Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 8, 2026

Hamilton Methodist Church ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect the personal information you give us through our website, member portal, and SMS (text-message) program.

1. Information We Collect

• Contact information you provide (name, email address, phone number, mailing address).
• Account information if you create a portal account (sign-in email, profile details, household, ministry interests).
• Giving and registration records when you donate or register for an event or program.
• Pastoral-care requests you submit through our prayer or assistance forms.
• SMS opt-in records — the date, time, and form on which you consented to receive text messages, plus the exact disclosure text shown to you at that time.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To send you the messages, ministry updates, or pastoral follow-up you have requested.
• To process donations, event registrations, and check-ins.
• To operate, secure, and improve the church website and portal.
• To respond to inquiries and provide pastoral care.
• To meet legal, accounting, or denominational reporting obligations.

3. SMS Program — Phone Numbers and Text Messaging

When you provide your phone number and opt in, we may send you recurring text messages including event reminders, service updates, prayer-request notifications, program updates, and one-time passcodes. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message; we will send a single confirmation reply. For help, reply HELP or contact us at (205) 921-3243 or church.office@hamiltonmethodistchurchAL.org.

Mobile opt-in data and consent are never shared with any third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We do not sell, rent, or lease phone numbers or SMS opt-in data to anyone, and your phone number will not be transferred to any third party for their own marketing.

4. How We Share Information

We share personal information only with service providers that help us operate the church (for example, our email and SMS delivery providers, our payment processor, and our hosting provider). These providers are contractually bound to use your information only to provide services to us. We may also disclose information when required by law.

We will never sell your personal information.

5. Member Directory

Signed-in members and staff can view profile information you choose to publish in the directory. You control what is shown (phone, email, mailing address, social links) from your portal profile.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information while you have an active relationship with the church and as long as needed for the purposes described above, including legal and accounting record-keeping. SMS opt-in and opt-out records are retained for at least four (4) years to comply with mobile-carrier and regulatory requirements. You may request deletion of your account at any time from your portal settings.

7. Security

We use industry-standard safeguards (encryption in transit, role-based access controls, audit logs) to protect your information. No system is perfectly secure; please use a strong, unique password for your portal account.

8. Children

The portal is intended for adults. Children's check-in information is provided by a parent or guardian and is used only for the safe operation of children's ministry programs.

9. Your Choices

• Update your contact info or directory privacy from your portal profile.
• Manage email and text-message preferences from your portal "Communication Preferences" page.
• Reply STOP to any text to unsubscribe from SMS.
• Click "Unsubscribe" in any email to stop newsletters.
• Email church.office@hamiltonmethodistchurchAL.org to access, correct, or delete your information.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date.

11. Contact