GIVE
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Privacy Notice

Emmanuel Apostolic Church
12 Slipe Road, Kingston, Jamaica
“Touching People with Love”

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

1. Introduction: Our Commitment to your Data

Emmanuel Apostolic Church (“the Church”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of our members, congregants, visitors, employees, volunteers, partners, and donors. This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect personal data in accordance with the Jamaica Data Protection Act, 2020 (DPA).

This notice applies to personal data collected through our worship services, ministries, events, offices, website, social media platforms, mobile or online forms, and any other interactions with the Church and our approved affiliate entities.

2. What Is Personal Data?

Under the Data Protection Act:

  1. Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual. This may include, but is not limited to: – Name, address, email address, and telephone number, Date of birth, Photographs, audio, and video recordings – Donation and contribution records – Employment or volunteer information – Emergency contact details

  2. Sensitive personal data may include information relating to health, religious beliefs, genetic data or biometric data, filiation, or racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, philosophical beliefs, and beliefs of any nature, membership of any trade union, physical or mental health or condition, sex life, the alleged commission of any offense by the data subject or the proceedings for the offense committed by the data subject or other data protected under the Act. As a church, we recognize that religious affiliation is sensitive data and treat it with enhanced care.

3. How We Collect Personal Data

We may collect personal data directly from you when you: – Attend church services, events, or programmes – Complete membership, visitor, volunteer, or employment forms – Make donations or other financial contributions – Communicate with us by phone, email, text message, or social media – Use our website or online platforms.

4. Purposes for Processing Personal Data

We collect and process personal data for lawful and legitimate purposes, including: – Pastoral care, membership administration, and church communication – Managing events, conferences, and ministry activities – Processing donations, offerings, and financial records – Employment and volunteer management – Compliance with legal, regulatory, and accounting obligations – Security, safety, and safeguarding purposes – Maintaining historical and administrative church records

We will not use your personal data for purposes that are incompatible with those listed above without your consent or another lawful basis under the Act.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

In accordance with the Data Protection Act, we process personal data based on one or more of the following lawful grounds: – Your consent – The performance of a contract or agreement – Compliance with a legal obligation – Legitimate interests of the Church, provided such interests do not override your rights and freedoms

6. Sharing and Disclosure of Personal Data

We do not sell personal data. We may share personal data only where necessary and appropriate, including with: – Authorized church leaders, staff, and volunteers – Service providers who support church operations (e.g. accounting, IT, event management), under confidentiality obligations – Regulatory or law enforcement authorities where required by law

All third parties are required to respect the confidentiality and security of personal data.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, and pastoral requirements. When personal data is no longer required, it is securely deleted, destroyed, or anonymized. 

The data subject has full autonomy to request for their data to removed, destroyed or deleted from all data sources at the point of discontinuation or severance from the church. 

8. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. Access to personal data is restricted to persons who require it for authorized church purposes.

9. Consent Management: Your Choice

Emmanuel Apostolic Church respects your right to control how your personal data is used. Where we rely on consent as the lawful basis for processing personal data, such consent will be:

  • Freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous

  • Obtained through clear written, electronic, or verbal agreement

  • Documented and securely stored where required

9.1 How Consent Is Obtained

We may request your consent when you:

  • Complete membership, visitor, volunteer, or employment forms

  • Register for church events, programmes, or conferences

  • Subscribe to church communications (e.g. email, WhatsApp, SMS)

  • Agree to photography, audio, or video recording

  • Provide sensitive personal data, including data relating to religious affiliation or health

9.2 Withdrawal of Consent

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before such withdrawal.

Requests to withdraw consent may be made by contacting the Church using the details provided in this Privacy Notice. Upon withdrawal, we will stop processing the relevant personal data unless another lawful basis applies.

9.3 Managing Communication Preferences

You may choose how you receive communications from the Church and may opt out of non-essential communications at any time by:

  • Using unsubscribe options where provided

  • Contacting the Church office directly

9.4 Record Keeping

The Church maintains appropriate records of consent in accordance with the Jamaica Data Protection Act and will review consent periodically to ensure it remains valid and up to date.

10. Direct Marketing and Promotions

The Church may use personal data to send communications relating to church activities, services, events, programmes, appeals, and other ministry-related information that may be of interest to you.

10.1 Lawful Basis for Direct Marketing

Direct marketing communications will be sent only where:

  • You have provided your consent; or

  • The communication is permitted under the Jamaica Data Protection Act as part of the Church’s legitimate interests, and your rights and expectations are not overridden.

We do not engage in commercial marketing or sell personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

10.2 Types of Direct Marketing

Direct marketing may include:

  • Email newsletters and announcements

  • WhatsApp or SMS messages

  • Telephone calls

  • Printed materials or notices

10.3 Your Right to Object

You have the right at any time to object to the use of your personal data for direct marketing purposes. Where you object, we will cease processing your personal data for such purposes without undue delay.

10.4 Opt-Out Options

You may opt out of direct marketing communications at any time by:

  • Using the unsubscribe or opt-out options provided in our communications

  • Contacting the Church Administrator or church office directly

11. Your Rights Under the Data Protection Act

Under the Jamaica Data Protection Act, you have the right to: – 

  1. Be informed about how your personal data is used.

  2.  Access your personal data. 

  3. Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data. 

  4. Request erasure of your personal data, where applicable. 

  5. Object to or restrict certain processing activities. 

  6. Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.

  7. Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC)

12. Use of Photography and Media

The Church may take photographs, audio, or video recordings during services and events for worship, promotional, historical, and communication purposes. Where required, consent will be obtained. If you have concerns regarding the use of your image or recordings, please contact us.

13. Children’s Personal Data

We take special care when processing personal data relating to children. Consent from a parent or legal guardian will be obtained where required, and such data will be handled with heightened confidentiality and security.

14. Changes to This Privacy Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes in the law or our practices. Updated versions will be made available through church offices or official communication channels.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Notice or how your personal data is handled, please contact:

The Church Administration/Management
Emmanuel Apostolic Church
12 Slipe Road, Kingston, Jamaica

This Privacy Notice is issued in compliance with the Jamaica Data Protection Act, 2020.