Your Privacy Matters
Ethiopian Evangelical Christian Church — Austin is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our website, mobile app, and services.
1. Introduction
Ethiopian Evangelical Christian Church — Austin ("EECC Austin," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at https://eeccaustin.org, use our mobile application, or interact with our Services.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our Services, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our Services.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:
- Create an Account: Name, email address, phone number, profile photo
- Complete Your Profile: Address, birthday, family information, church membership status
- Make Donations: Payment information (processed securely by Stripe), billing address, giving preferences
- Submit Prayer Requests: Request content, privacy preferences
- Contact Us: Name, email, phone, message content
- Register for Events: Registration details, dietary preferences, emergency contacts
- Volunteer: Skills, availability, ministry interests, background check consent
- Join the Directory: Contact information, photo, ministry involvement
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you access our Services, we automatically collect:
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
- Log Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, access times, referring URLs
- Location Data: General location based on IP address (we do not track precise location)
- Usage Data: Features used, content viewed, interactions with the app
- Cookies & Similar Technologies: See our Cookie Policy for details
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from:
- Payment Processors: Stripe provides transaction confirmations and fraud prevention data
- Authentication Providers: If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive basic profile information
- Church Leadership: Membership status, ministry involvement (with your consent)
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
3.1 Provide Our Services
- Create and manage your account
- Process donations and provide tax receipts
- Respond to prayer requests and contact inquiries
- Register you for events and volunteer opportunities
- Display your information in the member directory (based on your privacy settings)
3.2 Communicate With You
- Send donation confirmations and receipts
- Notify you about church events, announcements, and updates
- Respond to your questions and support requests
- Send devotionals and spiritual content (if opted in)
- Provide important service-related notices
3.3 Improve Our Services
- Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
- Develop new features and services
- Fix bugs and resolve technical issues
- Conduct research to better serve our community
3.4 Ensure Security
- Protect against unauthorized access and fraud
- Monitor for security threats
- Enforce our Terms of Service
4. Information Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
4.1 Within Our Church Community
- Member Directory: Your profile information is shared with other members based on your privacy settings
- Ministry Leaders: May access information relevant to their ministry responsibilities
- Prayer Team: Prayer requests may be shared with authorized prayer team members (unless marked private)
- Church Staff: Access member data for pastoral care and administrative purposes
4.2 With Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party providers who assist us in operating our Services:
- Stripe: Payment processing (PCI-DSS compliant)
- Supabase: Database and authentication services
- Resend: Email delivery for notifications and receipts
- Netlify: Website hosting
- YouTube: Video hosting for sermons
These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
4.3 For Legal Reasons
We may disclose information if required to:
- Comply with legal obligations or court orders
- Protect our rights, property, or safety
- Prevent fraud or illegal activities
- Respond to lawful requests from public authorities
5. Data Security
We implement robust security measures to protect your information:
- Encryption: All data transmitted via HTTPS; sensitive data encrypted at rest
- Access Controls: Role-based access limits who can view your data
- Authentication: Secure login with multi-factor authentication options
- Regular Audits: Security reviews and vulnerability assessments
- Payment Security: Stripe handles all payment data (PCI-DSS Level 1 certified)
While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
6.1 Access & Portability
You can access your personal data through your account settings or request a copy by contacting us.
6.2 Correction
You can update or correct your information through your account profile at any time.
6.3 Deletion
You can request deletion of your account and personal data. Some information may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes (e.g., donation records for tax compliance).
6.4 Communication Preferences
You can manage your notification preferences in your account settings or unsubscribe from emails using the link provided in each message.
6.5 Directory Visibility
You control what information appears in the member directory through your privacy settings.
7. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our Services to you
- Comply with legal obligations (e.g., 7-year retention for donation records)
- Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
- Maintain accurate church membership records
When you delete your account, we will remove or anonymize your data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
8. Children's Privacy
Our Services are not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. For ministry programs involving minors (such as Sunday School or Youth Ministry), we obtain parental consent and handle children's data with extra care.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Services may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., YouTube, social media). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
10. International Data Transfers
Our Services are hosted in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where data protection laws may differ from your country.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:
- Email: support@eeccaustin.org
- Phone: (512) 550-1273
- Address: 305 Deen Ave, Austin, TX 78753
- Online: Contact Form
Your Data, Your Control
We believe in transparency and giving you control over your personal information. If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.