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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 10, 2026

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Holy Cross Lutheran Church (“Holy Cross,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to being a responsible steward of the personal information entrusted to us.

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This Privacy Policy describes how information may be collected, used, stored, and shared when you visit our website, www.holycrossherndon.org (the “Website”), communicate with us through the Website, subscribe to church communications, register for activities, or use services or links available through the Website.

1. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you use the Website, we may collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

  • your name;

  • email address;

  • telephone number;

  • mailing address;

  • information submitted through contact, registration, subscription, or other online forms;

  • communications, comments, questions, or requests you send to us; and

  • other information you choose to provide.

 

Our Website and the technology used to operate it may also automatically collect certain technical information, such as:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address;

  • browser and device information;

  • operating system;

  • pages visited and interactions with the Website;

  • referring and exit pages;

  • approximate location derived from an IP address; and

  • cookies, identifiers, and similar technical information.

 

We ask that you not submit confidential or highly sensitive personal information through general Website forms unless the form specifically requests that information.

2. How We Collect Information

Information may be collected when you:

  • contact Holy Cross through the Website;

  • subscribe to an email newsletter, eBlast, or other church communication;

  • register for an event, program, ministry, class, or other activity;

  • make an inquiry or request;

  • follow a link to an online giving service or another third-party service; or

  • otherwise voluntarily provide information to us.

 

Certain information may also be collected automatically through Wix, cookies, server logs, analytics technologies, or other services used to operate and secure the Website.

3. How We Use Information

We may use information collected through the Website to:

  • respond to questions, requests, and inquiries;

  • provide information about worship, ministries, programs, events, and activities;

  • manage registrations or participation in church activities;

  • distribute newsletters, eBlasts, announcements, and other communications that you have requested or elected to receive;

  • administer and improve the Website;

  • understand how visitors use the Website;

  • maintain Website security and prevent fraud or misuse;

  • fulfill administrative, legal, financial, or recordkeeping responsibilities; and

  • carry out the ministries and mission of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

 

We do not sell personal information submitted to Holy Cross through the Website.

4. Website Hosting and Service Providers

Our Website is hosted using the Wix platform. Wix provides website hosting and related technologies necessary to operate the Website. Information associated with your use of the Website may therefore be processed or stored through Wix's systems in accordance with Wix's applicable privacy and security practices.

We may also use third-party service providers to support Website functionality, communications, event registration, analytics, online giving, embedded media, or other church activities.

Those third parties may collect or process information according to their own privacy policies and terms. Holy Cross does not control the privacy practices of independent third-party websites or services.

5. Online Giving and Payments

Holy Cross provides links or access to third-party services for online donations, including Vanco and PayPal or PayPal Giving Fund.

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When you use an external giving or payment service, information you provide to complete the transaction is processed by that service according to its own privacy policy and security practices.

Holy Cross may receive information relating to your contribution that is necessary for donation records, acknowledgments, accounting, and other church or legal purposes. Payment-card or banking information entered directly into an independent payment provider's service is handled by that provider according to its policies and systems.

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We encourage you to review the privacy policy of the applicable payment provider before submitting financial information.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Website may use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small data files placed on a visitor's device that can help websites operate correctly, maintain security, remember preferences, and understand Website usage.

Some cookies may be necessary for the Website to function properly. Other cookies or similar technologies may be associated with analytics, embedded content, or third-party services.

 

Third-party services integrated with or linked from our Website may use their own cookies or tracking technologies. Those technologies are governed by the applicable third party's privacy practices.

Where required by applicable law, visitors will be provided appropriate choices regarding non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies.

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ou can also control certain cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may cause some Website features to function differently or become unavailable.

7. Third-Party Websites and Embedded Content

Our Website may contain links to or content from third-party websites and services, including giving platforms, social-media platforms, video or streaming services, event services, and other organizations.

Following a link to another website or interacting with embedded third-party content may allow that third party to collect information about you.

 

Holy Cross is not responsible for the privacy, security, content, or data practices of independent third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

8. Email and Other Communications

If you provide your contact information to Holy Cross, we may use it to respond to your request or to provide communications that you have requested, such as newsletters, eBlasts, ministry information, event information, or church announcements.

 

You may unsubscribe from optional electronic communications by using an unsubscribe link provided in the communication, when available, or by contacting us at admin@holycrossherndon.org.

Certain administrative communications relating to a request, registration, donation, or other interaction with Holy Cross may still be necessary.

9. Information About Children

Holy Cross serves children, youth, and families as part of its ministry. Our general Website is intended to provide information about the church and its ministries to a broad audience.

 

Parents and guardians should supervise children's use of the Website and should submit registrations, contact information, or other personal information concerning young children when appropriate.

 

We do not knowingly use personal information collected through the Website from children for targeted advertising or sell such information.

 

If you are a parent or legal guardian and believe a child has submitted personal information through our Website inappropriately, please contact us so that we can review the matter and, when appropriate, delete the information.

10. Photographs, Video, and Worship Content

Holy Cross may publish photographs, recordings, livestreams, or other media relating to worship services, church events, ministries, and activities.

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Because worship services and church events may be photographed, recorded, or livestreamed, attendees may occasionally appear in such media.

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Questions or concerns about a photograph, recording, or other content appearing on the Website may be directed to admin@holycrossherndon.org.

11. How We Share Information

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to:

  • operate the Website or provide a service you have requested;

  • work with vendors and service providers supporting our Website or ministries;

  • process registrations, communications, or contributions;

  • comply with applicable law, legal process, or lawful governmental requests;

  • protect the rights, property, safety, or security of Holy Cross, our members, visitors, staff, volunteers, or others; or

  • investigate suspected fraud, misuse, or security incidents.

 

We do not sell personal information submitted to Holy Cross through the Website.

12. Data Security

Holy Cross seeks to use reasonable administrative and technical measures appropriate to the information we handle.

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Our Website is hosted through Wix, and information processed through third-party services may also be protected by security measures maintained by those providers.

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However, no website, email system, electronic transmission, or data-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors should therefore use appropriate care when submitting information online.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and as appropriate for church administration, ministry activities, financial and contribution records, legal obligations, security, and legitimate record-keeping needs.

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Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.

14. Your Privacy Choices

You may contact Holy Cross to request that we review, correct, update, or delete personal information that you have provided through the Website.

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We will consider and respond to requests as appropriate under applicable law and our legitimate administrative, legal, financial, pastoral, and recordkeeping obligations.

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Please note that we may need to retain certain records even after receiving a deletion request—for example, where retention is reasonably necessary for financial, contribution, legal, safeguarding, or other legitimate purposes.

To make a privacy request, contact:

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Holy Cross Lutheran Church
1090 Sterling Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Email: admin@holycrossherndon.org
Phone: 703-437-1883

15. Visitors Outside the United States

Holy Cross Lutheran Church is located in Virginia, United States, and the Website is operated primarily for our congregation, community, and others interested in our ministries.

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Visitors accessing the Website from outside the United States should understand that information may be processed or stored in the United States or other locations where Wix or other service providers operate.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our Website, ministries, technology, service providers, or applicable requirements.

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The current version will be posted on this Website with an updated effective date. We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

17. Contact Us

Questions, concerns, or requests concerning this Privacy Policy or information collected through the Website may be directed to:

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Holy Cross Lutheran Church
1090 Sterling Road
Herndon, Virginia 20170
Email: admin@holycrossherndon.org
Phone: 703-437-1883

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