Privacy Policy - Sparkhouse Online
sparkhouse is committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy policy covers sparkhouse’s treatment of personally identifiable information that is collected by sparkhouse when you are at the Sparkhouse Online Web site.
About Us
sparkhouse (“Publisher”) created, maintains and operates the Sparkhouse Online Web site (the “Site”) as a service to churches and other organizations (the “Congregations”) who use this Site as part of their Sunday school and religious education programs.
Purpose and Scope of this Privacy Policy¶
The Site is designed to serve administrators of Sunday school programs, leaders of Sunday school programs, and the parents of students of Sunday school programs. Since the students of the Sparkhouse Online Sunday school programs are children under the age of 13, this Privacy Policy specifically addresses the collection and use of information regarding students. This Privacy Policy is part of the Sparkhouse Online
Terms of Use.
Definitions
As used in this Privacy Policy:
• The term “administrator” refers to persons who are affiliated with and authorized by a church or organization that has purchased Sparkhouse Online in order to run a Sunday school program.
• The terms “child and children” refer to children under the age of 13.
• The term “student” refers to an individual who is enrolled in a Sunday school program as a student.
• The term “leader” refers to an individual who uses our Site as the leader or teacher of a group of students.
• The term “parent” refers to a child’s parent or legal guardian
• The term “personal information” refers to information that identifies a particular individual, alone or in combination with any other information that may be available to us.
Your Consent
By accessing and using this Site, you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this privacy policy you may not use this Site.
How Do We Protect Your Personal Information?
Web Security
We take reasonable precautions to protect the confidentiality and security of the personal information we collect through this Site. Although no website or database is completely secure or “hacker proof,” we will monitor and improve such precautions as circumstances warrant.
Password Protection
For your protection, administrators must log in each time they visit the Site. Administrators will have access to your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We have the right to assume that anyone who accesses this Site using a password is, in fact, the user to whom the password is assigned, and we will grant access accordingly.
What Personal Information do we collect through this Site?
When you use this Site, we may collect personal information in the following ways:
Information You Actively Provide
We collect the personal information you actively provide (using your mouse or keyboard) when you use this Site.
Information Provided by Your Congregation’s Administrator
The administrator of your Sunday school program may provide your full name and e-mail address.
Information Sent to Us by Your Web Browser
We collect information that is sent to us automatically by your web browser. This information typically includes your computer’s IP address, the address of the web page you were visiting when you accessed our Site, the name of the operating system (such as Windows® or Macintosh®) installed on your computer, the name and version of the browser (such as Firefox® or Internet Explorer®) you are using, and the date and time of your visit. The information we receive depends on the settings on your web browser. Please check your browser if you want to learn what information the browser sends or how to change your settings.
The information provided by your browser does not identify you personally. We use this non-personal information primarily to create statistics that help us improve our Sites and make them more compatible with the features and technology used by our visitors. We do not link browser information to information that identifies you personally; however, if we suspect criminal activity, we might share our server logs – which contain visitors’ IP addresses – with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use the information to trace and identify individuals.
Information Collected Using “Cookies” and other Web Technologies¶
We use “cookies,” and similar technologies to collect information and support the functionality of this Site. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer’s hard disk by a web server. Cookies cannot be used to install computer programs or deliver viruses to your computer. We may use two types of cookies – “session cookies” and “persistent cookies.”
Session Cookies
A “session cookie” assigns a randomly-generated, unique identification number to your computer when you access this Site. Assigning a number to your computer permits us to follow you as you move from page to page within the website. A session cookie expires after you close the browser.
Generally we use session cookies to collect information about the way visitors use our Site, such as which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page. We analyze this information (known as “click-stream information”) to better understand the interests and needs of our visitors and to improve the content and functionality of our Site. Session cookies are also used to facilitate the proper functioning of the features of our Site. For example, session cookies let us follow you as you complete a multi-page quiz or survey. Without the session cookie, we could not collect all of your answers as you move from page to page. Session cookies do not identify you personally. However, once you log in, we know your identity and we may link the information collected by our session cookies to information that identifies you personally and store it with other information we have collected from or about you.
Persistent Cookies
We use persistent cookies to remember your login name for future logins. These persistent cookies will identify you as a parent or a leader and may contain other information that will allow us to provide you with a personalized online experience. Unlike a “session cookie,” a persistent cookie does not expire when you close your browser. It stays on your computer until it expires (for example, at the end of the academic year) or until you delete it.
