1. Introduction
Welcome to FirstGentileChurch.com, the digital home of The First Gentile Church. We are a faith-based community rooted in the teachings of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit. Our mission is to offer a welcoming space for sincere seekers to explore and grow in spiritual understanding.
We are based in Auburn, New York, and all official correspondence, including privacy-related inquiries and legal service requests, is managed from this location.
This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect the information you share with us. By using our site and participating in our community, you agree to the practices described in this policy. We encourage you to read it carefully, as it reflects our ongoing commitment to spiritual integrity, transparency, and the protection of our members and visitors.
2. Data Collected
Data Storage Location
The First Gentile Church is based in Auburn, New York, and our website is hosted on secure servers located in the United States. We work with reputable third-party providers to ensure that any personal data you submit is stored responsibly and protected in accordance with industry-standard security practices.
We do not knowingly store sensitive personal data beyond what is necessary for meaningful community participation.
Registration Data
If you choose to register on our website, we may collect your name, email address, and any additional information you voluntarily add to your user profile. You may view, update, or delete your personal information at any time (excluding your chosen username). Site administrators also have access to this information to help manage the site and foster a respectful environment.
Commitment Tokens & Contributions
If you engage with our community through a $3 commitment token or other contributions, we may collect transaction-related information such as your name, email, and contribution amount. Financial data is processed securely through our third-party payment provider, and we do not store your full payment information on our servers.
This information is used solely for acknowledgment, record-keeping, and maintaining transparent financial stewardship within the church.
Contact & Communication Forms
Information submitted through contact forms (such as prayer requests, feedback, or questions) is sent securely to our internal church email, managed in Auburn, New York. These submissions are used strictly for ministry communication and are never sold, shared, or used for marketing purposes.
Comments
When you leave a comment on our site, we collect the information you provide in the comment form, along with your IP address and browser type. This helps us detect spam and ensure the safety and integrity of community discussions.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to gather anonymous data about how visitors engage with the site. This includes:
Page visits
Time spent on pages
Browser and device types
General geographic region (not your address or name)
No personal identity or contact information is collected through Google Analytics.
If you wish to opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics, you may install the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.
Why We Collect Data
We collect and use data only as needed to:
Identify and verify participants on our site
Provide meaningful spiritual content and church updates
Foster a safe and welcoming online environment
Maintain the security and performance of our website
Ensure fair participation and prevent abuse
All data is used in a manner consistent with our mission as a church and a spiritual refuge for all who seek.
3. Embedded Content
To enrich our spiritual teachings and foster connection, some pages on FirstGentileChurch.com include embedded content from third-party platforms—such as videos, social media feeds, and other media. These embedded elements behave just as if you were visiting the third-party website directly.
While we aim to use these tools responsibly, we do not control how these external platforms handle data. Interacting with embedded content may allow those platforms to collect data about you, use cookies, or monitor your interaction, especially if you are logged into their services.
Below are some of the services we may use:
YouTube
We occasionally embed YouTube videos to enhance our teachings or share church messages. YouTube may collect usage data, embed cookies, or track engagement if you interact with their content. Your IP address is not shared with YouTube until you play the video.
📄 View YouTube’s Privacy Policy
Our website may feature the Facebook page plugin to share updates or community activity. Facebook has its own tracking tools and privacy policies. No data is transferred to Facebook unless you interact with the embedded content.
📄 View Facebook’s Privacy Policy
Twitter (X)
We may display our church’s recent posts from Twitter (X) to share updates or reflections. Like the other services, Twitter only collects data if you engage with the embedded timeline.
📄 View Twitter’s Privacy Policy
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these services before interacting with embedded media. We strive to maintain a spiritually safe and technologically respectful environment for all who visit our site.
4. Cookies
Like many websites, FirstGentileChurch.com uses cookies—small text files stored on your device—to improve your experience and ensure that our site functions smoothly for all visitors.
Cookies help us:
Remember your preferences (e.g., dark mode or text size)
Maintain secure sessions for logged-in users
Collect anonymous insights into how people use the site (via Google Analytics)
Protect the site from spam and abuse
These cookies do not give us access to your computer or any personal information beyond what you voluntarily provide.
Managing Cookies
If you’d prefer not to allow cookies, you can disable them through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may impact the functionality of the site, especially for logged-in members, but it will not affect your access to public content.
We recommend consulting your browser’s help section for instructions on managing cookie settings.
Cookies We Use
Necessary Cookies (for all site visitors)
cfduid: Used by Cloudflare to apply security settings to users sharing the same IP address.
📄 Cloudflare Privacy PolicyPHPSESSID: Helps identify your unique session on the site to maintain consistency as you browse.
Additional Cookies (for registered/logged-in members)
wp-auth: Used by WordPress to verify login credentialswordpress_logged_in_{hash}: Tracks user authentication for logged-in visitorswordpress_test_cookie: Confirms that cookies are enabled in your browserwp-settings-[UID]andwp-settings-time-[UID]: Customize your view of the site interface based on your user ID
We use these cookies solely to support spiritual engagement, user comfort, and platform security. No advertising cookies or commercial tracking tools are used on this site.
5. Who Has Access to Your Data
At FirstGentileChurch.com, we only access your personal information when it is necessary to maintain the integrity, safety, or functionality of the site, or to respond to your direct requests.
If You Are Not Registered
If you are simply visiting the site without registering or submitting a form, we do not retain any personally identifiable information about you—aside from anonymized usage data (such as general traffic analytics).
