Policies

LIVING WORD MINISTRIES POLICIES

Introduction

1.1 Financial records will be kept online and loaded onto the church website so that Living Word Ministries (“The Church”) can:

Meet its legal and other obligations, e.g., Charities Acts, Company Law, HMRC and common law.
Enable the trustees to be in proper financial control of The Church.
Enable the Church to meet the contractual obligations and requirements of funders.

1.2 The Church will keep a proper accounting system, which will include:

A cashbook analysing all the transactions in The Church’s bank account(s). This maybe a computer package, excel or paper.
A petty cash book if cash payments are being made.
HMRC and records which may be kept by a pay roll bureau.

1.3 The financial year will end on the first working day of April each year.

1.4 Accounts will be drawn up after each financial year within six months of the end of the year and presented to the trustees.

1.5 Prior to the start of each financial year, the trustees will approve a budgeted income and expenditure account for the following year.

1.6 A special meeting will occur among trustees if The Church is in financial difficulties or reserves are less than one year’s expenditure.

1.7 The Church will appoint an appropriately qualified independent examiner/Auditor (currently: Newman Nede & Co) to examine the accounts for presentation to the trustees, filing with the Charity Commission when the appropriate threshold is exceeded and if appropriate fling with Companies House.

Segregation of Duties

2.1

Due to the size of The Church (1) Resident Pastor (1) Snr Pastor (3) Elders & (1) Deaconess it is not possible(without becoming overly burdensome) to segregate duties, so that “no single individual has soleresponsibility for any single transaction from authorisation to completion and review.”
In order to ensure transparency and financial scrutiny, a second person will be nominated to have accessto online banking, paper statements, cheque stubs, paying books (and other items as needed).
This nominated person (or the deputy treasurer) will be authorised to undertake the work of the treasurer
in their absence (including but not limited to illness, death or being outside of the country)

3. Banking

3.1 The Church will bank with Barclays Bank plc. Accounts will be held in the name of Living Word Ministries. The following accounts will be maintained:

XXXXX Account No 1

XXXXX Savings Account

3.2 a. The bank mandate (list of people who can sign cheques or authorise electronic payments on the organisations behalf) will always be approved and documented by the trustees as will all the changes to it.

Currently this is limited to: The Resident Pastor, Snr Pastor/Treasury and one Elder/Deputy Treasurer

3.3 The Church will require the bank to provide statements every month or access to electronic statements. These will be reconciled with the bookkeeping system at least every six months and the treasurer will certify that this reconciliation has been done at least twice a year, sign the reconciliation document accordingly. If only electronic statements are available, they will be printed off and filed every month.

The Church will not use any other bank or financial institution or use overdraft facilities or loan without of the agreement of the trustees.

4. Receipts (income)

4.1 All donations will be received (whether by cheque/cash/standing order, whether eligible for Gift Aid, or whether given anonymously to the collection box or collection plate), except for the following list (which would not be in the interests of the charity), including, but not limited to:

Where provided/sourced through criminal activity
Provided by organisations known to be hostile to, contrary to Scripture or anti-Christian, or not in accordance with the Basis of Faith (as laid down in the constitution)

4.2 Where donations are given for a specific purpose (excepting for a particular missionary speaker): they shall as far as is practical be set aside and used only (in part or whole) for their stated purpose

4.3 Money credited to the bank electronically.

The Church will issue reference numbers to customers for them to use when making electronic payments, to ensure that receipts into the bank account can be traced to the customer easily.

The Church will keep a record of aged debtors and contact debtors every month.

5. Internet Purchase

When purchases are made over the internet The Church will ensure that only well know bon a fide sites are used for purchasing and that they have appropriate security as illustrated by a lock padlock in the bottom right-hand side of the screen when a payment is being made. Such purchases will be properly authorised in a similar way to other purchases.

6.Payments (expenditure)

The aim is to ensure that all expenditure is on The Church business and is properly authorised and that this can be demonstrated. The latest approved budget provides the cheque signatories with authority to spend up to the budgeted expenditure, not beyond it.
Miscellaneous expenses (expenses beyond scope of budget) above £500 should have prior approval from at least three trustees.

6.1 a. The Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer will be responsible for safe keep cheque book and debit/credit cards.

Payments will only be made by: Resident Pastor, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer.

