Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 30, 2026

Last Updated: July 30, 2026

1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Compass Church Monterey County ("Compass Church," "we," "our," or "us"). We are a multi-campus Christian church serving the Monterey County community from our locations in Salinas, California — including our Padre Drive campus and additional campus locations throughout the region.

We are committed to honoring the trust you place in us when you share your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your information when you:

  - Visit our website at www.compasschurchmc.org

  - Submit a form (Plan a Visit, event inquiries, LifeGroup sign-ups, etc.)

  - Attend any of our services, events, or ministry programs

  - Give online or through digital giving platforms

  - Subscribe to our email communications or text message updates

  - Engage with us on social media

  - Interact with our church staff or ministry teams

By using our website or participating in our ministry programs, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2a. Information You Provide to Us Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide through our website forms, registrations, and direct communications. This may include:

Contact & Identity Information

  - Full name

  - Email address

  - Phone number (including for SMS/text communications)

  - Home or mailing address

Ministry & Program Information

  - LifeGroup interest and registration (general and Women's LifeGroups)

  - Children's ministry registration — Kids Club Preschool (birth through Kindergarten),

    Compass Kids Elementary (1st–5th grade), Lift Off Middle School Ministry (6th–8th grade),

    and C.R.A.S.H. High School Ministry (9th–12th grade)

  - Seniors Ministry participation

  - Recovery ministry participation

  - School of Ministry and discipleship enrollment

  - Men's Ministry engagement

  - Plan a Visit form submissions

Event & Facility Inquiries

  - Information submitted through event, funeral, facility, or wedding inquiry forms

    (routed through the Plan an Event page on our website)

Giving & Financial Information

  - Donation amounts and frequency

  - Payment method information (processed securely through our third-party payment

    processor — we do not store full payment card numbers on our own systems)

  - Giving history for tax and acknowledgment purposes

Communication Preferences

  - Opt-in to email newsletters and ministry updates

  - Opt-in to SMS/text message communications

  - Prayer requests or pastoral care notes you choose to share

2b. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit www.compasschurchmc.org, certain information is collected automatically through cookies, tracking pixels, and similar technologies:

  - Browser type and version

  - Device type and operating system

  - IP address and general geographic location

  - Pages visited and time spent on each page

  - Referring websites or links that directed you to us

  - Date and time of your visit

This information helps us understand how our website is being used and allows us to improve the experience for our church family and visitors.

2c. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

  - Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram) when you interact with our church

    pages, messages, or ads

  - Online giving platforms when a donation is processed on your behalf

  - Facebook Lead Forms if you express interest in Compass Church through a lead

    capture form on Facebook or Instagram

  - Email service providers used to deliver ministry communications

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your personal information only in ways that support our mission to love God, love people, and serve our community. Specifically, we use your information to:

Ministry & Pastoral Care

  - Connect you with the right ministry leaders and programs (LifeGroups, children's

    ministries, youth ministries, seniors, recovery, discipleship, etc.)

  - Route Plan a Visit inquiries to the appropriate campus team

  - Follow up with care and prayer as requested

Communications

  - Send email newsletters and ministry announcements via our email platform

  - Deliver SMS/text message updates you have opted into, including service times,

    events, and important announcements

  - Respond to messages, form submissions, and inquiries sent to our staff

Events & Programs

  - Coordinate event attendance, facility reservations, weddings, and

    memorial/funeral inquiries

  - Manage registrations for children's and youth programs (Kids Club Preschool,

    Compass Kids Elementary, Lift Off, and C.R.A.S.H.), Family Fun Night,

    LifeGroups, and other church events

  - Provide program-specific updates and reminders

Giving & Stewardship

  - Process and acknowledge your donations

  - Provide year-end giving statements for tax purposes

  - Manage recurring gift schedules if applicable

Operations & Improvements

  - Maintain and improve our website and digital ministry tools

  - Analyze how our online resources are used to better serve our community

  - Maintain accurate records for ministry coordination and follow-up

Legal & Safety

  - Comply with applicable laws and regulations

  - Protect the safety of our congregation, staff, volunteers, and facilities

4. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We respect the privacy of our church family. We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for marketing purposes. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

With Ministry Leaders & Staff

  Information submitted through ministry-specific forms (LifeGroups, Women's LifeGroups,

  children's ministries, youth programs, recovery ministry, seniors ministry, etc.) is

  shared with the relevant ministry leader or department head to facilitate your

  participation and follow-up.