Rejecting Cookies
You have the ability to set your browser to reject cookies; however, if you set your browser to reject cookies, you will not be able to use key features and functionalities of this Site. The Site allows you to choose not to save your login/username. (This choice is offered on the login screen.) If you choose not to save your login/username, our server will not send any persistent cookies to your computer. If you choose to save your login/username, you can change your mind at any time by deleting our cookies from your hard drive.
Information Collected About Students
The only information collected about students is actively provided by a parent/guardian or an administrator of the website. The website is not intended to be used by the student. Information regarding a child’s registration in the Sunday school program may be collected by the applicable Congregation on the Congregation’s Sunday school program registration site, and will be subject to the privacy policy on that registration site.
How Do We Use The Personal Information We Collect Through This Site?
We use the information from your visit to allow you or your church’s Sparkhouse Online leaders to register you or your children for Sunday school programs, to fulfill your requests for products and services, for internal tracking purposes, to make the Sparkhouse Online Web site useful and interesting to you, to respond to your requests for information, and to contact you about specials, new products and related information. By using our site, you consent to the collection and use of certain information by the Publisher as explained in this Privacy Policy.
The Publisher will send personally identifiable information about you to other companies or people ONLY when:
• We have your consent to share the information.
• We need to share your information to provide the product or services you have requested.
• We need to send the information to companies that work on behalf of the Publisher to provide a product or service to you. (Unless we tell you differently, these companies do not have any right to use the personally identifiable information we provide to them beyond what is necessary to assist us.)
• We respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal processes.
Any other information, feedback, data, questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the content of this site will not be considered confidential, and the Publisher will be free to reproduce, use, disclose, and distribute the response to others, without limitation. You agree that the Publisher is free to use any ideas, concepts, or techniques contained in your response for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to developing, manufacturing and marketing products incorporating those ideas, concepts or techniques.
Online Orders
When you place an order for any product or service that is fee-based, we need your name, e-mail address, mailing address, credit card number, credit card security code and expiration date. This allows us to process and fulfill your order, to contact you if any questions arise, and to notify you of your order status. We maintain a record of your purchases, product interests, and the information you provide. Reputable third-party financial institutions handle our credit card transactions. Whenever you transmit credit card information and other personal information through our site, the numbers and letters are scrambled using encryption technology, making it nearly impossible for the information to be stolen or intercepted. The security of your personal information is very important to us, and we are committed to protecting the information we collect. The Publisher has security measures in place at its physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of any information that we have collected from you at our site.
E-Mail, Mailing Lists, and other Services¶
The Publisher does not sell, rent, trade, or give away your personal information to any third parties.
We use personal information to provide the information, products and services you request. For example, when you purchase the SPARK Story Bible, we use the personal information you provide to send you the products that you have ordered. We also use personal information to respond to your requests. For example,
• We use administrator’s username and password to control access to various portions of our Site.
• We use the information you provide on the “Contact” page to provide the information and assistance you request.
We also maintain personal information on behalf of administrators. Administrators may use this information to communicate with leaders, schedule meetings, and track attendance.
We also study the personal information we collect through our Site to improve our programs and services and to improve the content, functionality, navigation and usability of this Site.
We will not use your personal information for marketing purposes unless we give you an opportunity to “opt-out.”
How Do We Use The Personal Information We Collect About Children?
We use the child’s personal information we collect through this Site to facilitate communication between the child’s Sunday school leader and the child’s parent, and to provide the information, products, and services the parent or leader requests. For example:
• We allow you or your church’s administrator to register your child for the Sunday school program.
• We maintain your child’s personal information, and your personal information, on behalf of the child’s administrator and leader so that those persons may contact you regarding the Sunday school program, insert your child’s name into schedules related to the Sunday school program, and track your child’s attendance.
We will not use children’s personal information for any type of marketing purpose. We request that parents or guardians monitor their child’s activities while online. The Sparkhouse Web site is not intended for use by children under the age of 13.
With Whom Do We Share The Personal Information We Collect Through This Site?
Our service providers. We share personal information collected through our sites with companies and organizations that perform services on our behalf, such as data storage and web hosting services. These companies and organizations are required by contract to use the personal information we share with them only to perform services on our behalf (and not for their own purposes) and to protect confidentiality.
Leaders and Congregations¶
We share a leader's personal information with the administrator of the church’s Sparkhouse Online program for use as described in this Privacy Policy.
