Introduction

This Privacy Policy ("Policy") applies to all personal information collected by the Concerned Members Group through this website, through the Join & Pray pledge form, through direct correspondence by email or other means, and through any other channel by which you interact with the CMG.

This Policy does not apply to third-party websites that may be accessible through links on this website. The CMG makes no representations about the privacy practices of any third party and accepts no responsibility for the content or privacy practices of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites before submitting personal information.

Who We Are

The Concerned Members Group is a fellowship of baptized, active Seventh-day Adventist members from churches across the Cape Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa. The CMG operates as an independent member group and is not an official entity of the Cape Conference, the Southern Africa Union Conference (SAU), the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID), or the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

The CMG operates this website at concernedmemberssa.org for the purpose of sharing information, receiving member pledges of support, and facilitating prayerful engagement around matters of church governance, accountability, and mission in the Cape Conference.

For the purposes of POPIA, the CMG is the Responsible Party in respect of all personal information collected through this website and through direct engagement with the group.

Information We Collect

The CMG collects only the personal information that is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. We do not collect information beyond what is reasonably required to fulfill those purposes. The categories of information we may collect include:

We do not require you to provide personal information simply to read the content on this website. Personal information is only collected when you actively choose to engage with the CMG — for example, by completing the pledge form or contacting us directly.

How We Use Your Information

The CMG uses personal information only for the specific purposes for which it was collected. We do not use your information for any purpose that is incompatible with those purposes without your consent. The purposes for which we use personal information include:

• To register your pledge of support — to record and acknowledge your prayerful commitment to the CMG's work and values.
• To communicate with you — to send updates, information, and relevant communications regarding the CMG's initiatives, where you have consented to receive these.
• To receive and process concerns — to receive, record, and appropriately handle documented concerns or experiences that you voluntarily share with the CMG for the purposes of its governance engagement work.
• To maintain our records — to keep accurate records of member support and engagement for the purposes of the CMG's legitimate organisational functions.
• To improve this website — to analyse website usage data in aggregate form to understand how the website is being used and to improve its content and functionality.
• To comply with legal obligations — to comply with any applicable legal obligations that may require the retention or disclosure of personal information.

We will never use your personal information for commercial marketing purposes, nor will we sell, rent, or trade your information to any third party for any commercial purpose whatsoever.

Legal Basis for Processing

In terms of POPIA, the CMG processes personal information on the following grounds of justification:

• Your consent — where you have voluntarily provided personal information by completing the pledge form, contacting us directly, or consenting to receive communications. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.
• Legitimate interest — where the processing is necessary for the CMG to carry out its legitimate organisational functions, including receiving and handling member concerns, maintaining records of support, and administering this website — provided that our legitimate interest does not override your rights and interests.
• Legal obligation — where we are required by law to process or retain your personal information.

The CMG does not process special personal information (as defined in POPIA — including religious beliefs, health information, or political views) except where you have voluntarily disclosed such information in the content of a concern or communication submitted to us, in which case your voluntary disclosure constitutes implied consent to our receiving and handling that information for the stated purpose.

Information We Do Not Collect

To be absolutely clear about the limits of our data collection, the CMG does not collect the following:

• Financial information — we do not collect bank account details, card numbers, or any payment information. The CMG does not charge membership fees or process payments through this website.
• Identification documents — we do not collect national identity numbers, passport information, or copies of official identity documents.
• Biometric data — we do not collect facial recognition data, fingerprints, or any biometric information.
• Children's personal information — this website is not directed at children under the age of 18 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, please contact us immediately so that we can delete it.
• Location data — we do not collect precise geographic location data from your device.

Sharing Your Information

The CMG treats the confidentiality of your personal information as a matter of the highest priority. We recognise that many members who engage with us do so in sensitive circumstances, and that disclosure of their identity or information could have serious personal or professional consequences.

