Privacy Policy

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Privacy Policy for Franklin Graham Festival of Hope –Essen, Germany (2023)

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1. Introduction

At the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (“BGEA”), we are committed to maintaining the accuracy, confidentiality and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy applies to the processing of your personal information in relation to the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope – Essen, Germany.

1.2. Our mission

Continuing the lifelong work of Billy Graham, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham by proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every effective means available to us and by equipping the church and others to do the same.

1.3. Information about us

BGEA is the controller for the purpose of processing your personal information. BGEA is a registered charity in the United States of America. Our contact details are:

Office address: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28201, U.S.A.

Phone: (704) 401-2432 (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET, Saturday 10 a.m. -7 p.m. ET (Jan. – Aug.) and 9 a.m. -11 p.m. ET (Sept. – Dec.), closed on Sundays)

Email: privacy@bgea.org

1.4. Data protection officer

BGEA’s data protection officer can be reached by:

writing to: Data Privacy, c/o Legal Department, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, North Carolina 28201; or
emailing: privacy@bgea.org

1.5. Representative in the Union

BGEA has designated a representative for the Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham – Essen, Germany 2023, which can be addressed in addition to BGEA on all issues related to processing of personal information within the scope of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Samaritan’s Purse e. V.
Haynauer Straße 72A,
12249 Berlin
Germany
T. 030 76883 300
F. 030 76883 333
E-Mail: info@billygraham.de

2. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT DATA PROCESSINGS

2.1. Personal information

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, personal information is, according to Art. 4 (1) GDPR, information about you, individually, such as name, address, telephone number, email address, and your personal preferences, interests (including religious views), and other information you may share with us etc.

2.2. Overview: Purposes of data processing

The personal information we process is used and disclosed for our ministry purposes. For example, we may collect, use and disclose your personal information to:

Establish, maintain and manage our relationship with you and fulfill orders that have been requested;
Communicate with you about our ministry and resources which may be of interest to you;
Be able to review the products and services that we provide to you so that we may work to improve our products and services;
Be able to comply with your requests;
Protect us against error, fraud, theft and damage to our property; and
Enable us to comply with applicable law or regulatory process (for example, we may collect personal information to satisfy the obligations imposed on us by various regulators).

2.3. Legal basis for processing.

We may process your personal information typically because:

the processing is based on a legitimate ministry interest (e.g., to protect the security and integrity of our systems or to respond to your requests, etc.) (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR);
you provided your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR);
the processing is necessary for our contractual relationship (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR); and/or
the processing is necessary for us to comply with our legal or regulatory obligations (Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR).

The processing may be based on several legal basis.

2.4. How long does BGEA keep your information

We retain personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes. In determining data retention periods, BGEA takes into consideration local laws (especially Art. 17 GDPR), contractual obligations, and the expectations and requirements for handling such data.

In any event, only the information which is really absolutely needed for the mentioned purposes will continue to be stored.

2.5. Who has access to your personal information

2.5.1 BGEA never sells, rents, leases or exchanges your personal information with other organizations. In order to fulfill the ministry and organizational purposes for which you provided us your personal information, it may be shared with our

employees,
Ministry Partners in your country (see below), and
service providers (e.g., consultants, technology vendors, mail vendors)

These recipients assist us with establishing, maintaining and managing our relationship with you and providing ministry products and services.

We may disclose your information to other organizations and agencies if we are under a duty to disclose or share it in order to comply with any legal obligation, or in order to enforce or apply any agreement; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of us or others. The disclosure is covered in any case by a legal basis according to GDPR.

2.5.2 Ministry Partners and participating churches in Germany and your country

We coordinate and cooperatively carry out Christian ministry activities with churches and other ministry partners (“Ministry Partners”) around the world.

Our Ministry Partners in Germany include Samaritan’s Purse e. V. and participating churches. A list of our participating churches for the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope – Essen, Germany can be found here.

Our Ministry Partners will use your information in particular for their own ongoing ministry. Where we share your personal information with one of our Ministry Partners, that partner will be responsible for your personal information and their use of your personal information will be subject to the applicable laws in their country and their respective privacy policy. For details of the purpose and scope of data processing by these Ministry Partner as well as your rights in this regard, please consult the respective privacy policies of our Ministry Partners.