Our Successors
We may transfer the personal information we collect through this Site to another company (either an affiliate or an unrelated third party) that has acquired the assets of the Publisher, one of its affiliates, or one of its operating divisions, for example, as the result of a sale, merger, reorganization, dissolution or liquidation. If such a transfer occurs, the acquiring company will "step into our shoes" and collect, use and share your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Other Limited Circumstances
There are other limited circumstances in which we may share the personal information in our databases with unrelated third parties. For example, we may disclose the personal information we collect through this Site when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law or a regulatory requirement or to comply with a subpoena or court order; to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce a contract; to protect the rights, property or safety of the Publisher, the students, leaders, and other users; or to protect the vital interests of a user.
Not for Marketing Purposes
We do not share your personal information with third parties to use for their own marketing purposes.
This Privacy Policy May Change
We are continually improving and adding to the functionality and features of this Site. As a result of these changes (or changes in the law), we may need to update or revise our Privacy Policy. Accordingly, we reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version of this Privacy Policy on this Site. These changes will only apply to personal information we collect after we have posted the revised Privacy Policy. Your use of our Site following any such change constitutes your agreement that all personal information collected from or about you through this Site after the revised Privacy Policy is posted will be subject to the terms of the revised Privacy Policy.
You may access the current version of this Privacy Policy by clicking on the hyperlink marked "Privacy Policy" at the bottom of each page of this Site.
This Privacy Policy was last revised on: March 11, 2014.
Removing or Updating Your Information
If you have provided sparkhouse with your contact information, but wish to have your name removed from our database or promotional mailing list, please send an e-mail to customercare@wearesparkhouse.org.
We would like to keep registered users’ personal information accurate and up-to-date. If you would like to modify or update your personal information, e-mail address, mailing address, billing or preferred shipping information, please e-mail us at the address above or log into your account using your user name and password, and update your information. Please include your full name as well as the postal address and e-mail address that you used when you opened your account or made a purchase. Please allow up to four weeks for the updated information to be processed and incorporated into our systems.
===Links to Other Sites
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Our site may include links to other sites operated by third parties as a convenience to you. sparkhouse does not necessarily endorse these external sites and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these sites. You should carefully review the terms and conditions and privacy policies of all other websites that you visit.
Your Right To Access Your Personal Information
If you would like to know what information we have collected about you through this Site, or if you would like to review, correct, or have us delete any of your personal information, please contact us by e-mail at
info@wearesparkhouse.org or by postal mail at
sparkhouse Customer Care
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
We will employ reasonable efforts to respond to your request within a reasonable time. For your protection, we may ask you for additional information to verify your identity. In most cases, we will provide the access you request and comply with your request to correct or delete your personal information. In some cases, however, we may limit or deny your request if applicable law permits or requires us to do so.
Parents’ Right to Access and Have their Children’s Personal Information Deleted¶
We believe that you, as a parent, have the right to know the specific types or categories of personal information we have collected regarding your child. In order to facilitate this, the information that is collected about your child is provided by you, the parent. However, we feel you should be able to review the information that has been provided about your child, and request that your child’s personal information be deleted. If you would like to access your child’s personal information or have it deleted, please contact us by e-mail at
info@wearesparkhouse.org or by postal mail at
sparkhouse Customer Care
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
We will employ reasonable efforts to respond to your request within a reasonable time. For your protection, we may ask you for additional information to verify your identity. In most cases, we will provide the access you request and comply with your request to correct or delete your personal information. In some cases, however, we may limit or deny your request if applicable law permits or requires us to do so.
This Site is Hosted on Servers in the United States
The Publisher is a non-profit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This Site is hosted on servers located within the United States.
Different countries have different privacy laws and requirements. Please know, however, that no matter where your personal information is collected, used, transferred or stored, if it was collected through this Site, it will be protected by the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, U.S.A. without regard to its conflict of law principles.
Links to Other Sites
This Site may contain links to other websites operated by the Publisher. It may also contain links to websites that are owned and operated by unrelated third parties.
This Privacy Policy applies only to personal information collected through this Site. It does not apply to personal information collected on any other website operated by the Publisher or any third party.
Questions about Our Privacy Policy
If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or the Publisher’s privacy practices, please contact us by email, telephone or postal mail. Our contact information is as follows:
sparkhouse Customer Care
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
info@wearesparkhouse.org
(877) 702-5551