2 responses to “Should the churches use more data or less data?”

1. 

   UKViewer

   17/04/2018

   You raise questions that we have all been struggling with in Churches up and down the land for months now. Its difficult to interpret legislation that hasn’t yet been put on the Statute book, unless through the lens of the preceding legislation. With which we were completely compliant. An example being the Electoral Roll on display in the Church, only has names, and nothing else. We have a parish directory, which has always been completed with the written consent of those who are happy to appear on it and agree to share with other members on the electoral roll. Up to now, Children were not on the roll, unless their parents gave their consent. Under GPDR, children down to age 13 need to give their personal ‘informed consent’ which is not as easy as it sounds. Some, who were previously included with their parents, do not want to be on the next directory, apart from their name and a phone number (mobile) which given their propensity to change phones at the drop of a hat, or to lose them, makes them virtually incommunicado. This is difficult as the majority of our choir are children and contacting them for short notice commitments via their parents can be problematic, now, having to communicate direct might be a non-starter.

   As people have become more aware of their rights and responsibilities, and our responsibility to them, the vision of a member of Clergy or a Church receiving the minimum £5K fine makes us all shiver for any breach of the new rules. And even being sued for damages. I hope that our insurance for such liabilities has been updated?

   Mind you, the common sense things have apparently been sorted. For instance Registers of Hatch, Match and Despatch and Baptism and confirmation are compliant and as Public Records can be retained and archived safely, as they currently are with local Register Offices.

   And apparently records of people that we minister too and have ministered too and use to offer ongoing care are ok for secure storage and use, provided that we review them and safely destroy them when they are no longer needed.

   other financial records such as those of gift aid donors are exempt from the GPDR as long as they are required by HMRC, currently six years. And as most are now managed (by us) electronically, they are tightly controlled and kept secure, not on an odd computer left available for anyone to use.

   I don’t anticipate any real issues in our parish, as a great deal of effort, time and resources have gone into ensuring that we’re compliant. But we just need to be careful not to get complacent.

   Reply
   1. 

      Kelvin

      17/04/2018

      I think that GDPR is 95% common sense and 5% utter madness.

      Remember Gentle Reader that UKViewer seems to be based in Englandshire and their rules on registers differ markedly from those of blessed Caledonia.

      A marriage register in the Scottish Episcopal Church has no legal purpose, to start with…

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