2.6. Where your personal information is stored by BGEA

The personal information we collect from you will be stored by us in the U.S.A. (especially on BGEA servers) and/or in Europe.

If we disclose your personal information to a recipient in a so called third country (countries outside the EU/EEA, such as the USA) we will fulfill the special requirements of Art. 44 et seq. GDPR. In this case we will transfer your information only on basis of an adequacy decision or if appropriate safeguards (e.g. standard data protection clauses) or one of the specific situations in Art. 49 GDPR apply, especially when you give your consent or the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract between you and BGEA. Currently, USA is involved as a third country.

Please check the privacy policies of our Ministry Partners to find out where these Ministry Partners store your personal information.

3. SCOPE AND PURPOSES OF DATA PROCESSING

3.1. Festival Website

3.1.1 Accessing and using this website (Log-Files)

Each time that the website and its subpages are accessed, use data is transferred by the respective internet browser and saved in server log files. The data records which are stored as part of this process contain the following data:

Date and time of access
Name of the subpage which is accessed
IP address
Referrer URL (original URL from which you have accessed the website)
Product and version information for the browser/operating system used

The log files are evaluated by our hosting provider on our behalf in order to further improve the website and make it more user-friendly, find and rectify faults more quickly and manage server capacities. For example, this makes it possible to understand at which time use of the website is particularly popular and the hosting provider can then make an appropriate volume of data available.

The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The legitimate interest of BGEA lies in providing a website containing information, offering services for ministry purposes and optimizing the operation of the website.

The data which is processed by our hosting provider is required by us to enable you to access and make optimum use of the website. This data is data which necessarily needs to be processed while using our website.

The log files will be deleted immediately as soon as our storage interest has ceased (see above).

3.1.2 Use of Cookies

When you visit our website, we may place a “cookie” on your computer. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you use a website and are then transmitted to us as website operator. Cookies contain a so-called cookie ID (characteristic string with various information) which makes it possible to identify your device when you call up the website again. However, it is not possible to identify you directly as a user.

We may use different types of cookies on our website: persistent cookies; session cookies (Please refer to your browser’s Help section for further information on controlling and setting cookies).

Persistent cookies make it possible for you to be recognized the next time you visit a website after you have left it. These cookies are typically deleted after no more than 30 days.

A session cookie is temporary, only used during a single session on this website, and is automatically deleted at the end of your visit.

In principle, only the storage of technically necessary cookies is required for calling up and using our website. We use these cookies for the following purposes:

Operating the website
Individual design of the website
Improving the user-friendliness of the website
Storage of user settings (such as language settings, cookie preferences)
Enabling the services and functions desired by the user
Preventing fraud and improving the security of the website

The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. BGEA’s legitimate interest lies in presenting our website in an optimized and safe way.

You may stop or restrict the placement of cookies on your computer or flush them from your browser by adjusting your web browser preferences. Depending on the website, the rejection of session cookies may interfere with the functionality of this website and in certain cases you may have to accept session cookies in order for the site to function at all. If your browser does not differentiate between persistent and session cookies, you may have to enable all cookies in order for this website to function properly.

The cookies will be deleted immediately as soon as our storage interest has ceased (see above).

3.1.3 Information on Google Services

We may use various Google services on our website (as described in detail below). These services are provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The parent company Google LLC is located in the USA: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 (hereinafter collectively "Google").

By integrating these services, Google may collect various information (including personal information) about you, evaluate it and use it in some cases for its own purposes. It cannot be ruled out that Google also transfer this information to server or contracting partners in a third country. Google bases data transfer to the USA and other third countries in particular on standard contractual clauses according to Art. 46 (2) (c) GDPR. Currently, there is no adequacy decision according to Art. 45 GDPR with regard to the USA.

Depending on your account settings, a link to your personal Google account can be made if you are logged in when you visit our website and give your consent. If you do not wish this, you must log out before using our website. You also may stop or restrict this by adjusting the account settings in your Google account. Furthermore, you may stop or restrict the placement of cookies on your computer or flush them from your browser by adjusting your web browser preferences (see above).

