We, Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, are a Data Controller under the terms of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which means that we have control over how personal data we hold is processed and for what purposes.  We are committed to a policy of protecting the rights and privacy of employees, members, associates, guests, visitors, and others who may make use of our services in accordance with The Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR legislation. The policy applies to all staff and representatives of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church.

As a matter of good practice, all individuals working on behalf of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, and who have access to personal information, will be expected to have read and comply with this policy.

What is Personal Data?

Personal data is any information that would allow you to be identified as a specific individual.  The types of data we hold may include:

  • Your name and contact details
  • Your bank details if necessary (for WFO or payroll or other appropriate reasons)
  • The capacity in which you are involved with us
  • Information on employees which we require for the purpose of employment
  • Your bank details if you perform a service for us (for example as a supplier) for which we need to reimburse you
  • Data about how you interact with our online platforms including website and email analytics, social media interaction and YouTube likes. 
  • Details about your church membership e.g. date of baptism, profession of faith and attendance at Communion.
  • Details of dietary requirements, food allergies and medical conditions
  • Other personal data necessary to your involvement with us
  • Your image may be broadcast for service streaming purposes when you visit the Church

How do we process your personal data?

We comply with our obligations under the “GDPR” by keeping personal data up to date; by storing and destroying it securely; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect personal data.

We use your personal data for the following purposes: –

  • To enable us to provide you with the benefits of membership or association with our congregation; 
  • To fundraise and promote the interests of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church; 
  • To manage and inform our employees and office holders; 
  • To maintain our own accounts and records;
  • To inform you of news, events, activities and services running at BPC or run by us; 
  • Payment for services rendered;
  • Hiring of our facilities;
  • To improve our online functionality and engagement
  • To provide suitable catering and appropriate health and safety adaptations

What is the legal basis for processing your personal data?

This may vary according to your relationship with us, for instance, processing for an employee will be different from that of a member.  The main bases which we rely on will be:

  • Where processing is necessary for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us. This is where we need to use your data to engage in our normal day to day activities, for example; to keep you informed of events and activities, to contact you when you are representing BPC at an event or activity, to process and maintain your connection to BPC as a communicant member or associate;
  • Where we have your explicit consent. An example of this would be your consent to joining a mailing list when you join an activity that we run, or when we ask to use your image for our promotional material;
  • To comply with contractual obligations where we have entered into a contract with you;
  • Where processing is necessary for us to comply with the law. Examples of this could be our legal obligations to maintain certain records so that we may carry out our obligations under employment, social security or social protection law.

Sharing your personal data

Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential and will only be shared with others within Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in order to allow us to perform our function as a church. 

Personal data may be shared with and between staff, Kirk Session, members of committee, organisational leaders, event organisers and others in positions of responsibility for the purposes of contacting you about a pastoral matter or a matter relating to your involvement with BPC, its organisations or events.

Name and addresses of members may appear in printed publications such as our annual yearbook.

We will not normally share your personal data with any third party and will not share your data for third party marketing purposes. 

We will share your personal data with trusted third parties such as:

  • IT companies who provide us with technical support
  • Database providers who support, for example, our membership, employee, and accounting records
  • Presbyterian Church in Ireland governing bodies where necessary (including the Presbytery of East Belfast).

How long do we keep your personal data?

We will not keep your personal data for any longer than is required to fulfil our purpose as a church or as required under law.

Your rights and your personal data  

Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data: –

  • The right to request a copy of your personal data which we hold about you; 
  • The right to request that we correct any personal data if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date;  
  • The right to request your personal data is erased where it is no longer necessary for us to retain such data;
  • The right to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time
  • The right to request that the data controller provide the data subject with his/her personal data and where possible, to transmit that data directly to another data controller
  • The right, where there is a dispute in relation to the accuracy or processing of your personal data, to request a restriction is placed on further processing;
  • The right to object to the processing of personal data.
  • The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Contact Details

To exercise all relevant rights, queries or complaints please contact Bloomfield Presbyterian Church using our address or phone number (below):

Bloomfield Presbyterian Church
447 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 5DW.
Telephone: +44 28 9047 1103