Northeast Community Church (“NECC,” “the Church,” “we,” “us” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit necclife.org (the “Website”) or interact with us, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights you have.
By using the Website or submitting information to us, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not submit personal information through the Website.
1. Who we are
The data controller responsible for your information is:
Northeast Community Church
185 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851, United States
Phone: 203.838.4708
Email: [email protected]
NECC is a non-profit religious organization. We do not sell products, and we have no commercial interest in your personal data.
2. Information we collect
2.1 Information you give us
You may choose to provide personal information when you complete a form on the Website, email or call us, or interact with us in person. Depending on the form, this may include:
| Form / interaction | Information collected |
|---|---|
| Contact form | First and last name, email, optional phone number, topic, message, preferred contact method |
| Plan a Visit form | Name, email, optional phone, intended visit date, party size, children’s age groups, accessibility notes |
| LifeGroups, KidsLife and Outreach forms | Name, email, optional phone, preferred days or interests, message |
| Service request forms (pastoral care, weddings, baptism, memorial, community care) | Name, email, optional phone, details you choose to share about your request |
| Prayer request form | First name, optional email, request category, the content of your request, confidentiality preference |
| Newsletter sign-up | Email address |
| In-person activities (e.g., KidsLife check-in) | Parent/guardian name and phone, child’s name, age/grade, allergies or medical notes you provide |
2.2 Sensitive information
Because we are a church, some information you share — such as prayer requests, pastoral-care details, or the fact that you attend a religious organization — may reveal religious beliefs, health information or other sensitive matters. We treat this information with particular care: it is shared only with the pastors or team members who need it to respond, it is never published without your explicit permission, and you may ask us to delete it at any time.
2.3 Information collected automatically
We have intentionally designed this Website to collect as little as possible:
- No analytics or advertising trackers. We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Hotjar, tag managers, advertising cookies or similar tracking technologies.
- Server logs. Like virtually all websites, our hosting provider may automatically record basic technical data such as IP address, browser type, pages requested and the date and time of a request. These logs are used only for security, troubleshooting and preventing abuse, and are retained for a limited period.
- Browser storage. The Website uses a few small items of local or session storage in your browser to remember preferences (such as dismissing the cookie notice or tracking your progress in a reading plan). This data stays on your device and is not sent to us. See our Cookie Policy for full details.
2.4 Information from third parties
We do not buy or rent personal information. If you interact with us on social media (for example, Facebook or Instagram), those platforms may share limited information with us according to your settings and their own policies.
3. How we use your information
We use personal information only for the purposes for which it was provided or that are compatible with our ministry, including to:
- Respond to your questions, requests and messages;
- Welcome you when you visit and prepare for your family’s needs;
- Connect you with LifeGroups, ministries, volunteer roles or services you request;
- Pray for you and provide pastoral care;
- Provide community care and, with your consent, referrals to partner organizations;
- Send our weekly email update if you subscribe;
- Keep children safe during church programs;
- Issue giving statements for tax purposes, if you give;
- Maintain the security and proper functioning of the Website; and
- Comply with legal obligations, including mandated reporting laws.
We will never use your information for unrelated commercial marketing.
4. Legal bases for processing
Where data-protection laws such as the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation apply to you, we rely on the following legal bases: your consent (for example, when you tick the consent box on a form or subscribe to emails); our legitimate interests as a religious non-profit in caring for our community and operating our Website securely; performance of a request you have made; and legal obligation. For sensitive information revealing religious beliefs, processing is carried out by a not-for-profit body with a religious aim in the course of its legitimate activities and/or with your explicit consent.
5. How we share information
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information. We share information only in these limited circumstances:
- Within the Church: with pastors, staff and trained volunteer leaders who need it to respond to you (for example, a LifeGroup leader receiving your name and email so they can invite you).
- Service providers: with trusted vendors who help us operate — such as website hosting, email delivery, child check-in or giving platforms — under obligations to protect your data and use it only on our behalf.
- Partner organizations: only with your permission, for example when you ask for a community-care referral.
- Legal and safety reasons: when required by law, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect someone’s safety, including reports of suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult.
6. How long we keep information
| Type of information | Typical retention |
|---|---|
| General contact and visit requests | Up to 24 months after our last interaction, unless you become part of our church community |
| Prayer requests | Up to 6 months, then deleted or anonymized |
| Pastoral-care notes | Kept confidentially only as long as needed for care, generally no more than 3 years |
| Newsletter subscriptions | Until you unsubscribe |
| Giving records | As required for tax and accounting purposes (generally 7 years) |
| Child-safety and incident records | As required by law and insurance obligations |
| Server logs | Short periods determined by our hosting provider, typically 30–90 days |
7. How we protect information
We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), limited access on a need-to-know basis, secure storage of paper records, and training for staff and volunteers who handle personal information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send highly sensitive information (such as financial account numbers) through website forms or email. We will never ask for bank or card details by email, text or social media.
8. Your choices and rights
Regardless of where you live, we will honor reasonable requests to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you;
- Correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;
- Delete your information, subject to legal record-keeping obligations;
- Withdraw consent at any time, including unsubscribing from emails via the link in every message;
- Object to or restrict certain uses of your information; and
- Receive a copy of information you provided in a portable format.
To make a request, email [email protected] or write to us at the address above. We may need to verify your identity before responding, and we aim to respond within 30 days. You will not be treated differently for exercising your rights. If you are located in the EU or UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.
9. Children’s privacy
The Website is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. Information about children collected for KidsLife or StudentLife is provided by a parent or guardian and is used solely for the child’s safety and care. If you believe a child has submitted information to us online, please contact us and we will delete it. See also our Child Safety Policy.
10. Third-party websites and services
The Website contains links to third-party sites and services such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps and social-sharing tools. When you click these links you leave our Website, and the third party’s own privacy policy and cookies apply. We are not responsible for their practices, and we encourage you to review their policies. We do not embed third-party trackers or social widgets on our pages; these services receive information only if you choose to click through.
11. International visitors
NECC is based in the United States, and information you submit is processed and stored in the United States, where data-protection laws may differ from those in your country. By submitting information, you understand that it will be processed in the U.S. in accordance with this policy.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or the law. The “Last updated” date at the top shows when it was last revised. Significant changes will be highlighted on the Website. Your continued use of the Website after an update means you accept the revised policy.
13. Contact us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at [email protected], call 203.838.4708, or write to Northeast Community Church, 185 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851.