PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: August 2026

Website: https://www.1stchris.org/

Organization: 1st Church of Heaven's Righteous Inherit Scribes & Testament ("Church," "Ministry," "we," "us," or "our")

OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY & ECCLESIASTICAL PRIVILEGE

1st Church of Heaven's Righteous Inherit Scribes & Testament respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information of our congregation, online visitors, donors, and ministry participants.

As a religious entity, the Church holds sacred the privacy of personal prayer requests, spiritual communications, and donor confidentiality. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit https://www.1stchris.org/ (the "Site") or communicate with our ministry team.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information directly from you when you interact with our Site, submit inquiries, request prayers, or make voluntary financial contributions.

A. Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

• Contact Information: Name, email address, physical mailing address, and phone number.

• Financial & Donation Data: Payment card details, bank account info, or billing address (processed securely through PCI-compliant third-party payment processors; the Church does not store full credit card numbers on its servers).

• Communication Records: Inquiries sent via contact forms, emails to support@1stchrist.org, phone messages, or letters.

B. Spiritual & Ministry Information ("Sensitive Personal Information")

• Prayer Requests & Pastoral Communications: Spiritual notes, prayer petitions, or faith counseling inquiries submitted voluntarily through forms or email.

• Ecclesiastical Protection Notice: Information submitted for prayer or pastoral care is held in spiritual confidence. However, public prayer walls or public forums on the Site are visible to other users; please refrain from posting sensitive personal details in public areas.

C. Automated / Technical Data (Cookies & Analytics)

When you visit the Site, we may automatically record:

• IP address, browser type, device information, and operating system.

• Pages viewed, time spent on pages, and referral URLs.

• Essential and analytical Cookies to maintain site security, remember site preferences, and understand web traffic.

2. How We Use Your Information

The Church uses collected information strictly in furtherance of its religious, charitable, and administrative mission, including:

1. Ministerial Support: Fulfilling prayer requests, providing pastoral care, and sharing scriptural and educational resources.

2. Processing Voluntary Giving: Processing tithes, offerings, bequests, and non-cash asset gifts, and issuing official donation receipts/tax statements.

3. Administrative Communications: Responding to inquiries, sending organizational updates, newsletter distributions (where requested), and event notifications.

4. Site Security & Compliance: Protecting the Site against cyber threats, unauthorized access, fraud, or violations of our Terms of Use.

3. How We Share and Protect Your Information

A. Absolute Prohibition on Commercial Sale or Rental

WE DO NOT SELL, RENT, LEASE, OR TRADE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR DONOR DATA TO THIRD PARTIES OR COMMERCIAL DATA BROKERS FOR MARKETING PURPOSES.

B. Limited Permitted Disclosures

We may share your information only under the following limited circumstances:

• Third-Party Service Providers: Vetted vendors who perform essential functions on our behalf (e.g., secure payment processors, email deployment systems, web hosting). These vendors are contractually bound to keep your data confidential and secure.

• Legal & Safety Obligations: To comply with valid legal processes (e.g., court orders or subpoenas) or to protect the safety, rights, or physical security of our ministers, staff, congregation, or the general public.

• Pastoral Privilege & Mandated Reporting: Pastoral communications are respected under ecclesiastical privilege. However, where required by state law regarding mandated reporting (such as explicit threats of imminent self-harm, child abuse, or elder abuse), local legal requirements will be followed.

4. Donor Privacy Protection

The Church maintains strict safeguards regarding donor records:

• Confidentiality: All donor names, gift amounts, and payment details are restricted to authorized financial administrators.

• Anonymous Giving: Donors wishing to remain anonymous may request that their names be withheld from general publication or internal appreciation listings by contacting support@1stchrist.org.

5. Cookies, Analytics, and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and analyze Site operations.

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly (e.g., secure form submission).

• Analytics: We may use aggregated, non-identifying analytics tools to track Site performance.

• Managing Cookies: You can set your web browser to refuse all or some cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling cookies may cause some features of the Site to function improperly.

6. Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal identifiable information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will promptly delete that information from our systems.

7. Data Security Safeguards

We implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical security measures—including SSL encryption, firewall protection, and restricted administrative access—to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, you acknowledge that you provide data at your own risk.

8. Your Data Rights & Communication Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access & Correction: You may request access to or correction of the personal information we hold about you.

• Opt-Out / Unsubscribe: You can opt out of receiving promotional emails or newsletters at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email or contacting us directly.

• Deletion Requests: You may request the deletion of your personal contact information from our active mailing lists, subject to legal, accounting, or tax record retention requirements.

To exercise any of these rights, please email support@1stchrist.org.

9. External Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, such as external video streaming services, social media channels, or payment portals. The Church is not responsible for the privacy practices, terms, or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

The Church reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised policy on this page, with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Site following any changes indicates your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

11. How to Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact our administrative team:

1st Church of Heaven's Righteous Inherit Scribes & Testament

Website: https://www.1stchris.org/

Email: support@1stchrist.org

Phone: 937-(CHRIST1) / 937-247-4781