Best Practices for Recording Church Events and Activities
From worship services to children's programs and business meetings, a sound policy ensures legal compliance.
Confidentiality
Clergy-Penitent Privilege
Learn what statements or conversations are considered “privileged.”
Inspection of Church Records
Know when to say "yes" to a request to view confidential information.
Are We Keeping It Confidential?
Nine question checklist to ensure financial and personal confidentiality.
Q&A: What If a Prayer Request Card Implies Child Abuse?
Start with knowing your state's mandatory reporting laws.
Church Staff Salaries: Better Kept Private or Made Public?
Balancing transparency and accountability with privacy is key—but no easy task.
Q&A: Is Posting Prayer Lists an Invasion of Privacy?
3 Take this key step before publicly sharing the needs of your congregation.
Setting Staff Salaries
Churches often fail to count the hidden costs of poor salaries.
Keeping Secrets
Your church must be careful with the confidential information it controls.
“I Can’t Promise Not to Tell”
Youth workers have ethical and legal duties they must fulfill.
Q&A: Does the Presence of a Third Party Negate Penitent Privilege?
Definitions of roles, and state laws, factor heavily in this question.
Q&A: Confidentiality in Small Groups
Can conversations end up in court?
Q&A: E-mail Confidentiality
What all the fine print at the end of some e-mails means.
Computer Privacy for Church Staff
A recent Supreme Court case addresses employers' right to search electronic media.
Q&A: Enforcing Restraining Orders
What is our church's responsibility when presented with a restraining order?
Guard Your Tongue
False statements can put churches in hot water.
Disclosing a Child Abuse Reporter’s Identity
Can the state reveal reporting sources?
Q&A: What Is the Difference Between “Privileged” Communications and “Confidential” Communications?
What is the difference between “privileged” communications and “confidential” communications? The concepts of privilege and
Can Churches Inspect Employees’ Computers?
Church computers can be a great blessing. Just ask any church employee who was hired
Q&A: Inspecting Church Contribution Records
Can pastors and board members review what people give?