6.2 Blank cheques must not be signed.

6.3 The relevant payee’s name will always be inserted on the cheque before signature and the cheque stub will always be properly completed.

6.4 No cheques should be signed without original documentation (see below).

6.5 Payments by debit card. When the Church issues a debit card to an employee or trustee it will be administered in a similar to way petty cash (see below). The card holder will be personally responsible for any undocumented expenditure.

6.5 Electronic banking.

Each signatory and the banking administrator will have a unique password which will be made up of lower and upper case letters, numbers and symbols.

The Treasurers will be able to access the electronic banking system for the purposes of putting transactions onto the system for authorisation by the cheque signatories and for assessing bank statements.

The Treasurers will check that purchases have been properly authorised and when appropriate there is evidence that goods in good condition or proper services have been received.

The Treasurers will scan and e-mail invoices and evidence of authorisation to the cheque signatories.

The Treasurers will check and enter the suppliers sort code, account number, account name into the system and provide these by e-mail to the cheque signatories.

The cheque signatories will check the payment details sort code, account number, invoice and amount. If these are accurate the cheque signatory will authorise the payment.

Authorisation from two cheque signatories will be required for each payment.

Following authorisation, the cheque signatory will e-mail the administrator to confirm their authorisation. This e-mail will act as evidence for the Independent Examiner as to who authorised the payment.

The banking administrator may / may not also be a cheque signatory.

7. Guest Speakers

7.1 a. All visiting preachers shall be offered a monetary sum “love offering’ to be agreed by the church trustees per church service.

This does not include: any members of Living Word Ministries International or other events/services connected with the Church, such guests will not be reimbursed.

7.2 a. All visiting missionary speakers may be given a gift for their honorarium but will not be an obligation. This gift shall comprise of donations given to the church collection plate from the church members/congregation who attend the meeting or service.

Visiting speakers may be offered hospitality (meal, transport

accommodation expenses). The maximum per speaker agreed by

Trustees during annual budgeting.

8. Payment documentation

8.1 Every payment out of The Church’s bank accounts will be evidenced by an original invoice (never against a supplier’s statement or final demand). That original invoice will be retained by The Church and filed. The cheque signatory should ensure that it is referenced with:

Cheque number or electronic authorisation reference

Date cheque drawn or paid electronically.

Amount of payment

Who signed or authorised the payment?

8.2 The only exceptions to cheques or electronic payments not being supported by an original invoice would be for such items as advanced booking fees for a future course, deposit for a venue, VAT, etc. Here a cheque requisition form will be used, and a photocopy of the cheque kept.

8.3 Wages and Salaries.

There will be a clear trail to show the authority and reason for every such payment, e.g., a cheque requisition, asking for payment to an employee, HMRC etc. All employees will be paid within the HMRC regulations.
All staff appointments/departures will be authorised by the trustees, minuting the dates and salary level. Similarly, all changes in hours and variable payments such as overtime, etc., will be authorised by the trustees.
Paid staff members include: The Resident Pastor, only. Associated wages/salaries will transfer over to subsequent pastors as the occupant changes.

8.4 Petty cash

will be maintained on paper or Microsoft Excel.

An individual is entrusted with a float as agreed by the trustees. When that is more or less expended, a cheque will be drawn for sufficient funds to bring up the float to the agreed sum, the cheque being supported by a complete set of expenditure vouchers, totalling the required amount, analysed as required.

8.5 Expenses / allowances. The Church will, if asked, reimburse expenditure paid for personally by staff, providing:

Fares are evidenced by tickets.

Other expenditure is evidenced by original receipts.

Car mileage is based on local authority scales.

No cheque signatory signs for the payment of expenses to themselves, authorise electronic payments to themselves.

9. Cheque Signatures and cash cards

9.1 Each cheque will be signed by at least two people.

9.2 Electronic bank payments will be signed by at least two people.

9.3 A cheque must not be signed by the person to whom it is payable.

9.4 All debit card transactions relating to Church bank accounts will be recorded with evidence of approval of use.

10. Other undertakings

10.1 The Small Charity does not accept liability for any financial commitment unless properly authorised. Any orders placed or undertakings given, the financial consequences of which are, prima facie, likely to exceed in total [£5,000], must be authorised and minuted by the trustees. In exceptional circumstances such undertakings can be made with the Chairperson’s approval who will then provide full details to the next meeting of the trustees. (This covers such items as the new service contracts, office equipment, purchase and hire).