Please also note that the data processing by Google is beyond our control and that the applicable privacy policies of Google must be observed.

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses, on the types of technologies used by Google and the collected types of information and on the Google's privacy settings here:
https://policies.google.com/privacy
https://safety.google/intl/en/

3.1.4 Use of Google Analytics

We may use the web analysis service Google Analytics. Google uses cookies and web beacons (invisible graphics) to record, for example, information about your operating system, your browser, your IP address, the website accessed previously and the date and time of your visit to our website.

Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the way that the website is used, to compile reports about the activity on the website for us, and to provide us with further services associated with the use of the website and use of the internet. The information about the use of the website is transferred to a Google server (possibly in the USA or other third countries) and stored there (please note the preceding information about the applicable standard contractual clauses).

If this is prescribed by law or third parties process this data on behalf of Google, Google will also pass this information on to these third parties. A list of Google’s worldwide subcontractors can be found at: https://business.safety.google/adssubprocessors/

When Google Analytics is used, no direct personal data is stored, but rather just the Internet Protocol address (“IP address“). This information is used to automatically recognize you the next time that you visit our website. We only use Google Analytics with IP anonymization enabled ("anonymize IP").

For further information on data handling in connection with Google Analytics, please refer to Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR, which states that the processing is lawful if the data subject has given consent to the processing of his or her personal data for one or more specific purposes, and additionally on § 25 (1) TTDSG.

You can withdraw your consent to this processing at any time here:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

Furthermore, you can withdraw your consent by adjusting your web browser preferences (e.g. stop the placement of cookies on your computer or delete them).

You can prevent data processing by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

In addition, you can prevent the collection of data by web beacons by downloading and installing the add-on for the respective browser available at the following link: https://adblockplus.org/

You are not obliged to provide this personal information. However, in some circumstances the consequence of not providing it is that you will not be able to use the website or will not be able to use it in full.

The information processed will only be stored for as long as is necessary or legally required for the intended purpose.

3.1.5 Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager to embed Google Analytics.

The Google Tag Manager implements the tags or "triggers" the embedded tags. When a tag is triggered, Google may process information (including personal information like the IP address).

By integrating the Google Tag Manager, we pursue the purpose of being able to carry out a simplified and clear integration of Google Analytics. In addition, the integration optimizes the loading times of this service. It cannot be ruled out that Google may also transfer the information to a server in a third country like the USA (see above). If this is prescribed by law or third parties process this data on behalf of Google, Google will also pass this information on to these third parties.

You can obtain further information about this directly from
https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/6102821?hl=en

The admissibility of this processing is based on a consent according to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TTDSG (in connection with Google Analytics).

You can withdraw your consent to this processing at any time here:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

Furthermore, you can withdraw your consent by adjusting your web browser preferences (e.g. stop the placement of cookies on your computer or delete them).

The information processed will only be stored for as long as is necessary or legally required for the intended purpose.

3.1.6 Google Maps

We use Google Maps on our website. The use of the maps is only possible after you have explicitly activated the function. Only then will a connection to the Google server be established and the associated data processing triggered. In doing so, Google may collect various information about you (including personal data), analyze it and use it for its own purposes (e.g. creation of usage profiles for the purpose of advertising, market research or designing Google services). In doing so, it cannot be ruled out that Google also transmits the information to servers or recipients in a third country (in particular the USA). This occurs regardless of whether Google provides a user account via which you are logged in or whether no user account exists. After activating Google Maps, a link may also be created with your Google user account, provided you are logged in. If you do not wish this to happen, you must log out before using the maps.

We use Google Maps to show you interactive maps directly on our website and to enable you to use the map function conveniently. The data processing is based on your consent according to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR, § 25 (1) TTDSG.

You can withdraw your consent to this processing at any time here:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

Furthermore, you can withdraw your consent by adjusting your web browser preferences (e.g. stop the placement of cookies on your computer or delete them).

3.1.7 Kaltura Video player

We include videos on our website that are played using the Kaltura video player ("Kaltura"). Kaltura is a service of Kaltura Inc., 860 Broadway 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003, USA.

