St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and how it may be shared.
We do not sell, rent, or share information about our members’ personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes, and SMS consent is not shared with third parties.
Information we may collect:
We may collect the following types of personal information when you interact with us online or in person:
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Contact information, such as name, mailing address, email address, and phone number.
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Communication preferences, including whether you choose to receive email or SMS text messages from us.
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Information you provide in forms, registrations, prayer requests, facility‑use requests, or other communications with St. Matthew’s.
How we use personal information:
We use personal information to:
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Communicate with you about worship services, ministries, programs, events, volunteer opportunities, and facility use.
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Send administrative messages such as schedule changes, cancellations, and emergency or time‑sensitive notices (including via SMS).
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Manage records related to membership, giving, facility reservations, groups, and other church and diocesan activities.
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Maintain, improve, and secure our website and communication systems.
We do not sell your personal information or use it for any third‑party advertising.
How we use SMS and your consent:
If you choose to provide your mobile number and consent to receive SMS text messages from St. Matthew’s, we may use SMS for:
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Time‑sensitive updates about worship services, ministries, or events.
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Building and facility notifications, including schedule changes that affect parishioners or building users.
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Internal, work‑related coordination with employees and key volunteers.
You can opt out of SMS at any time by replying STOP to any message or by contacting us using the information below. SMS consent is not required as a condition of attending St. Matthew’s or participating in any of our ministries. SMS consent is not shared with third parties.
When we share personal information:
We limit sharing of personal information to only situations where it is necessary to support our ministry and operations, including:
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With trusted service providers and vendors who perform services on our behalf (for example, website hosting, email or SMS delivery, or church management software), under obligations to protect your information and use it only for our purposes.
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When required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of St. Matthew’s, our parishioners, or others in our community.
We do not sell, rent, or otherwise disclose our members’ personal information to third parties for their own marketing or fundraising.
Your choices:
You may:
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Opt out of SMS messages by replying STOP or by contacting us.
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Opt out of non‑essential email communications by using the unsubscribe link (where available) or contacting us.
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Request updates or corrections to your contact information through the church office.
Data security and retention:
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure, recognizing that no system can be completely secure. We retain personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this Policy or as required by law.
Children’s information:
Our ministries serve children and youth, but our website and online forms are intended for use by adults. If you believe a child has provided personal information online without appropriate consent, please contact us so we can address the situation.
Changes to this Privacy Policy:
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of the policy will reflect the most recent changes. Continued use of our website or participation in our communications after changes are posted indicates your acceptance of the updated Policy.