10.2 All fundraising, contract bids and grant applications made on behalf of the organisation will be done in the name of The Church with the prior approval of the trustees or in urgent situations the approval of the Chairperson who will provide full details to the next trustee’s meeting.

10.3 Copies of grant application will be kept and available to trustees on request. When bids are made using internet portals electronic or paper copies of the bid will be kept.

10.4 Any funding contracts or grant acceptance documentation exceeding [£750] will be brought to the trustee’s attention for approval. In urgent situations this may be by e-mail to all trustees.

11. Other rules

11.1 The Small Charity will always adhere to good practice in relation to its finances, e.g., when relevant it will set up and maintain a fixed asset register stating the date of purchase, cost, serial numbers, and normal location. Additionally, The Church will maintain a property record of items of significant value, with an appropriate record of their use.

This policy was adopted by the trustees on 1 /04 /2021

The next review date is on or before 1/ 04 /2021

Living Word Ministries International’ risk management model

1.1 Living Word Ministries International recognises that risk management is essential to its governance and to sustainable operation of its services. Risk management in Living Word Ministries International will be designed to ensure: –

the identification, assessment and management of risk is linked to the achievement of the charity’s objectives;
all areas of risk are covered – for example, financial, governance, operational and reputational;
a risk exposure profile can be created that reflects the trustees’ views as to what levels of risk are acceptable;
the principal results of risk identification, evaluation and management are reviewed and considered;
risk management is ongoing and embedded in management and operational procedures.

1.2 Living Word Ministries International will regularly review and assess the risks it faces in all areas of its work and plans for the management of those risks.

1.3 There may be risks associated with Living Word Ministries International’ activities – they can arise through things that are not done, as well as through ongoing and new initiatives. Risk exposure for Living Word Ministries International will vary depending on circumstance. For example, Living Word Ministries International may be willing to expose itself to higher risks as the size of our reserves or organization increases. Risk tolerance may also be a factor in what activities are undertaken to achieve objectives. Living Word Ministries International will therefore ensure that there is an appropriate balance taken between higher and lower risk activities.

These considerations will inform the trustees in their decision as to the levels of risk they are willing to accept.

1.4 Trustees need to let members know the boundaries and limits set by their risk policies to make sure there is a clear understanding of the risks that can and cannot be accepted.

Identifying our Risks

2.1 As part of its charity planning process, a risk register will be developed. This register is a ‘living document’ and forms the baseline for further risk identification. Living Word Ministries International recognises that new risks may appear and other risks will become less or more severe or may disappear over the lifetime of the plan. Risk identification is therefore an ongoing process within Living Word Ministries International. When new risks are identified by a trustee or charity member, these will be referred to the Resident Pastor who will in consultation with Admin team will update the risk register accordingly. Living Word Ministries International will also on an annual basis review the risks identified in the Living Word Ministries International’s risk register.

2.2 In undertaking this, members and trustees will consider:

Living Word Ministries International’s objectives, mission and business plan;
the nature and scale of our activities;
the outcomes that need to be achieved;
external factors that might affect Living Word Ministries International such as legislation and regulation;
the Living Word Ministries International reputation with its major funders and supporters;
past mistakes and problems that Living Word Ministries International has faced;
the operating structure
comparison with other charities working in the same area or of similar size; and
examples of risk management prepared by other charities or other organisations.

2.3 In developing Living Word Ministries International risk register, trustees and members will identify/update risks in the following areas

governance;
operational risk
finance risk;
environmental and external risk;
law and regulation compliance risk.

Assessing, Monitoring and Evaluating risk

3.1 Identified risks need to be put into perspective in terms of the potential severity of their impact and likelihood of their occurrence. Assessing and categorising risks helps in prioritising and filtering them, and in establishing whether any further action is required.

3.2 When a new risk arises, the Resident Pastor in consultation with Admin team will then assess the risks identified by members and trustees based on how likely they are to occur and how severe their impact using the methodology set out at appendix 1

3.3 They will identify those risks that are major and propose appropriate actions to mitigate these risks. This will update Living Word Ministries International’s risk register and will be approved by the Chair and/or treasurer (if a financial risk).