By integrating the videos, a connection to the server of Kaltura Inc. is established for technical reasons after activating the video and the associated data processing is triggered. Kaltura Inc. may collect various information about you and process it on our behalf, in particular to enable optimal playback of the videos and to provide us with analyses. Please note that BGEA does not store any personal information by incorporating Kaltura.

We use Kaltura to provide you with interesting videos on various topics. The data processing is based on your consent according to § 25 (1) TTDSG.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting the settings of your web browser to deactivate the transmission of data to Kaltura Inc.

3.1.8 Adobe Fonts

This website uses external fonts, provided by Adobe Inc. (Adobe U.S.), 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110-2704, USA (“Adobe”).. Each time this website is accessed, files are loaded from a Adobe server to display the texts in a specific font. Your IP address can be transferred to a server of Adobe and stored be there for further processing. The further processing of this information is incumbent on Adobe, the corresponding conditions and setting possibilities can be found in the privacy policy of Adobe underhttps://www.adobe.com/privacy/policy.html . Please note that BGEA does not store any personal information by incorporating Adobe Fonts.

BGEA uses this font service to make the website look better. The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 1(f) GDPR. The use of data for purposes of improving the way that the website looks represents a legitimate interest of BGEA within the meaning of Art. 6 1(f) GDPR.

It cannot be ruled out that Adobe also transmits the information to servers or recipients in a third country (in particular the USA). Adobe bases data transfers to a third country in particular on the standard contractual clauses.

Without providing the data you may not be able to use the website in full.

3.1.9 Web presences on social media

Our website may contain links to our social media channels.

When you visit our social media channels, we may process your personal data. If you use our presences for the purpose of contacting us (for example, by creating your own posts, responding to our posts or by sending us private messages), the data you voluntary provide will be processed by us in order to contact you.

The provided data is needed by us to respond to your inquiry and – if applicable - to prepare or execute a contract (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). By interacting with you, we can actively offer our ministry services and continuously optimize them according to your needs (legitimate interest according to Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). If you provide us with sensitive data according to Art. 9 GDPR (especially religious information) when contacting us, Art. 9 (2) (d) GDPR will additionally be applicable.

We delete your data as soon as the respective conversation or contract has ended, unless there is another legal basis for further storage.

As soon as you visit our social media channels (a third party website), these third parties may store and process your personal data in accordance with the terms of use that apply in each case. These data processing may occur even if you do not have an user account on the social network in question.

It is possible that in addition to the storage of the data specifically entered by you in this social medium, further information is also processed by the provider of the respective social network. The provider may collect various information (also of a personal nature) about you, evaluate it and use it for its own purposes. In doing so, it cannot be ruled out that he may also transmit the information to a server in a third country.

If while visiting our website you follow the links and are logged in via your personal user account, the information that you have visited our website will be passed on to the respective third-party website and stored there. The visit to our website can then be assigned to your user account. To prevent this, you must log out of your account before clicking on the link.

Please note that the third party websites accessed through links on our site are subject to the third party’s privacy policy and standards. We cannot assume any responsibility for the privacy practices, policies or actions of the third parties that operate these websites, or for how they collect, use or disclose your personal information. You should review the privacy policies of these websites before providing them with personal information.

Currently we have following social media channels:

Instagram: The social network Instagram is operated by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2 (Ireland). The parent company is Meta Platforms, Inc., based in Menlo Park, California (USA). You can review the privacy policy for Instagram at https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875/?helpref=uf_share. Furthermore, you can obtain more information about data protection at Instagram or Meta in the Instagram settings.
Facebook: Please review our privacy policy for Facebook below.

3.1.9. Submitting a contact form on this website (request) / e-mail at a click / requesting ministry resources

You may submit your personal information to us on this website using a contact form so that we can answer your questions, facilitate your request, or otherwise enable you and/or your church to engage in our ministry activities. To do this, we may need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e. V. For submitting a contact form you need to specify a range of information. Any mandatory details are highlighted on the relevant form.

In addition, at a number of places on the website you may have the option with just one click to open an e-mail to be sent to BGEA. The sender used here is automatically the e-mail address which is linked to your e-mail program. If you do not wish your e-mail address to be called up in this way, you can change this in the settings of your particular e-mail program.

