Privacy Notice

Effective Date: June 1, 2026

1. Privacy Statement

Emmanuel Baptist Church has created this security and privacy statement to communicate our commitment to doing business with the highest ethical standards and appropriate internal controls. Information you entrust to us will be handled with the greatest care, and we will not use the information in ways to which you have not consented or is not required by law.

2. Policy Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to all Emmanuel Baptist Church websites and domains. The site may contain links to other sites; we are not responsible for the security or privacy practices, products, services, or content of those external sites.

3. Information Gathering and Usage

Personal Information Gathering

We do not automatically collect personally identifiable information (PII) about our website visitors. We may record technical data such as IP addresses, browser software, and operating systems to improve the usability of our website. This information is not connected to individual names or personal identities.

Explicit Information Gathering

We do collect personal information when a specific form is submitted, such as registering for an event, giving, or a request to communicate with us. This information is used to:

  • Provide information
  • Get in touch with you when necessary.
  • Notify you about church events or services we think will be of interest to you.

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We use trusted third-party vendors to facilitate ministry operations. Your information is only used for Emmanuel Baptist Church purposes, and we contractually prohibit these vendors from using your data for other activities.

  • Planning Center: Used for our Church Management System (ChMS), event registrations, and online giving. Personal profiles and financial contributions are stored securely. We do not store credit card or bank information on our local web server.
  • Mailchimp: Used for electronic distribution of newsletters and updates. We provide them with names and email addresses to facilitate distribution. You may opt-out at any time via the “Unsubscribe” link in any email.
  • Clearstream: Used for SMS/text communication. By providing your mobile number, you may receive texts regarding church updates. You can opt-out by replying “STOP” at any time.

5. Children’s Privacy (COPPA)

Emmanuel does not attempt to collect personal information from children. Our website is not directed to children under age 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

6. Data Security

We employ a variety of security measures, including physical access controls and passwords, to ensure your data is not lost, misused, or altered.

  • Encryption: We use encryption (SSL/HTTPS) when collecting personal information via web forms. You can identify secure forms by the “https” in the URL or the “padlock” icon in your browser.
  • Storage: All personally identifiable information is stored on secure servers behind a firewall, rather than on our public web server.

7. Compelled Disclosure

We may be required by law to disclose information you have submitted. Unless legally prohibited, we will attempt to provide you with notice to give you an opportunity to object to the disclosure.

8. Your Personal Information Rights

We make every effort to keep our records accurate and will make changes when you notify us. If you wish to view, update, or delete your information, or if you wish to be removed from our contact database, please contact us through the channels below.

9. Contact Information

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our practices, please contact:

Emmanuel Baptist Church 296 New Britain Ave. Newington, CT 06111 860.667.1372