Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 19, 2026
Hope Lutheran Church (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information of our members, attendees, volunteers, donors, and visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information across all Hope Lutheran Church ministries, operations, and communication channels, including our website, mobile application, SMS/text messaging program, and in-person and online ministry activities.
We recommend that you read this Privacy Policy in full so you are fully informed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the details provided in the “How to Contact Us” section below.
1. About Hope Lutheran Church
Hope Lutheran Church is a nonprofit Christian church serving the Fargo, North Dakota area, headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota.
2. Purpose and Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to members, attendees, volunteers, donors, and visitors, both online and offline. It governs personal information collected through church activities, communications, digital platforms, and administrative operations, including our website, mobile application, and SMS/text messaging services.
Where a specific communication channel requires additional consent or terms, the channel-specific sections below (Sections 8 and 9) apply in addition to the general provisions of this policy. In the event of a conflict, the channel-specific provisions govern for that channel.
3. Personal Information We Collect
The personal information we collect about you depends on how you interact with us. This may include:
- Contact details, such as your first and last name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
- Household and demographic information
- Participation and involvement data, such as attendance, ministry involvement, and volunteer activity
- Giving and transaction records
- Communication preferences and consent records (including SMS opt-in/opt-out status)
- Messaging history
- Website and mobile application usage data, such as device or browser information and diagnostic data
In some countries, including countries in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), certain automatically collected information (such as device or browser data) may be considered personal information under applicable data protection laws.
4. How We Collect Personal Information
We may collect information directly from you, for example, when you complete a form, register for an event, give online, or contact us. We also collect information automatically, such as when you interact with our website or mobile application, and through your participation in church activities. In some cases, we receive information through trusted third-party service providers acting on our behalf.
5. How We Use Personal Information
We use personal information to:
- Deliver and improve our ministry services, and connect with you in support of the mission of Hope Lutheran Church
- Support pastoral care, event coordination, and volunteer management
- Send communications about Hope Lutheran Church, including community news, events, and ministry updates we think may be of interest to you
- Administer church operations and financial stewardship, including processing donations and giving records
- Comply with legal obligations, including cooperating with law enforcement agencies, courts, and government authorities as required by applicable law
- Work with third-party service providers and vendors who process personal information on our behalf (for example, Pushpay)
6. Third-Party Service Providers
Hope Lutheran Church uses trusted third-party service providers to support our ministry, including church management systems, online giving platforms, email and SMS communication tools, and mobile application platforms (for example, Pushpay). These providers process personal information on behalf of the church and are selected based on privacy and security considerations.
7. Children and Minors
Personal information relating to children and minors is handled with additional care and is collected only as necessary for ministry participation, safety, and communication with parents or guardians.
8. Mobile Application
Our mobile application (the “App”) is powered by Pushpay. To understand Pushpay’s practices and how you can exercise your privacy rights with Pushpay, visit Pushpay’s Privacy Policy at pushpay.com/legal-center/privacy.
The App may collect information automatically from your device when you use it, such as information about the device or browser you are using, or diagnostic data. The App may also collect information about how your device has interacted with the App, including pages accessed and links clicked. Some of this information may be collected using cookies and similar tracking technologies.
To learn more, visit Pushpay’s Cookie Notice at pushpay.com/legal-center/cookie-notice.
Further information regarding the data security measures of our App service provider can be found at pushpay.com/security.
9. SMS / Text Messaging
When you opt in to receive SMS messages through a church-managed messaging service, we collect your phone number, your consent to send SMS messages, your email address, your basic contact information, and your messaging history.
We use this information to send you the SMS messages you have opted to receive, and to provide ministry announcements, event-related updates, and direct pastoral or staff communication relevant to your relationship with Hope Lutheran Church.
You can opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message we send you. You can contact us for additional information about the opt-out process. Direct messaging between members and pastors or church staff is conducted through church-managed systems designed to protect personal contact information.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not share your personal information, phone number, or SMS consent opt-in data with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
10. Data Sharing and Disclosure
Hope Lutheran Church does not sell personal information, and we do not share personal information for marketing or commercial purposes. We may disclose personal information to our affiliated companies; to third-party service providers, business advisors, or consultants who provide services to us; in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, restructuring, financing transaction, or sale of assets; as required by law or administrative order; or to assert or defend against legal claims.
11. Data Security
We use appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the personal information we collect, and we limit access to personal information based on role and responsibility. Please be advised, however, that while we deploy these security measures and strive to protect your personal data, the use of the internet is not 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the security or integrity of any personal data transmitted or disclosed to us online.
12. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the ministry, legal, and operational purposes described in this Privacy Policy, after which it is securely disposed of. In some cases, we may retain information for a specified period of time as required by applicable laws, such as tax or accounting requirements.
13. Your Choices and Rights
You may update your information, manage your communication preferences, and opt out of certain communications at any time. If you wish to delete data we hold about you, or have other privacy-related questions or requests, please contact us using the details below.
14. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes that have a substantive and adverse impact on your privacy, we will provide notice through appropriate church channels prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this policy for the latest information about our privacy practices.
15. How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or wish to submit a privacy rights request, please contact us at:
Hope Lutheran Church
Email: welcome@fargohope.org
Phone: (701) 235-6629