charity reporting requirements

3. How We Share Your Information

We respect your privacy and do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

United Church of Canada: We may share certain information with our denominational body for statistical reporting and support purposes
Service Providers: Trusted third-party providers who assist with website hosting, email communications, or donation processing (under strict confidentiality agreements)
Legal Compliance: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
Church Directory: With your explicit consent, basic contact information may be included in internal church directories for member connection
Prayer Chains: Prayer requests are shared only with your permission and within appropriate boundaries

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us:

Remember your preferences
Understand how visitors use our website
Improve website performance and functionality

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling cookies may limit certain website features.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

Secure server infrastructure and encryption for sensitive data transmission
Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Regular security assessments and updates
Confidentiality training for staff and volunteers

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to using best practices.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Donation records are retained for tax and legal compliance purposes as required by the Canada Revenue Agency.

7. Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from newsletters and non-essential communications at any time
Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for specific uses of your information

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

8. Children's Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children who participate in our programs. We collect information about children only with parental or guardian consent for purposes such as Sunday School registration, youth programs, and emergency contact information. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website without parental consent.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms, partner organizations, and the United Church of Canada. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. Email Communications

If you provide your email address, you may receive:

Weekly newsletters and announcements
Event invitations and updates
Prayer requests and spiritual encouragement
Donation acknowledgments and tax receipts

You may unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in the email or by contacting us directly. Please note that you may still receive essential communications related to your membership or donations.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated policy on our website with a revised "Effective Date." We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Wolfe Island Pastoral Charge

7 Joslin Lane, RR1
Wolfe Island, Ontario K0H 2Y0
Canada

Phone: (613) 385-2212

Email: WolfeIslandPastoralCharge@hotmail.com

Charity Registration ID: 132145178RR0001

13. Consent

By using our website, attending our services, or providing your personal information to us, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our website or provide us with your personal information.