3.4 Where a trustee subsequently has a concern about the risk register, s/he should initially seek agreement to amendment via email and if s/he is still not satisfied raise the issue at the next board meeting

3.5 Examples of possible actions to mitigate risks are set out in appendix 2.

Reviewing the Policy and Procedure

This policy and procedure will be reviewed every year, this will include checking telephone numbers, accuracy of personnel details, and any updates required by a change in local or national policy. Any changes to the document must be recorded on the Change Record

Change Record

Date of change	Changed by:	Comments
22/11/2020	S. Rockcliffe	V0.01 Policy approved by the Trustees
29/12/2020	Joan Ojuola	Reviewed

APPENDIX 1

Risk Assessment Methodology

Impact

Descriptor	Score	Impact on service and reputation
Insignificant	1	no impact on service no impact on reputation complaint unlikely litigation risk remote
Minor	2	slight impact on service slight impact on reputation complaint possible litigation possible
Moderate	3	some service disruption potential for adverse publicity – avoidable with careful handling complaint probable litigation probable
Major	4	service disrupted e.g. long term sickness adverse publicity not avoidable (local media) complaint probable litigation probable Sudden loss of funding
Extreme	5	service interrupted for significant time major adverse publicity not avoidable (national media) major litigation expected resignation of senior management resignation of board major premises related issue e.g. burglary loss of beneficiary confidence

Likelihood

Descriptor	Score	Example
Remote	1	may only occur in exceptional circumstances
Unlikely	2	expected to occur in a few circumstances
Possible	3	expected to occur in some circumstances
Probable	4	expected to occur in many circumstances

Appendix 2

Actions that could be taken to mitigate risks

The following are examples of possible actions:

the risk may need to be avoided by ending that activity
the risk could be transferred to a third party (e.g. use of a trading subsidiary, outsourcing or other contractual arrangements with third parties);
the risk could be shared with others (e.g. a joint venture project);
the charity’s exposure to the risk can be limited (e.g. establishment of reserves against loss of income, phased commitment to projects);
the risk can be reduced or eliminated by establishing or improving control procedures (e.g. internal financial controls, controls on recruitment, personnel policies);
the risk may need to be insured against (this often happens for residual risk, e.g. employers liability, third party liability, theft, fire).

In assessing the actions to be taken, the costs of management or control should be considered in the context of the potential impact or likely cost that the control seeks to prevent or mitigate. It is possible that the process may identify areas where the current or proposed control processes are disproportionately costly or onerous compared to the risk they are there to manage. A balance will need to be struck between the cost of further action to manage the risk and the potential impact of the residual risk.

Who is a volunteer?

A volunteer is any individual who undertakes unpaid activities on behalf of our organisation of their own free choice. Work experience placements are different to volunteering and further guidance should be sought from line management.

1.1 Volunteers may be involved in short or long-term activities or as a one off. Typical activities may include:

Supporting fundraising or awareness raising events
Involvement in direct delivery of our services and projects
Working in our office
Being part of our board of trustees

1.2 Roles and Responsibilities

Each volunteer will be supported and supervised by a designated Team /Department Head within Living Word Ministries International. The designated HOD will provide guidance, support, and HOD to the volunteer to ensure that the volunteering experience is a positive and rewarding one.

The volunteer role is based on trust and mutual understanding. There is no contractual obligation for the volunteer to attend or to undertake particular tasks. However, there is a presumption of mutual support and reliability and a reciprocal set of expectations:

At Living Word Ministries International, volunteers can expect:

To have clear information about what is and is not expected of them
To receive adequate support and training
To be insured and to volunteer in a safe environment
To be treated with respect and in a non-discriminatory manner
To receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses
To have opportunities for personal development
To be recognised and appreciated
To be able to say ‘no’ to anything which they consider to be unrealistic or unreasonable
To know what to do if something goes wrong

In return, Living Word Ministries expects volunteers:

To be reliable, open and honest
To uphold the organisation’s values and comply with organisational policies
To make the most of opportunities given, e.g. for training
To contribute positively to the aims of the organisation and avoid bringing the organisation into disrepute
To carry out tasks within agreed guidelines
To adhere to all Living Word Ministries relevant policy at all times

Recruitment

2.1 Recruitment will usually involve an informal interview and the taking of references {if you are volunteering to work with children}. Some roles may require further checks such as DBS checks which will be undertaken in accordance with the latest guidance. The most appropriate recruitment process will be used in all circumstances and will be relevant to the role undertaken. For example, for some roles it might be reasonable to avoid application forms and to meet all applicants.