You may give your personal information to us on this website (e.g. using the contact form) so that we can answer your request regarding ministry resources. To do this, we may need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e. V.

Please note that our Ministry Partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well.

The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. It is our legitimate interest to give you the opportunity to contact us at any time and to answer your questions. If you provide us with sensitive data (especially religious information) when contacting us, Art. 9 (2) (d) GDPR will additionally be applicable. The sharing of these sensitive data with our Ministry Partners is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a), Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR. We need the provided data for corresponding with you. We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.2. Facebook

We operate a Facebook fan page through which we interact with our followers in particular. Facebook is a service of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbor, Dublin 2 (Ireland). The parent company is Meta Platforms, Inc. with headquarters in Menlo Park, California (USA). Both companies are hereinafter collectively referred to as "Meta".

Basically, we can only view the information stored in your public Facebook profile, and only if you are logged in while accessing our Fanpage. If you use our fan page for the purpose of contacting us (for example, by creating your own posts, responding to our posts or sending private messages to us), we will process the data provided in order to contact you.

Meta additionally provides us with so-called "Facebook Insights" ("Insights"). Insights are anonymous statistics that provide us with information about the success and use of our Facebook fan page. You can find more information about Insights here: https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/manage#page_insights

In order to generate these Insights, Meta processes various information about you (including personal data). Meta and we are jointly responsible for the personal data processed in this context within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR.

Below, we provide you with the essential information regarding the agreement concluded between Meta and us pursuant to Art. 26 GDPR. You can find the full text of the agreement here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum

Areas of responsibility

With regard to the processing of Insights data, we are jointly responsible with Meta for data protection. However, Meta has taken primary responsibility for these data processing operations. This means in particular:

Meta assumes the fulfilment of the obligations under GDPR with regard to the Insights Data (e.g., duty to inform under Art. 13 GDPR, sufficient level of data security under Art. 32 GDPR).
The data subject rights can be asserted directly against Facebook (e.g. right to information or right to erasure). Further information on your rights can be found in the Facebook settings. Notwithstanding the areas of responsibility outlined, you can also contact us directly to exercise your rights as a data subject. To do so, please use the contact details in section 1. We will forward your request to Facebook without delay.

Circumstances of data processing

As already described, we may use your personal data to communicate with you as a result of your contact. The data you provide is required by us to answer your inquiry and to prepare or execute a contract (Art. 6 (1) GDPR). By interacting with you, we can actively offer our services and continuously optimize them according to your needs (legitimate interest according to Art. 6 (1) GDPR).

We delete the personal data we have as soon as the respective conversation or contract has ended, unless there is another legal basis for further storage.

Meta only provides us with anonymous Insights respectively statistics. This means that we cannot draw any conclusions about specific persons from the statistics. Furthermore, we have no access to the usage data that Meta collects to create the Insights.

According to Meta, various information is used to create the Insights. This information includes, in particular:

User interactions (e.g., usage of or interaction with certain content, such as click behavior, page views, likes or posts).
Information related to the devices used (e.g. IP address, browser type, language settings, date and time of interaction, referrer URL, operating system, cookies)
Information related to users (e.g., country/city; age/gender for logged-in users).
Facebook user ID for logged-in users.

Without providing this information, you will not be able to access our fan page. This data processing also occurs if you do not have a Facebook profile or are not logged in. This applies in particular to the use of cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you use a website and are then transmitted to the website operator. These cookies allow Meta to create user profiles based on your preferences and interests and to show you advertising (inside and outside of Facebook) that is tailored to them. You can configure your browser settings according to your preferences (e.g. disabling cookies). Cookies that have already been saved can be deleted here at any time.

The exact processing of your data when visiting our Facebook fan page depends on whether you have a Facebook account and whether you are logged in when visiting our fan page. A linking of the data collected by Meta with your personal user account can take place in any case, provided that you are logged in when visiting our fan page. If you do not wish this, you must log out before using our fan page.

