Date of last revision: July 14, 2026
Introduction
The United Church of God, an International Association ("United Church of God," "UCG," "we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we share it, and the choices available to you regarding your personal information when you visit UCG.org and related websites and services.
Information You Provide to Us
You may provide personal information when you:
- Create a UCG.org account
- Request literature or other resources
- Subscribe to email updates or newsletters
- Make a donation, pay for an event, or submit another payment
- Contact us through forms, email, or other communication channels
Depending on the service you use, the information collected may include:
- Name
- Email address
- Postal address
- Telephone number
- Profile information you choose to provide
- Payment or donation information
- Any information you voluntarily submit to us
You may browse much of our website without creating an account or providing personal information.
Donations and Payments
We offer secure online giving for tithes, offerings, donations, event registrations, and other payments.
Online payments are processed through trusted third-party payment providers, including Stripe and other payment services that may be made available from time to time, such as PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay. When you make a payment, certain information necessary to process the transaction is shared with the payment provider. We do not store complete payment card numbers or other sensitive payment credentials on our servers.
Please note that payment transactions and related personal information are subject to the privacy policies and terms of the applicable payment provider. We encourage you to review their privacy practices before submitting payment information.
Email Communications
If you subscribe to email updates, newsletters, or announcements, we will use your email address to send the communications you request.
We use Mailchimp as our email marketing automation platform. By signing up for our email updates, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms.
You may unsubscribe from email communications at any time by one of the following methods: managing your subscriptions within your ucg.org account dashboard, using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.
Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically, including:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Referring websites
- Date and time of visits
- General geographic location
- Website usage and interaction information
We use this information to understand how our websites are used, improve content and functionality, maintain security, and enhance the user experience.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our websites use cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences, maintain website functionality, analyze website traffic, and improve user experience. When you first visit our website, you may be given the option to accept all cookies or deny non-essential cookies through our cookie consent tools. You can also manage or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some portions of the website.
Analytics Services
We use services such as Google and Umami Analytics to better understand how visitors use our websites.
These services may collect information about your device, browser, website activity, and general location. This information helps us improve our content and services.
You can learn more about Google's privacy and terms at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites and how Google safeguards data at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245.
You can learn more about Umami’s privacy policy at https://umami.is/privacy
Third-Party Content and Services
Our websites may include content, features, or services provided by third parties. Examples may include embedded videos, social media content, maps, security tools, payment processors, and other website functionality.
When you interact with these third-party services, they may collect information directly from your browser or device and may use cookies or similar technologies in accordance with their own privacy policies.
Examples of third-party services we may use include but not limited to:
- YouTube for video content
- Google and Umami for website analytics
- Mailchimp and SendGrid for email communications
- Stripe and other payment providers for donations and payments
- Freshdesk for ucg.org website submit ticket help
- Security and spam-prevention services
- Social media platforms and content-sharing services
We do not control the privacy practices of these third parties and encourage you to review their privacy policies for more information about how they collect, use, and protect your information.
How We Use Information Provided and Collected
We may use personal information to:
- Provide requested literature, resources, and services
- Process donations and payments
- Manage user accounts
- Communicate with you regarding requests or subscriptions
- Send newsletters, updates, and announcements
- Improve our websites and services
- Maintain website security and prevent misuse
- Comply with legal obligations
- Support the mission and activities of the Church
Sharing Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share information with trusted third-party service providers that assist us in operating our websites and services, including providers of:
- Payment processing
- Email communications
- Website hosting
- Analytics
- Security and technical support
These providers are permitted to use personal information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf.
We may also disclose information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, users, property, or safety.
Children’s Privacy
We do not collect information from minors, as determined by your local laws (13 years of age in the United States and 16 years of age within the European Union). If you are under the age of adulthood, please do not attempt to create an account at ucg.org. If false age information is given and an account is created by a user under legal age, we will delete the information without delay when we become aware of it. For those minors younger than legal age, we strongly urge you ask your parents' permission before creating an account and submitting any personal information about yourself over the Internet.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, maintain security, and support legitimate operational needs.
Consistent with our data retention policies and with our business practices, when information is no longer needed, we will delete or securely dispose of it when reasonably practicable.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:
- Request access to information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of personal information
- Withdraw consent where applicable
- Request information about how your data is used
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We may request information necessary to verify your identity before processing certain requests.
Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Misuse of Website Resources
The purpose of our websites is to provide biblical teaching, educational resources, and information about the work and activities of the United Church of God, and of the Kingdom of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We reserve the right to disclose information to appropriate legal authorities when required by law or when necessary to investigate or address abusive, fraudulent, offensive, unlawful, or harmful use of our websites, services, or materials.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of our websites after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:
United Church of God, an International Association
PO Box 541069
Cincinnati, OH 45254-1069
Email: info@ucg.org
Telephone: (513) 576-9796
Website Policy (As Approved by the Council of Elders on February 23, 2007)
1. No website other than the official website of the United Church of God, an International Association (hereinafter the "Church" or "UCGIA") at http://www.ucg.org and the official websites of United Church of God National Councils outside the United States which have been sanctioned by the Church, may use the name "United Church of God" or contain, republish, refer to, advertise or take orders for Church literature or other copyrighted materials, in whole or in part, that are proprietary to the Church without UCGIA's written permission. Local websites receiving such permission should create a hyperlink to Church literature located at http://www.ucg.org/booklets for the United States (and/or the address of the Web site of their National Council if outside the U.S.) for viewing, downloading or for taking website visitor requests for said literature. Each website that creates an appearance of affiliation with the Church shall be subject to review to help ensure that its content does not violate the law or personal rights.
2. Local congregations or others claiming a Church affiliation who are using the name of the Church must not violate the Church's copyright(s), trademark(s) or service mark(s), or other intellectual property.
3. The only official website of the UCGIA is located at http://www.ucg.org. Any other website maintained by a local congregation of UCGIA, or third parties claiming affiliation with UCGIA, or using its name in a way that is likely to convey such an affiliation, must display on the index or introductory page the following statement. In effect that statement shall say that they are not official websites of UCGIA and that the UCGIA does not endorse and is not responsible for the claims and representations made by that website:
"This is not the official website of the United Church of God, an International Association ("UCGIA"). The only official UCGIA website is at www.ucg.org, or one of the websites of National Councils which are part of UCGIA. They are not responsible and will not be held liable for the content, representations, or any claims arising out of the materials contained on this website."
4. The Church's Council of Elders may prescribe rules and ethical guidelines within which National Council, local church, and third party (claiming a UCGIA affiliation) websites shall be required to conform. Failure to conform to these rules and guidelines can result in withdrawal of UCGIA permission to use the name "United Church of God" in connection with that National, local church or third party website.
5. The Church reserves the right to modify this policy at any time with or without advance notice.