2.2 Equal opportunities principles will be adhered to when recruiting volunteers and an additional form will be used to record monitoring information.

Where it is reasonable to do so, we will be flexible with the tasks within role descriptions – e.g. where some tasks may be difficult for a person with anxiety, or to better fit the motivations of the individual.

Recruitment of volunteers for Living Word Ministries International may be advertised on our website and through signposting sessions, through our newsletter, via social media and of course in the church. All enquiries will be responded to within 7 days.

Where applicants are not able to be placed into their preferred role, they will be given feedback and the opportunity to discuss other roles with ourselves or other local organisations if any known.

2.3 Induction and Training

Volunteers will receive a full induction which will include:

An introduction to other volunteers.
A tour of Living Word Ministries International premises with attention to the location of exits and the assembly points.
A copy of all relevant Living Word International policies
Health and Safety procedures including verbal instruction regarding the Fire Evacuation Procedure
Housekeeping e.g. use of Living Word Ministries International’s kitchen, location of toilets

In general, training will be provided by the volunteer’s HOD in an ‘on the job’ basis, but some roles may require formal training – e.g. in safeguarding issues. Management will help advise on what training might be needed.

Support and Supervision

Each volunteer will have a named HOD. The HOD is responsible for training and supervising the volunteer, as well as giving feedback and answering queries. They will also plan work for the volunteer.

Volunteers and HODs will agree on appropriate arrangements for catch-up sessions. This will vary according to the nature of the role and how often the volunteer comes in. This session will be to allow volunteers the opportunity to speak with staff and other volunteers, as well as to raise any queries or concerns.

Recognition

Volunteers will be given the opportunity to share their views and opinions of their experiences of volunteering with us. We may also recognise their contribution through social media, during service and through the use of certificates, newsletters and by saying thank you.

Confidentiality

All volunteers are bound by the same requirements for confidentiality as members, as laid down in any Living Word Ministries International policy or by verbal instruction from their HOD. Volunteers who will have access to confidential information will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Breach of confidentiality is taken very seriously and may result in us asking the volunteer to step down from the position.

We are bound by the Data Protection Act to ensure that we treat volunteer information with respect. Only persons who need to see information for purposes related to volunteer involvement will be able to access it. We will not pass information on without permission.

Expenses

It is the policy of Living Word Ministries International to reimburse relevant volunteers’ expenses only where the individual incurred the expense while carrying out Living Word Ministries duties. This will only be made against the production of;

Receipts and/or proof of travel payments.
A self-declaration that the claim is accurate and incurred on the business of the charity

Any mileage expenses will be reimbursed in line with the current rates paid by HMRC (currently 45p per mile) up to a distance of 20 miles per volunteering session (£8.00 maximum). Reimbursement against an Oyster Card will be made upon production of a statement detailing the relevant journey (in line with guidance notes from NCVO). Oyster Card expenses, or any other form of public transport expenditure, will be paid up to a maximum of £8.65.

Volunteers who volunteer for an all-day session outside of the Living Word Ministries International office, such as an event, are entitled to claim meal expenses up to the value of £5.00 but must provide receipts.

Problem-solving Procedure

Living Word Ministries International acknowledges that sometimes problems do arise. In the first instance, any volunteer with a complaint or concern should bring it up with their HOD. If the issue cannot be resolved by informal discussion, then it can be taken up formally through the problem-solving procedure. Volunteers will be made aware of the policy during the induction period.

Health and Safety

Living Word Ministries International appreciates that all members and volunteers have the right to work and volunteer in a safe environment. Therefore, all members and volunteers must carry out their duties in line with Living Word Ministries International’s Health and Safety Policy whilst engaged in their work/volunteering activity.

Volunteers are covered by Living Word Ministries International’s Public Liability Insurance but if they wish to use their car to carry out any aspect of their volunteering role, the onus is on the volunteer to notify their insurance company to ensure that they are covered on their vehicle insurance.

