Privacy policy.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God - Bethel Parish Inc. ABN 76 682 775 141 (the Church) has adopted this Privacy Policy as we appreciate that privacy is very important. This privacy policy reflects our respect to uphold your rights to privacy protection under the National Privacy Principles contained in the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (as amended).

What is personal information?

When we talk about personal information, we mean information or an opinion about an individual where you can tell or reasonably work out who the information or opinion is about.

The information we collect:

The church will collect personal details to administer your relationship with the Church, to provide any personal ministry, and to provide you with information on Church events and ministries. We only collect information where it is necessary to do so in order to provide a service to you or where we are required by law to do so. Without your personal details we may not be able to interact with you or provide ministry opportunities. The sort of general information we may collect includes:

  • Name and Address

  • Phone numbers and email addresses so we can communicate with you

  • Family member details

  • Details of donations where receipts for taxation purposes are required

  • Communications you have with us (e.g. letters, prayer requests)

  • Your involvement in ministries so we can provide a meaningful ministry relationship

  • Records of visits, phone calls and pastoral matters

  • Computer IP address

  • Information you provide in surveys, registration forms, conversations, emails and online

You can generally visit our website without revealing who you are or other personal information. Where reasonably possible, personal information is only collected when you knowingly provide it. For example, we may need to collect such information to provide you with information or a service you have requested.

Our purpose for collecting personal information should be clear when we collect it. If you are uncertain, please contact us at the address below.

We may use technology to keep track of which sections of our website you visit for internal purposes, including to help us improve our website and other services.

The information collected may include some sensitive information (as defined by the Privacy Act), such as health information or information about your beliefs, relevant to the services or assistance you have requested from the Church. In the interests of security and safety, and the comfort of the Church community, the Church also operates video cameras within and around some Church premises. 

Information use and disclosure

The Church will use the personal information we collect for the purpose disclosed at the time of collection, or otherwise as set out in this Privacy Policy. We will not use your personal information for any other purpose without first seeking your consent, unless authorised or required by law. We generally only use or disclose your personal information to:

  • To establish and maintain your involvement with the Church

  • To provide the products or services you have requested from the Church;

  • To answer your enquiry;

  • To register you for events, conferences or promotions;

  • To assist us to make the Church's sites, services and products more valuable to our community;

  • For direct promotion of products or services and to keep you informed of new developments we believe may be of interest to you. If we contact you in this way without obtaining your prior consent, we will provide you with the opportunity to decline any further promotional communications;

  • To third parties where we have retained those third parties to assist us to operate the Church and provide the products or services you have requested, such as religious education instructors, catering and event coordinators, promotions companies, IT consultants(such as website developers and hosts), and our professional advisers such as consultants, lawyers and accountants. In some circumstances we may need to disclose sensitive information about you to third parties as part of the services you have requested; and

  • Meet any legal requirements.

 Access to your information

The Church will endeavour to keep personal information up to date and accurate. We will also endeavour to protect your personal information from misuse, loss or unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. If you want a copy of this information please write to us and include the pastors/counsellors you deal with. You can request us to modify your personal data if you believe it is not accurate, complete or up to date. In certain circumstances, we may refuse to give access to your personal information or amend it. Usually we will explain why and, in the case of an amendment, make a note that you have disputed the accuracy or completeness of particular information.

Security and integrity

Any information posted on bulletin boards or communicated in chat areas becomes public information. While we strive to protect and respect your privacy, we cannot guarantee the security of any information you disclose in a chat room or bulletin board and you take full responsibility for the disclosure of such material.

We will take reasonable steps to keep your personal information secure, accurate, complete and up to date. If we no longer require your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it. We do not take responsibility for the security of information that is outside our control such as when it is sent by post, courier, facsimile or over the Internet.