Privacy Policy

May 2, 2025

Introduction

This privacy policy explains the privacy practices of the North Carolina Synod (“NC Synod”) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (“ELCA”) and how the NC Synod protects your information.

This policy describes the types of information we may collect from you.

This policy applies to the information we collect:

1. On this Website (www.nclutheran.org) ;
2. Via e-mail, text, and other electronic communications.

By accessing or using this Website, or by communicating with NC Synod staff via text or telephone, you agree to this privacy policy. Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, you should not use our Website. This policy may change from time to time. Your continued use of this Website after we make changes is deemed to be acceptance of those changes, so please check the policy periodically for updates.

Information We Collect About You and How We Collect It.

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Website, and from those with whom we communicate via Jotform, email, phone, and SMS messaging, including information:

1. by which you may be personally identified, such as name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, screen name, or other identifier, or ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE WEBSITE COLLECTS THAT IS DEFINED AS PERSONAL OR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION UNDER AN APPLICABLE LAW ("personal information"); and
2. about your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our Website, and usage details.

We collect this information:

1. Directly from you when you provide it to us; and
2. Automatically, as you navigate through the site. Information collected automatically may include usage details, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies.

Information You Provide To Us

The information we collect on or through our Website, using Jotform, email, phone, or SMS messaging, may include the following:

1. Information that you provide. This includes information provided when purchasing materials, making donations, signing up for events, or asking to receive further information.
2. Records and copies of your correspondence (including e-mail addresses) if you contact us.
3. Details of transactions you carry out through our Website and of fulfilling your orders or completing donations. You may be required to provide financial information before placing an order or donating through our Website.
4. Your search queries on the Website.

How We Use Your Information

We may use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any personal information:

1. To present our Website and its contents to you;
2. To provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us;
3. To allow you to register for events and programs;
4. To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it;
5. To enable you to make donations and for us to acknowledge them;
6. To allow you to participate in interactive features on our Website; and
7. For any other purpose with your consent.

Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose aggregated information about our users and information that does not identify any individual without restriction.

We may disclose personal information that we collect or you provide as described in this privacy policy:

1. To our affiliated Lutheran organizations, institutions, and agencies;
2. To contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our mission, and who are bound by contractual obligations to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them;
3. With your consent.

We may also disclose your personal information:

1. To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including responding to any government or regulatory request.
2. If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of the NC Synod, its employees, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection and credit risk reduction.

Your SMS content and phone numbers are not shared with any third parties/affiliates for marketing purposes.

If you consent to receive SMS from the NC Synod, you agree to receive SMS texts from us. Reply STOP to opt out; Reply HELP for support; Message & data rates may apply; Messaging frequency may vary. We may contact you using SMS tools from Ring Central rather than by staff members’ personal cell phones.