We will never share your personal information with the following parties without your explicit written consent:

• Cape Conference leadership or administration — under no circumstances will your information be shared with Conference leadership, staff, or administration without your express written consent.
• Southern Africa Union Conference (SAU) — your information will not be shared with the SAU or any of its officers without your express written consent.
• SID or General Conference entities — your information will not be shared with the SID or GC without your express written consent.
• Any commercial third party — your information will never be sold, rented, or traded to any commercial third party for any purpose.

The CMG may share personal information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers — we may share information with trusted technical service providers (such as website hosting and email service providers) who assist us in operating this website. These providers are contractually bound to use your information only for the purposes for which it was shared and to maintain appropriate security standards.
• Legal requirements — we may disclose your information where required to do so by law, court order, or a lawful instruction from a regulatory authority — and only to the extent required by such obligation.
• With your explicit consent — we may share your information with any third party where you have given us your explicit written consent to do so.

Cookies & Website Data

This website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and to collect statistical information about how the website is used. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.

The types of cookies that may be used on this website include:

• Essential cookies — necessary for the website to function correctly. These cannot be disabled without affecting website functionality.
• Analytics cookies — used to collect anonymous, aggregate statistical data about website visitors (such as number of visits, pages viewed, and time spent on the site). This information is used solely to improve the website and is not used to identify individual visitors.
• Preference cookies — used to remember your preferences and settings for future visits.

You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features of this website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this Policy.

This website does not use advertising cookies or tracking cookies for commercial marketing purposes.

Your Rights

In terms of POPIA and applicable South African privacy law, you have the following rights in respect of your personal information held by the CMG:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 14 of this Policy. We will respond to all requests within a reasonable time and in accordance with our obligations under POPIA.

Data Security

The security of your personal information is of paramount importance to the CMG. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or disclosure.

These measures include:

• SSL encryption — all data transmitted through this website is encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
• Access controls — access to personal information is restricted to authorised CMG members who require the information to carry out the CMG's stated purposes.
• Secure storage — personal information is stored using secure, password-protected systems with appropriate access controls.
• Confidentiality obligations — all CMG members and any service providers who handle personal information on our behalf are bound by confidentiality obligations.

While we take all reasonable precautions to protect your information, no method of data transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we commit to notifying you promptly if we become aware of a breach that may affect your personal information.

Retention of Information

The CMG will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Specifically:

• Pledge and support records — retained for the duration of the CMG's active engagement work in the Cape Conference, and for a reasonable period thereafter for record-keeping purposes.
• Concern submissions and correspondence — retained for as long as the concern remains active or relevant to the CMG's work, and thereafter in accordance with any applicable legal obligations.
• Website analytics data — retained in aggregate, anonymised form for the purposes of website improvement. Individual-level data is not retained beyond what is necessary for aggregate analysis.
• Communication records — retained for a period reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes of the communication and to comply with any applicable record-keeping obligations.

When personal information is no longer required, we will securely delete or anonymise it in accordance with best practice standards. You may at any time request the deletion of your personal information by contacting us as set out in Section 14.

Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to external websites, including websites of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, denominational bodies, policy documents, and other resources relevant to the CMG's work. These links are provided for your convenience and information only.

The CMG does not control the content, privacy practices, or data handling of any third-party website. Clicking on a link to a third-party website means that you are leaving the CMG website and that the third party's own privacy policy will apply to any information you submit on that site. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external website before providing personal information.

The inclusion of a link to a third-party website does not constitute an endorsement by the CMG of that website, its content, or its privacy practices.

Changes to This Policy

The CMG may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, changes in applicable law, or improvements to how we communicate our privacy commitments. The date at the top of this page will always reflect when this Policy was last updated.

We encourage you to review this page periodically. Where changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to notify members who have provided us with contact information. Your continued use of this website following any update to this Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise any of your data subject rights under POPIA, wish to update or delete your personal information, or wish to raise a privacy concern, please contact the CMG's Privacy Contact using the details below.

When contacting us, please provide your name, a description of your request or concern, and a contact means through which we may respond to you — preferably an email address. We will acknowledge your request promptly and respond within a reasonable time.