How Ekklesia manages data and privacy

Ekklesia is committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of users, supporters, associates, contributors, partners, donors and visitors to our website and social media.

We want you to know what data we hold and why, how we use it, the limited conditions we might disclose it to others, how we keep it secure and how we will always make sure that you are in control of your personal information.

This privacy and data protection policy is a key part of our compliance pathway in relation to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on 25th May 2018. We will also be relaying this information on social media and through our mailings. 

1. Website and Social Media Data

 Like others, our website uses ‘cookies’. These are small text files which are stored on your computer. They are designed to hold a modest amount of data specific to a particular client and website, and can be accessed either by the web server or the client computer. This allows the server to deliver a page tailored to a particular user, or the page itself can contain some script which is aware of the data in the cookie and so is able to carry information from one visit to the website (or related site) to the next.

Cookies can only be used to store information that the user has volunteered or that the web server already has. We do not allow third parties discreet access to personal data through our website, and our social media accounts (on Twitter and Facebook) only hold information that you choose to release in using them. We do not ‘farm’ such data, nor do we allow third parties discreet access to these sites.

Our web and social media sites may contain links to third-party owned and/or operated websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such third-party websites. These third-party websites have separate privacy practices; we have no responsibility or liability relating to such practices; and such practices govern your use of these websites. If this site includes any mapping features, those mapping features are powered by Google Inc. and governed by Google's privacy policy: http://www.google.com/privacy.html, as amended from time to time.

2. Analytics

When someone visits one of our sites we may use a third party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard Internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way that does not identify anyone personally. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website.

3. Media and Other Contacts

As part of our legitimate interest under the GDPR we maintain secure lists of media, policy, political, church and related contacts for the purposes of conveying media releases and information of professional interest. We will always provide an opportunity for them to stop receiving information. We occasionally mail press information on behalf of active and trusted partner organisations on collaborative ventures. They have no access to personal data when this happens.

4. Mailing Lists

As part of the registration process for conferences and events, we sometimes collect a limited amount of personal information. We use that information to tell you about Ekklesia services (such as related books, events or information); to contact you if we need to obtain or provide additional information; to send reminders where appropriate; to check our records are correct; to check that you are satisfied; or to assist in emergency circumstances. We will keep this information for a limited period of time for these purposes only. We do not rent or trade email lists with other organisations and businesses. Details held for mailing purposes are on an ‘opt in’ basis and are held only for the legitimate interests of business as Ekklesia in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

We sometimes use service providers, such as ConstantContact and EventBrite, to deliver newsletters and event information. We may gather statistics around email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our e-newsletters. For more information, please see the privacy notices of these organisations. You can unsubscribe to general mailings at any time of the day or night by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails or by emailing our Data Protection Officer at office@ekklesia.co.uk.

5. Third Parties

We may share anonymised personal information with other organisations who can use this to analyse our supporter development programmes, ticket sales and self-generated funding. If we do this we will update this policy to indicate how, why and under what further restrictions.

6. Access to Information

If you need to view, amend, or delete any personal information that we hold about you, please email your request to , marked for the attention of the Data Protection Officer.

7. Changes to this Privacy Notice and our Data Protection Policy

We welcome comments, questions, feedback or suggestions on our Data Protection and Privacy policies. This Privacy Notice will be updated regularly as necessary and reviewed annually. We will also use it to review other relevant policies.

Ekklesia will continue to take all reasonable steps to comply with GDPR and all other applicable legislation in this area. We do this not simply as a matter of legal requirement but to demonstrate our willing, value-based commitment to all involved with our work and the communities and partners we engage with.

Ekklesia: May 2018