St. James Lutheran Church Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 20, 2026

Contact: St. James Lutheran Church (“St. James,” “we,” “us”) • 1380 N Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 • 847-234-4859 • privacy@stjameslutheran.org

1) Scope

This Policy explains how we collect, use, and share information in connection with our ministries—online (website, email, forms, livestreams, text/SMS) and offline (worship, events, classes, pastoral care).

2) What We Collect

You provide: name, household details, address, email, phone, ministry sign-ups, prayer/pastoral requests, event registrations, preferences, and (where applicable) sacramental records.
Giving/donations: We collect what’s needed to process your gift (amount, date, designation). We do not store card/bank details; our processor handles that.
Automatic (online): IP, device/browser, pages viewed, general usage; cookies or similar tech may improve site performance/communications.
From service providers: Updates from platforms we use to manage church life (member database, email, texting, giving, event systems).

3) How We Use Data

Communicate about worship, ministries, events, volunteer opportunities, urgent alerts, and community life.
Process and acknowledge gifts.
Provide pastoral care and respond to prayer requests (handled discretely and on a need-to-know basis).
Operate and improve our website, email, and SMS programs.
Meet legal/safety obligations and protect our community.

4) Who We Share With

We do not sell personal information. We share limited data with:

Vendors/Processors:
- ServantKeeper for member/household records and ministry management. servantkeeper.com
- Mailchimp for email communications and subscription management. mailchimp.com
- Talkroute for voice/SMS and 10DLC-registered messaging. Talkroute Support+1 (NOT IN PLACE YET)
Legal/Safety: If required by law or to protect people, property, or our mission.
With your consent: e.g., church directory listings, bulletin mentions.

All service providers are expected to safeguard data and use it only to provide their services to us.

5) Photos, Video, Livestream

Services and events may be photographed, recorded, or livestreamed. Group images may appear in church communications. Tell us at [privacy@stjames.org] if you prefer not to appear; we’ll make reasonable efforts (e.g., recommended seating). We’ll seek consent for close-ups.

6) Children & Youth

We do not knowingly collect information online from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. Youth texting lists require a parent/guardian to consent and manage enrollment. Parents/guardians may request updates or deletion via [privacy@stjames.org].

7) Cookies & Analytics

We may use cookies and standard analytics. You can disable cookies in your browser (site features may be limited).

8) Security & Retention

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and retain data only as needed for ministry, legal, and operational purposes, then securely delete or anonymize it. Illinois law also requires “reasonable security measures” and contracts with service providers to maintain them. Lewis Brisbois

9) Illinois-Specific Disclosures (PIPA)

If we experience a data breach of personal information of Illinois residents, we will notify affected individuals as expediently as possible and without unreasonable delay and, if 500+ Illinois residents are affected, notify the Illinois Attorney General no later than consumer notice. The AG may publish limited breach details. (815 ILCS 530). Illinois General Assembly+1

10) Biometric Information (BIPA)

We do not collect biometric identifiers (e.g., fingerprints, face/iris scans, voiceprints). If that ever changes, we will first adopt and publish a retention/destruction policy and obtain written consent as required by law (740 ILCS 14). Illinois General Assembly+2King & Spalding+2

11) Your Choices

Email/SMS preferences: Manage via unsubscribe/STOP options or contact us.
Access/Correction/Deletion: Email privacy@stjameslutheran.org; we’ll respond within a reasonable timeframe, subject to legal/operational limits.

12) International Visitors

We operate in the U.S.; by interacting with us, you consent to U.S. processing (privacy laws may differ from your jurisdiction).

13) Changes

We may update this Policy; see the Effective date above for the latest version.

Sharing of Personal Information
St. James Lutheran Church of Lake Forest will not share, sell, or disclose your personal information or mobile opt-in data to third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law. Your information is kept confidential and used solely for the purposes you have agreed to. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with third parties. Text messaging opt-in data is not being shared with third parties.

Opting Out of Text Messages:
You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages from St. James Lutheran Church of Lake Forest at any time. To opt-out, you can reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us.

Consent and Opt-In:
By providing your phone number and opting in to receive text messages, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this policy. We ensure that your consent is obtained explicitly and that you are informed about the types of messages you will receive.