1. Who We Are

The Romanian Orthodox Church For Doncaster is a UK registered charity dedicated to advancing the Christian faith in accordance with the teachings and practices of the Romanian Orthodox Church. We serve the Romanian Orthodox community in Doncaster and surrounding areas.

Data Controller: The Romanian Orthodox Church For Doncaster
Charity Number: 1204712
Contact: For privacy-related inquiries, please use our contact form or email us.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal information:

Contact Information

• Name and title
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Postal address

Membership and Participation Data

• Baptism, chrismation, and marriage records
• Service attendance (for sacramental purposes)
• Volunteer participation details
• Donation records (for Gift Aid and thank you correspondence)

Technical Information

• IP address and browser type (through website usage)
• Cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy below)

Sensitive Personal Data

With your explicit consent, we may process special category data relating to your religious beliefs, which is necessary for us to provide pastoral care and sacramental services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following lawful purposes:

• Pastoral Care: To provide spiritual guidance, sacramental services, and pastoral support
• Church Administration: To maintain membership records, coordinate services, and manage church activities
• Communication: To send service schedules, newsletters, event notifications, and important announcements
• Donations: To process donations, claim Gift Aid where applicable, and send acknowledgments
• Legal Obligations: To comply with charity law, safeguarding requirements, and other legal duties
• Legitimate Interests: To maintain historical records, conduct research, and improve our services

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Consent: When you have given clear consent for specific processing activities
• Legitimate Interests: For church administration and pastoral care, where necessary
• Legal Obligation: To comply with charity law and safeguarding duties
• Vital Interests: To protect someone's life in emergency situations

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

• Romanian Orthodox Church Authorities: With the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese or Metropolitan for canonical and administrative purposes
• Service Providers: With trusted third-party providers who assist with website hosting, email services, or payment processing (all under strict data protection agreements)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of individuals
• Safeguarding: With relevant authorities when necessary to protect children or vulnerable adults

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure storage of physical records in locked cabinets
• Password-protected digital systems and encrypted communications
• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our security practices

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Sacramental Records: Retained permanently for historical and canonical purposes
• Donation Records: Retained for 7 years to comply with HMRC Gift Aid requirements
• General Correspondence: Retained for up to 2 years unless longer retention is necessary
• Safeguarding Records: Retained in accordance with Church of England and statutory guidance

8. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal and canonical obligations)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation on how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for specific processing activities at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided on our contact page.

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors use our website (anonymised data)

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Blocking cookies may affect website functionality.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites, including social media platforms and the Charity Commission register. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

11. Children's Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. When collecting information about children under 16 for church activities, we obtain parental or guardian consent. We process children's data only for legitimate pastoral and educational purposes, in accordance with safeguarding policies.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Significant changes will be communicated through our website and, where appropriate, by email.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:

• Online: Via our contact form
• Church Address: St Mary's Church Centre, 2 Thorne Road, Doncaster, DN1 2EY
• Parish Priest: Fr. Lucian Filip

14. Complaints

If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

• Website: www.ico.org.uk
• Helpline: 0303 123 1113
• Address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF