How Well Does Your Ministry Secure Personal Data?
December 14, 2016
Churches—and other ministries, as well—commonly store a variety of personal information about their members and the people who support them. Mailing lists and donation records may be the most familiar repositories of personal information; however, the average church database is also likely to include Social Security numbers and payment card information.
Unsecured, this data could make church members vulnerable to criminals—putting church and ministry members at risk. What can you do to protect your members’ personal information? Start with these suggestions.
Improve physical security
How you and your staff handle information will go a long way to safeguarding the personal information you maintain about your members and your church or ministry.
- Shred documents with person information before throwing them away.
- Use secured mailboxes or a post office box to send and receive business mail.
- Ensure that you have a member’s permission before providing personal information about them. Even when a church or ministry member calls or emails asking for personal information they have previously provided to you, ensure that you verify their identity before releasing the information.
- Store all records in locked cabinets.
- Limit access to sensitive information.
- Train your office staff to protect the confidentiality and security of personal information.
- Lock your facility; set alarms.
Improve computer security
In today’s electronic age, your computer system can be a prime target of would-be hackers and other information thieves. Protect your system. If you can’t do it yourself, get the technical help you need.
- Find an established, reputable computer support company that comes highly recommended.
- Ensure that your operating system is always up to date. This is your first line of defense.
- Use virus and spyware protection—even if you have a one-computer office.
- Update virus definitions regularly and scan computers for malicious software.
- Install a dependable firewall.
- Encrypt your wireless network.
- Back up records frequently. Store backups in a secure, off-site location to protect your ministry from losing records to computer breaches and other events, including natural disasters.
- Change passwords frequently and limit access to select staff members or volunteers.
Never take protecting personal information lightly. The integrity of your administrative and financial practices is always worth the effort you take to maintain information security. By carefully managing your members’ personal information, you are not only exercising good business practices, but you also are protecting your church or ministry from crippling data losses, embarrassing public disclosures, and potential lawsuits.
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- June 28, 2019
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- May 13, 2019
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- April 9, 2019
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- March 25, 2019
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As winter turns to spring, we’re also in for a turn in weather. Lightning, strong winds, flash flooding, hail, or tornadoes could quickly strike your ministry. The National Weather Service has designated March 25-29, 2019, as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Iowa and Nebraska.
- June 1, 2018
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The National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month, so we want to make sure your ministry is doing everything it can to protect its people, property, and programs. Each week in June, we’ll tackle a different topic. Up this week: Emergency Preparedness.
- April 18, 2018
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There’s a new scam in town, and ministries and other organizations collecting donations are the primary target. If your ministry collects tithes or donations, you could be targeted by scammers practicing donation overpayment fraud.
- February 21, 2018
- Remembering Billy Graham
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Beloved evangelist Billy Graham was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the age of 99.
- February 9, 2018
- Flu Is Widespread: Protect Your Congregation
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For the first time in its 13 years of influenza monitoring, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that every state in the continental U.S. is seeing widespread flu activity. Get tips on how to keep your congregation healthy this flu season.
- June 19, 2017
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Snow skiing. Camping. Whitewater rafting. A youth group trip can give students an exciting diversion from their weekly routines, as well as an opportunity to strengthen healthy friendships. Off-site activities may challenge your students to step outside of their comfort zones a bit, but this can bring about a positive result.
- June 7, 2017
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- May 24, 2017
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- March 29, 2017
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- March 15, 2017
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- February 22, 2017
- Health Care Reimbursement Option Now Available
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Small businesses—including churches and related ministries—can once again pay premiums for their employees’ health insurance. Previously known as an Employer Payment Plan (EPP) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), these arrangements violated the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, due to a recently passed law, ministries that are not part of a group health plan now have another option to help employees with health care costs.
- February 15, 2017
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Ministries beware: An email scheme, designed to coincide with tax season, asks payroll and human resource professionals to disclose employees’ personal information. Think you wouldn’t fall for such a scam? You might, if the email looks as if it came from someone in your ministry.
- February 1, 2017
- Dual Tax Status: What Does It Mean for Your Pastor?
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Under federal law, most ministers have dual tax status. Dual tax status means a minister is an employee of the church for federal income tax purposes, and self-employed for Social Security and Medicare taxes. Here’s what you need to know.
- January 18, 2017
- Protect Your Board Against Lawsuits
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Lawsuits against churches and ministries are on the rise, making their board members especially vulnerable. Sometimes, courts have found directors and officers personally liable when their actions have resulted in financial damages.