Moving On

When volunteers leave their role, they may be asked to provide feedback on their volunteer experience. They will also be given the opportunity to discuss their responses more fully if they wish to do so. Key information may be used to inform Living Word Ministries International’s volunteering offer and ensure continuing good practice.

Diversity

Living Word Ministries International is very sensitive to different cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds and languages and strives to ensure equality of opportunity to ensure that individuals are given equal access to information, services etc and requires all members and volunteers to follow these principles. We will strive to provide extra support and make reasonable adjustments, if needed, for volunteers with additional needs including disability, language or mental health.

Reviewing the Policy and Procedure

Change Record

Date of change	Changed by:	Comments
22/11/2020	S. Rockcliffe	V0.01 Policy approved by the Trustees
29/12/2020	Joan Ojuola	Reviewed

LIVING WORD MINISTRIES PRIVACY POLICY

Introduction

Living Word Ministries are committed to protecting you and your family’s personal information. We want our services and activities to be safe and enjoyable environments for our attendees. This Privacy Policy relates to our use of any personal information we collect from you.

Please take some time to read this policy before using the website. It contains important information on your legal rights and obligations.

In this policy references to “the Church”, “us”, “we” and “our” refer to Living Word Ministries.

This Privacy Policy explains the following:

what information we may collect about you;
how we will use information we collect about you;
when we may use your details to contact you;
whether we will disclose your details to anyone else;
your choices regarding the personal data you provide to us;
the use of cookies on our website.

Living Word Ministries take the safeguarding of your personal information seriously. Whenever you provide such information, we are legally obliged to use it in line with all applicable laws concerning the protection of personal information, including the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into effect on 25 ^th May 2018 (these laws are collectively in this policy referred to as the “data protection laws”).

The Church takes reasonable steps to ensure the security of personal data which we hold. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Our website may contain links and adverts to websites owned and operated by third parties. If you select any of these, please note that the websites have their own Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy and Terms and Conditions, and we therefore urge you to review them. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the privacy practices of such third party websites and your use of such websites is at your own risk.

What information will Living Word Ministries collect about me?

We may receive personal information about you when you participate in, access or sign up to any of the Church’s services, activities or online content, such as:

services, bible studies, prayer meetings, fellowships, new believers, volunteering or other Church events;
visiting our website;
registering your details and/or your family details using the online registration systems;
online or paper based when using registration or feedback forms;
donating money;
providing your contact details electronically and in writing to Church volunteers;
purchasing goods or services;
sending in general enquires;
accessing our social media platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter or Instagram.

This information can consist of details such as your name, email address, postal address, telephone or mobile number, date of birth, as well as, any additional information relevant for the purpose.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child under 13, we may use your contact details to communicate with your child and to seek consent for processing your child’s information.

Please note that sometimes we will require you to provide additional personal information, and occasionally sensitive personal information (e.g. if you’re sending in an application regarding marital counselling). When we do this, we will provide further information about why we are collecting it and how we will use it.

Living Word Ministries collects information about how you use our website, and information on the device(s) you use to access these services. This includes collecting unique online identifiers such as IP addresses, which are numbers that can uniquely identify a specific computer or other network device on the internet. For more information, please see the “Cookies Policy” section of this policy, on the Church’s use of cookies and similar technologies.

Please note that any information that is not required by a service you have opted to use will not be retained.

How will Living Word Ministries use the information it collects about me?

The Church will use your personal information for several purposes, including the following:

to provide services, activities or online content, to provide you with information about them and to deal with your requests and enquiries
to communicate with you via text, WhatsApp, telephone or mobile, social media, mail, email or home visitations;
to keep you on our prayer list;
to send occasional gifts
to register you for services, events or any other Church activities;
to register you as a member of the Church and to record your involvement, volunteering and training;
to provide you with the most user-friendly online navigation experience;
to assist our general ability to assist Church attendees and the wider community;
to promote products or services, and to keep you informed of new developments which may be of interest to you. If we contact you in this way, we will seek your consent to do so;
to use IP addresses and device identifiers to identify the location of users, to establish the location of visitors for analytical purposes;
to assist the Senior Management with any management of issues relating to the Church;
to update or amend any inaccurate information;
for analysis and research purposes so that we may improve the services.

