Privacy Policy

The Bridge Church collects only the information we need to care for our people, run our ministries, and keep our website working. We use that information for things like check-in, event and class sign-ups, giving, and sending you church updates. We do not sell your personal information. Prayer requests and other personal ministry information are shared only with those who need it to serve you. You can ask us to update or delete your information at any time. The full policy below explains the details.

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how The Bridge Church (“we,” “our,” or “the Church”) collects, uses, and protects information from people who visit our website at thebridgetn.church, use our mobile app or online church platform (together, the “Site”), or otherwise share personal information with us through our ministries and services (“Users”).

By using the Site or sharing information with us, you agree to the practices described here. We encourage you to read this policy carefully.

2. Why We Collect Information

We collect and use personal information to carry out our ministry, to serve and communicate with you, to protect the Church’s legitimate interests, and to meet legal and financial recordkeeping requirements.

3. Information We Collect

We collect two kinds of information.

Non-personal information does not identify you. It includes technical details such as your browser type, operating system, language preference, access times, and how you use the Site (pages viewed, clicks, and similar activity). We use it to improve the Site.

Personal information can identify you, directly or with reasonable effort. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:

Contact details: name, email address, mailing address, and phone number.
Sign-up and registration information: details you provide when you register for events, classes, small groups, baptism, or other ministries.
Giving information: your donation amounts, dates, and giving history. Card and bank details are entered directly with our giving platform; the Church does not store full card or bank account numbers.
Check-in information: details collected when you or your family check in to services or ministries, including children’s and student ministry check-in (see Section 11).
Prayer requests and connection cards: information you choose to share with our pastoral and prayer team.
Membership and directory information: this is collected when you complete the membership covenant.
Volunteer information: applications and, where applicable, background check information for those who serve with children or in other roles.
Device information: IP address and device identifiers collected when you use the Site.
Photos and video: images or recordings from services and events.

4. How We Receive Information

We receive information:

Directly from you, when you register, sign up, check in, give, submit a request, or contact us.
Automatically, when you visit or use the Site.
From service providers that help us operate, such as website analytics and our church management software.

5. How We Use Information

We use personal information to:

Communicate with you, including responding to questions and sending announcements, updates, and event information.
Process sign-ups for events, classes, baptism, and small groups.
Record and acknowledge giving, and provide giving statements.
Provide safe check-in for children, students, and families.
Provide pastoral care and respond to prayer requests.
Operate and improve the Site and our ministries.
Comply with legal, tax, and financial requirements.

6. Who Receives Information

We do not sell or rent personal information. We share personal information only as needed to carry out our ministry, for example:

Service providers that process information on our behalf, such as Planning Center (check-in, sign-ups, giving, and email), Text in Church (text messaging), our website host, and website analytics providers. They may use your information only to provide services to us.
Church leaders, staff, and trained volunteers who need the information to serve you, such as a small group leader or the prayer team. Prayer requests and sensitive information are shared only on a need-to-know basis.

We may also disclose information when we believe in good faith that it is required to comply with the law or legal process; to enforce our policies; to investigate or prevent fraud, security issues, or illegal activity; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Church, our community, or others.

7. Your Choices and Rights

You can manage how we communicate with you:
Emails: click “unsubscribe” in any church update email.
Access and correction: contact us to review, update, or ask us to delete the personal information we have for you.

8. Email and Text Messages

Email. We send church updates and information by email through Planning Center. Every marketing or announcement email includes an unsubscribe link. If you unsubscribe, we will stop sending those emails, though we may still send essential administrative messages (for example, a giving receipt or a notice about a service you registered for).

Text messages. We send text messages through Text in Church to people who have opted in to receive them. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP, and you can reply HELP for assistance. We do not share your phone number with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

9. Cookies and Analytics

A cookie is a small file a website stores on your device. We and our service providers use cookies and similar technologies to help the Site work, remember your preferences, and understand how the Site is used.

The Site may use:

Session cookies, which are deleted when you close your browser.
Persistent cookies, which remain on your device to remember your preferences for future visits.
Third-party cookies, set by services that run content on our pages, such as analytics providers.

Cookies themselves do not contain your name or other identifying details, but we may connect them to information you have given us.

We use Google Analytics to learn how visitors use the Site, such as how often pages are visited. Google Analytics collects your IP address and usage activity, not your name. We use this information only to improve the Site and our services, and we do not combine it with information that directly identifies you. You can opt out using Google’s browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

You can remove or block cookies in your browser settings, but some features of the Site may not work properly if you do.

10. Children and Students

Our Site is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the Site without a parent or guardian’s involvement.

Our children’s and student ministries do collect limited information, such as a child’s name, age or grade, allergies or special needs, and authorized pick-up details, through Planning Center check-in and registration. This information is provided by a parent or guardian and used only for the safety and care of the child, communication with parents, and ministry operations. Access is limited to authorized staff and volunteers.

If you believe a child has given us personal information without a parent or guardian’s consent, please contact us at info@thebridgetn.church and we will take steps to remove it.

11. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including limiting access to staff and volunteers who need it, using reputable service providers that maintain their own security safeguards, and requiring those providers to protect the information they handle for us.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by law.

12. Third-Party Websites and Services

This policy covers information we collect. It does not apply to other websites, apps, or organizations we do not own or control, including our service providers’ own sites. Their privacy practices may differ, so we encourage you to review them. For example, Planning Center and Text in Church each have their own privacy policies.

13. Bridge Live Chat

The Bridge Church, Rogersville, TN · Last updated October 14, 2026
Bridge Live Chat is a tool used only by The Bridge Church's online ministry team during our live-streamed services. It is not available to the public.

What it does
Shows comments people post on our YouTube and Facebook live streams so our team can read them in one place.
Lets our team post replies as The Bridge Church Page and YouTube channel.
What information it uses
Public comments posted on our live streams, including the commenter's display name and message.
Sign-in permissions for our own church Facebook Page and YouTube channel. These are stored securely and used only to post our replies.

What we do not do
We do not sell, rent, or share anyone's information with anyone.
We do not use comments for advertising.
We do not collect information from people who do not comment on our streams.

Storage
Comments appear only on our team's screens during the service. Summaries kept by our team, such as prayer requests, are used only for ministry follow-up.

Data deletion
To have your information removed, or to ask any question about this policy, email terry@thebridgetn.church with your name and the platform you commented on. We will delete any related records within 30 days. You can also delete your own comments directly on Facebook or YouTube at any time.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the new policy on the Site and update the “Last Updated” date.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

The Bridge Church
2243 E Main St, Rogersville, TN 37857
Email: info@thebridgetn.church
Phone: (423) 345-8557

[The Bridge Church has verified its Privacy Policy correctly reflects its data collection and usage as of October 14, 2026.]