When visiting our Facebook fan page, it cannot be ruled out that Meta also transmits the information to a server in a third country (countries outside the EU/EEA, such as the USA). The transfer of data to a third country is permitted under the conditions of Art. 44 et seq. GDPR. Meta bases data transfers to a third country in particular on standard contractual clauses. These have been adopted by the European Commission and ensure adequate protection of your personal data.

We have a legitimate interest in using Insights to track user behavior on our Facebook fan page (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). The Insights enable us to record in particular the range and effectiveness of our interactions on the fan page (e.g. the success of postings). This enables us to continuously improve the user experience when visiting our fan page and our offers in line with target groups and needs.

You can view the legal basis used by Meta for data processing in connection with Insights here: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/legal_bases | https://www.facebook.com/privacy/center/

Please note that the data processing by Meta is beyond our control and that the applicable data protection provisions of Meta must be observed (see above).

For more information on the cookies used by Meta, please refer to Meta's Cookie Policy.

3.3. Event registration and interest forms

You may give your personal information to us on event registration forms at ministry meetings or events or through our website to register or express interest in the festival or to otherwise engage in our ministry activities. For doing this you need to specify a range of information. Generally, all information is voluntary. Any mandatory details are highlighted on the relevant form. We may need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e V. These partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well.

The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR. If you provide us with sensitive data (especially religious information) in this context, Art. 9 (2) (d) GDPR will additionally be applicable. The sharing of these sensitive data with our Ministry Partners is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a), Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR. The collected information will be processed to enable the registration process and the preparation of the event.

In addition, you may give your personal information to us on interest cards (online/print) to enable you and/or your church to engage in our ministry activities. The queried details are voluntary. By providing your details, you enable us to use your details to keep in touch about the Festival and to let you know about BGEA’s other ministry activities. Furthermore, we use these details to manage your involvement with BGEA. We may pass these details to our ministry partners in your country for their own ministry purposes.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.4. Follow–up cards

You may give your personal information (the queried details are voluntary) to us on follow-up cards at ministry meetings or events to enable you have a local church contact you after an expression of interest at the Festival and/or to engage in our ministry activities. To do this, we need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e. V., or one of our participating churches. These partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well.

The admissibility of this processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) and Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR) and additionally on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our Ministry Partners.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.5. Volunteering

You may give your personal information to us on volunteer forms (online/print) in order to apply for a volunteer ministry role or to otherwise engage in our ministry activities. To do this, we may need to share your personal information with certain service providers that assist in administering your application (e.g., reviewing your certificate of good conduct), and/or our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e.V. Our Ministry Partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well. In addition, we may use your details to let you know about BGEA’s other ministry activities and to manage your involvement with BGEA. For submitting an application you need to specify a range of information. Any mandatory details are highlighted on the relevant form.

The admissibility of this processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) and Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR) and additional on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our Ministry Partners. For the purpose of conducting the application procedure and acting as volunteer, the admissibility is based on Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR (performance of a contract) as well.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.6. Making a donation

You may give your personal information to us on donation forms (online/print) so that we can administer your donation. For doing this you need to specify a range of information. These mandatory details are highlighted on the relevant form. To fulfil the donation purpose resp. the ministry purpose for which you provided us your information, we may need to share your information with Samaritan’s Purse e. V. to process your donation and provide you with an appropriate receipt. Samaritans Purse e. V. may use your information for its own ministry purpose as well. In addition, we may use your details to let you know about BGEA’s other ministry activities and to manage your involvement with BGEA.

This processing regarding the administration of donation is necessary for the performance of a contract under Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR and additionally is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) and on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse e. V.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.7. Corresponding with a ministry representative

You may voluntarily give your personal information to us when you correspond with one of our ministry representatives so that we can answer your questions or so that you can engage in our ministry activities. To do this, we may need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e. V. These partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well.