Where the Church proposes using your personal information for any other uses we will ensure that we notify you first and that we seek your consent, unless authorised or required by law. Please see the section on “Changes to our Privacy Policy”.

When will Living Word Ministries contact me?

The Church may contact you:

in relation to any service, activity or online content you or your under 13-year-old child have signed up for, in order to ensure that the Church can deliver the services and provide any necessary preparations;
in relation to any correspondence we receive from you or any comment or complaint you make;
in relation to any specific services, activities or events that you are a part of, e.g. invitation to services, activities or events;
to invite you to participate in surveys about our services (participation is always voluntary);
to collect feedback and/or give you the option to register for any service, activity or event in your interest;
to update you on any changes to the Church’s policies and practices;
for marketing purposes.

Will Living Word Ministries share my personal information with anyone else?
We will keep your information within Living Word Ministries except where disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Generally, we will use your information within the Church and will only share it outside where you have requested it or given your consent. However, we may share with third party sites (e.g. Facebook, Google, Google Analytics, Instagram, Twitter, Mailchimp and Stripe) some data, with appropriate security measures to enable fulfilment of the purpose of collection. Those parties may process information, fulfil and deliver orders, process card payments and provide support services on our behalf. The Church requires these third parties to strictly comply with its instructions and the Church requires that they do not use your personal information for their own business purposes, unless you have explicitly consented to the use of your personal information in this way.

We do not store financial details obtained through any online transactions. All card payments are handled by our service provider (Stripe) who encrypt card information sent from our website.

We may share your personal information internally (i.e. with other departments or Living Word Ministries Church locations within the UK and Ghana). Personal information, held electronically, is stored in a secure server or secure files. See the section on “How will Living Word Ministries use the information it collects about me”.

What if I am aged under 13?

If you are aged 13 or under, then we will need consent from your parent/guardian before you can use our services.

How long will Living Word Ministries keep my information?

We will hold your personal information on our systems for as long as is necessary for the relevant activity.

Can I find out what personal information Living Word Ministries holds about me?

Under data protection laws, you have the right to request a copy of the personal information the Church holds about you and to have any inaccuracies corrected. (We require you to prove your identity with two pieces of approved identification).

We will use reasonable efforts consistent with our legal duty to supply, correct or delete personal information about you on our files. To make a request please email admin@lwmi.org.uk.

If there is a case where we are unable to supply, amend or delete your personal information then we will provide you with detailed reasoning.

Please address requests of questions about this or any other question about this Privacy Policy to our Data Protection Officer via post at: Living Word Ministries, 45 Georgia Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8DW or email admin@lwmi.org.uk.

Cookies Policy

Cookies are small amounts of data, which often includes a unique identifier that is sent to your computer, tablet or mobile phone (all referred to here as a “device”) web browser from a website’s computer and is stored on your device’s hard drive. Each website can send its own cookie to your website browser if your browser’s preferences allow it. If you continue without changing your settings or indicating otherwise, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Living Word Ministries website. However, you can change your settings at any time.

Cookies make it easier for you to log onto and use the site. They also help to monitor website traffic and to personalise the content of the website for you.

Social Media

The Church uses social media platforms such as; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube. Our website provides social media buttons which permit sharing our web content directly to the social media platform. We urge you to review their respective Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Use of such platforms are at your own risk.

Unless it is material supplied or officially posted by the Church, we do not endorse any social media platform and accept no responsibility for the content nor the cookies they may contain.

The Church does not ask for passwords on social media.

Downloads

Any documents or files made available to download from our website are provided at your own risk.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to encompass any changes in the law, our experience of handling your personal information, guidance from the supervisory authority or for other legitimate reasons. We will notify you of this change by posting the latest version on this website. We encourage you to check this policy from time to time to ensure you are aware of the latest version. The data the policy as last revised is identified at the top of the page.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or comments relating to this Privacy Policy or our general data protection and privacy practices, you can write to us at: Living Word Ministries, 45 Georgia Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8DW or email admin@lwmi.org.uk.

Charity No: 1069490.

April 2021

Our mission is to raise up Men and Women that are grounded in the word of God, reaching and influencing the world for Jesus and empowering people to lead a Christ-Centred life.

NAVIGATION

About Us
What's On
Podcast
Get Involved
Giving
Blog
Contact Us
Policies

JOIN US