With Trusted Service Providers

  We work with reputable, third-party service providers to operate our digital systems.

  These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for

  the services they provide to us. This includes:

  - Customer relationship management (CRM) software used to manage contacts,

    communications, and ministry workflows

  - Email marketing and communication platforms

  - Online giving and payment processors

  - Website hosting and analytics services

  - Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram) for ministry outreach

As Required by Law

  We may disclose information when required by a valid legal process, court order, or

  government authority, or to protect the safety and rights of our church community.

With Your Consent

  We may share your information in other ways if you have given us explicit permission

  to do so.

5. TEXT MESSAGE (SMS) COMMUNICATIONS

Compass Church may send you text messages (SMS) for ministry-related communications, including event reminders, service updates, and announcements.

Your consent is required. By providing your mobile phone number and opting in to text communications — whether through a form on our website, in person, or through another opt-in method — you agree to receive text messages from Compass Church Monterey County.

Message frequency may vary depending on church events and seasonal ministry activity.

To opt out at any time, reply STOP to any text message you receive from us. You may also contact us directly at the information below. After opting out, you will not receive further SMS communications unless you re-enroll.

Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan.

We do not share your mobile number with third parties for their own marketing use.

6. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Compass Church is deeply committed to the safety, well-being, and privacy of every child and young person in our care. We minister to children and students across all stages of life through four dedicated programs:

  - Kids Club Preschool — Birth through Kindergarten

  - Compass Kids Elementary — 1st through 5th grade

  - Lift Off Middle School Ministry — 6th through 8th grade

  - C.R.A.S.H. High School Ministry — 9th through 12th grade

When registering a child or student for any of these programs, we collect personal information from parents or legal guardians, including the child's name, date of birth, grade level, emergency contact information, and any relevant health or safety details necessary to care for your child.

  - We collect personal information from minors only with verifiable parental or

    guardian consent.

  - Parents or guardians may review, request correction of, or request deletion of

    their child's information at any time by contacting us directly.

  - We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13

    without parental consent, in accordance with the Children's Online Privacy

    Protection Act (COPPA).

  - Information provided for children's and youth ministries is shared only with the

    ministry staff and volunteers directly responsible for your child's care.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor without appropriate consent, please get in touch with us immediately so we can address it promptly.

7. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA)

As a California-based organization, we recognize the rights afforded to California residents under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  - Know what personal information we have collected about you, where it came from,

    and how it is used

  - Access a copy of your personal information

  - Request deletion of your personal information (subject to certain exceptions)

  - Opt out of the sale of your personal information — Note: Compass Church does

    not sell personal information

  - Non-discrimination — you will not be denied services or treated differently for

    exercising your privacy rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 10 below. We will respond to verified requests within 45 days.

8. DATA SECURITY

We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. Our digital systems and ministry tools use industry-standard security practices, including:

  - Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS)

  - Secure, password-protected systems for staff access

  - Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis

While we do our best to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We encourage you to take steps to protect your own information as well.

9. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as it is needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, maintain accurate ministry records, comply with legal obligations, and resolve any disputes. If you request deletion of your information, we will honor that request to the extent permitted by law and ministry necessity.

10. YOUR CHOICES & HOW TO CONTACT US

You have choices about how your information is used. You may:

  - Unsubscribe from emails by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of

    any email we send

  - Opt out of SMS messages by replying STOP to any text message

  - Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information

    by contacting us directly

  - Ask questions about this policy or our privacy practices at any time

Contact Information:

  Compass Church Monterey County

  830 Padre Dr., Salinas, CA 93901

  Phone: 831-422-7811

  Email: jasmine@compasschurchmc.org

  Website: www.compasschurchmc.org

11. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media pages, or giving platforms. Once you leave our website, this Privacy Policy no longer applies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our ministry operations, digital tools, or legal requirements. When we make updates, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or ministry programs after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes and reflects the genuine care Compass Church Monterey County has for the privacy and dignity of every person in our community. If you have any concerns, we welcome you to reach out — our door is always open.