If You Are a Registered Member
If you register an account or submit information through our forms, your data may be accessible to:
Church site administrators – who maintain the technical operation and safety of the site
Authorized community caretakers – who may review information solely for the purpose of communication, support, or engagement within the spiritual community
We do not share, sell, or expose your data to outside parties. Access is limited, purpose-driven, and grounded in our responsibility to foster a healthy and respectful space for spiritual growth.
6. Third-Party Access to Your Data
We do not share, sell, or disclose your personal information to third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.
However, like many websites, we rely on a small number of trusted third-party service providers to help us operate the site, process contributions, and communicate with our members. These partners are selected carefully and are granted limited access to your data only as necessary to carry out specific functions on our behalf.
Examples of Third-Party Access May Include:
Payment processors – to securely handle your $3 commitment token or donation transactions
Email communication platforms – to send updates, confirmations, or responses to your contact form submissions
Website analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) – to help us understand how the site is being used (without personal identifiers)
All third-party services we use are expected to uphold high standards of data security and confidentiality. They may process basic data such as your email, name, or IP address only for the intended and agreed-upon function—never for their own independent purposes.
If we ever change or add providers, we will update this policy to reflect those changes and continue to prioritize your trust, privacy, and spiritual safety.
7. How Long We Retain Your Data
We retain personal information only for as long as it is necessary to serve the purpose for which it was collected—whether that is for community participation, communication, or stewardship.
Comments and Communication
When you leave a comment or submit a form (such as a prayer request or question), we may retain the metadata associated with it indefinitely. This helps us recognize returning participants and maintain continuity in community discussions. If you wish to have your comment or form data removed, you may contact us directly, and we will honor your request unless we are legally required to retain it.
Registered User Data
If you create an account on FirstGentileChurch.com, we will store the information you provide in your user profile for as long as your account remains active. You can view, update, or delete most of your personal information at any time (except for your chosen username). Church site administrators may also access this information to assist with user requests or maintain community safety.
We do not store any data beyond what is reasonably needed for community function, safety, and recordkeeping. You remain in control of your information, and we are here to help facilitate any updates or removal requests in good faith.
8. Security Measures
At The First Gentile Church, we take your trust seriously and are committed to protecting your information with integrity and care.
Our website uses SSL/HTTPS encryption throughout, ensuring that any data you share with us—whether through registration, donations, or messages—is securely transmitted and safeguarded from unauthorized access.
Our Security Practices Include:
Encryption of all communication between your browser and our website
Secure data handling by trusted third-party services for transactions and emails
Limited internal access to personal information, only by authorized administrators
In the unlikely event of a data breach, our administrators will:
Act quickly to secure the system and assess the extent of the breach
Notify any affected individuals
Reset account credentials or take other protective steps as necessary
While no digital system is entirely immune to threats, we remain vigilant and proactive to ensure your data is handled with the same care and responsibility we bring to all aspects of our ministry.
9. Your Data Rights
We believe in your right to know how your information is used and to remain in control of it. As a participant in The First Gentile Church community, you are welcome to reach out at any time regarding your personal data.
General Rights
If you have registered on our website or have submitted comments or forms, you may:
Request a copy of the personal data we currently retain about you
Request corrections to inaccurate or outdated information
Request deletion of your data, with the understanding that this may limit your ability to participate further (e.g., account deletion will remove your access to member-only content)
Please note that we may retain certain information if required for legal, administrative, or security purposes—for example, transaction records or safeguarding reports.
For EU Residents (GDPR Rights)
We welcome members and visitors from around the world, including the European Union. If you are an EU resident, you are entitled under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to:
Access your personal data
Request rectification or erasure
Restrict or object to data processing
File a complaint with a supervisory authority in your country if you believe your rights have been violated
Our goal is to treat all community members with equal respect, transparency, and security—regardless of where they live.
To make a request or ask questions about your data, please contact us at:
📧 privacy@firstgentilechurch.com
We are committed to responding in a timely, thoughtful, and respectful manner.
10. Third-Party Websites
At times, FirstGentileChurch.com may include links to other websites or resources for the purpose of education, inspiration, or community engagement (e.g., videos, articles, or social media pages). These third-party sites operate independently from us and are governed by their own privacy policies and terms of service.
We do not monitor or guarantee the content, data practices, or security standards of external sites. If you choose to follow a link or engage with third-party content, you do so at your discretion.
Social Media and Sharing Links
Our site may also contain icons or buttons that link to platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), or YouTube. These links do not transmit any data to the third-party service unless you actively click on them.
Your Responsibility
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit. This Privacy Policy applies only to The First Gentile Church and the data collected through firstgentilechurch.com.
We are not responsible for how external websites collect, use, or share your information.
11. Release of Your Data for Legal Purposes
As a church, The First Gentile Church values transparency, accountability, and ethical stewardship of all information entrusted to us. While we prioritize the privacy and spiritual safety of our community, there may be rare occasions where disclosure of information is legally required.
We may release your personal data if we believe, in good faith, that doing so is necessary to:
Comply with a valid legal obligation (such as a court order, subpoena, or government request)
Respond to a lawful investigation involving civil, criminal, or administrative matters
Protect the rights, safety, or well-being of individuals or the public
Prevent or address fraud, abuse, or security threats related to our site or community
Your Rights in These Situations
If we are legally permitted, we may choose to notify you before complying with such a request—giving you the opportunity to respond or seek legal counsel. However, we are not obligated to do so in all circumstances.
All disclosures will be made in accordance with the laws of the United States and, when applicable, the laws of the country in which the affected person resides.
We do not release information unless it is deemed necessary under legal obligation or to preserve the integrity and safety of our mission and members.