The admissibility of this processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. It is our legitimate interest to give you the opportunity to contact us at any time and to answer your questions. Our legitimate interest lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our ministry partners as well. If you provide us with sensitive data (especially religious information) in this context, Art. 9 (2) (d) GDPR will additionally be applicable. The sharing of these sensitive data with our Ministry Partners is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a), Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR. We need the provided data for corresponding with you.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.8. Recordings

We may make recordings (e.g., photographs, videos) of our ministry events which may involve capturing/broadcasting event activities. In general, participation in these events is only possible if you agree to a possible recording. We also may allow you to participate in BGEA’s ministry, whether by being featured in a photo/video/audio recording and/or written account in which you express your personal opinion and/or share your testimony or other factual story. Please note that these recordings may be published on the internet (e.g., BGEA’s website) or in other communication channels like print media. To do this, we may need to share your personal information with our Ministry Partners in your country, such as Samaritan’s Purse e. V. These partners may use your information for their own ministry purposes as well.

The admissibility of this processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) and – if applicable - Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR) and additionally on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our Ministry Partners.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

3.9. Participation via Mobile Device and Text Messaging

We offer you the possibility to participate in BGEA ministry programs via mobile device, such as through text messaging. It is intended to work with major wireless carriers in your area. BGEA cannot guarantee that any particular wireless service provider will allow participation, which is also subject to the capabilities of your mobile device. Wireless service providers may charge participants for text messages, including error messages, sent and/or received in connection with BGEA’s ministry programs. BGEA will not be responsible for these charges. Participants should consult their wireless service provider’s pricing plan for details.

Data gathered through mobile device participation may include, without limitation, your response(s) to the ministry program and your cell phone number. Use of such data will be as described above (e.g. making a donation by phone.

The admissibility of this processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and – if applicable - Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR). By voluntarily providing your number or interacting with BGEA via mobile device and/or text messaging you consent to BGEA’s use of your mobile device, your phone number and other information gathered in this context to communicate with you. BGEA will provide opt-out information that will allow you to indicate your desire to stop receiving text messages.

Without providing the data you may not be able to use our ministry programs via mobile device and/or text messaging.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

4. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to other websites. BGEA has no access to the cookies or other functions that are used by third-party websites, nor can we control them. Such third-party websites are not subject to this privacy policy.

5. INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES

5.1. Ministry Partners and others

Your personal information may be given to us by the following third parties:
Ministry Partners

Your personal information may be given to use by our Ministry Partners to fulfill the ministry and organizational purposes for which you provided your personal information (e.g., to ensure that you have the opportunity to be connected with a local participating church in an appropriate manner).

The admissibility of the processing of this information by us is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR); Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR) and additional on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our Ministry Partners.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

Service Providers (e.g., volunteer screening vendors)
Your personal information may be given to us by service providers to fulfill the ministry and organizational purposes for which you provided your personal information. This includes administering your application to be a volunteer.

The admissibility of the processing of this information by us is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR; Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR) and additionally on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) which lies in the ministry purposes of BGEA and our Ministry Partners.

We retain your personal information for as long as we reasonably require it for ministry or legal purposes.

5.2. Categories of personal information from other sources

These categories of information may be transmitted to us by third parties:

Contact details (e.g., name, address, etc.)
Religious beliefs and/or church involvement
Correspondence details (e.g., email)
Background check information

For more information about how we handle your data, please see above.

6. YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you (Art. 15 GDPR) and to have any inaccuracies corrected (Art. 16 GDPR). You also have other rights including:

the right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR);
the right to restrict processing (Art. 18 GDPR);
the right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR);
the right to object (Art. 21 GDPR); and
rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling, if applicable (Art. 22).
rights to withdraw your consent at any time (Art. (7) (3) GDPR): If you have given your consent to the processing of your personal data and withdraw it, the processing which took place up to the withdrawal date remains unaffected by this.

We consider and respond to all requests in accordance with applicable law. As mentioned above, when contacting us about your personal information, we may request specific information from you to confirm your identity and right to the request, as well as to search for your personal information and provide you with a response to your request. There also may be instances where it may not be possible to facilitate your request due to legal requirements or other obligations or practices based on legislation.

Let us know about a request or concern you may have by contacting us at privacy@bgea.org.

6.1. Right to complain

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority at any time (Art. 77 GDPR).

7. REVISIONS TO THIS POLICY

BGEA from time to time, may make changes to this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in its legal or regulatory obligations or in the manner in which we deal with your personal information (the date of the last update is shown below).

(Last updated: April 19, 2023)