Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 6.29.2026
At Salem Grace United Methodist Church (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we deeply respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, graceumcsalem.org (the "Site"), or interact with our digital ministries. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information from you in a few different ways, depending on how you interact with our Site: Personal Information You Voluntarily Provide: This includes information you give us when you sign up for a newsletter, register for an event, submit a prayer request, fill out a connect card, or contact us directly. Examples: Your name, email address, phone number, and physical address. Sensitive Spiritual or Personal Requests: If you submit a prayer request or pastoral care inquiry, we treat this information with the highest level of confidentiality and care. Financial and Donation Information: When you give a tithe or donation online, your financial details are processed securely. Note: We do not store credit card or bank account numbers directly on our servers. All payments are handled securely by our third-party processing partner. Automated Device and Usage Data: When you browse our Site, we automatically collect certain technical information. Examples: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, pages viewed, and the date/time of your visit. This helps us understand how visitors use our site so we can improve its layout and accessibility.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to support our church community and serve you better. Specifically, we use it to: Manage and respond to prayer requests, pastoral care needs, and connect cards. Send church updates, weekly newsletters, event reminders, or administrative announcements (you can opt out of email communications at any time).Process event registrations, volunteer sign-ups, and ministry involvements. Process and acknowledge financial contributions and provide annual giving statements for tax purposes. Maintain, secure, and improve the functionality of our website.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes. We only share your information in the following limited circumstances: With Secure Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party vendors who help us run our digital ministry operations (e.g., website hosting, email newsletter platforms, event management tools, and payment processors). These providers are contractually required to keep your data secure and confidential. Pastoral Care and Leadership: Prayer requests or care needs are shared strictly within our pastoral staff, elders, or dedicated prayer team, depending on the preferences and level of privacy you specify when submitting the request. Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses "cookies" to enhance your browsing experience. A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by a web server. We use cookies to remember user preferences, understand traffic patterns, and ensure the site runs smoothly. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, though doing so may affect your ability to use certain features of the Site.
5. Data Security
The security of your personal data is incredibly important to us. We use standard administrative, technical, and physical security measures (including SSL encryption across our Site) to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or alteration. However, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Children’s Privacy
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information online from children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without proper consent, we will delete that information immediately.
7. Your Choices and Controls
You have complete control over how we communicate with you: Email Communications: If you no longer wish to receive our newsletters or updates, you can click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email we send. Reviewing or Updating Your Info: You can contact us at any time to request a review, update, correction, or deletion of the personal information we have on file for you.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or digital tools. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please reach out to us at:
Salem Grace United Methodist Church
116 E Schwartz St, Salem, IL 62881
(618) 548-2810