Privacy Policy
Effective Date: March 2, 2026
At Hope Christian Church (“we”, “us”, “our”), we value your trust and are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share personal information when you visit our website, communicate with us online, or voluntarily provide information through forms, event registrations, donations, and other digital interactions.
1. Consent to Collection and Use of Personal Information
By using our website and providing personal information, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. We only collect personal data that you voluntarily submit to us, such as names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information.
2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information when you:
- Sign up for newsletters or email updates
- Register for events or ministries
- Submit prayer requests or contact forms
- Make online donations
We may also collect anonymous, non-personal information through cookies and tracking technologies to help improve our website, understand usage patterns, and enhance user experience. This may include IP addresses, browser type, and site interaction data.
3. How We Use Personal Information
We use the information you provide to:
- Communicate with you and respond to your requests
- Deliver newsletters, updates, event information, and ministry resources
- Process donations and event registrations
- Improve our services, programs, and digital experiences
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to outside parties except for trusted service providers necessary to support our operations (such as email platforms or payment processors). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and only use it for church-related purposes.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website and collect analytical data about site usage. You can disable cookies through your browser settings; however, doing so may limit certain features or functionality of the site.
5. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external sites not owned or controlled by Hope Christian Church. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by our site; we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of other websites.
6. Children’s Privacy
We are mindful of collecting personal information from children and comply with applicable laws regarding children’s online privacy. If a parent or guardian believes their child has submitted personal information without consent, please contact us so we can promptly review and remove such information.
7. Use of Text and Images
We are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of children and youth. We obtain written permission from parents or legal guardians before using photographs or images of children and youth taken at church-sponsored activities. We honor any request from a parent or legal guardian to exclude their child from church publications, digital communications, or the website, and we do not identify children or youth by name or address in connection with any images, nor do we “tag” them on social media.
8. Security of Your Information
We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard your personal information. Although we strive to protect your data, no security system is completely infallible, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.
9. Opt-Out and Contact
You may choose to opt out of receiving communications from us at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or by contacting us directly. If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to access or correct your information, or request removal of your data, please contact:
Hope Christian Church
HopeInfo@HopeCCMD.org
Please understand that it may take some time for us to put your opt-out request into effect and that you might continue to receive postal, e-mail, or telephone communications from Hope Christian Church for a short time after your opt-out choices have changed.
10. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices. When we make updates, we will revise the Effective Date at the top of this policy. Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.