1. Introduction

Welcome to Church Growth Plugin, a WordPress application developed by e-Church Digital.

Our mission is to help churches understand how people discover their websites through Google Search and identify opportunities to create helpful ministry content.

We respect your privacy and recognize the importance of protecting the information entrusted to us.

This Privacy Policy explains what information Church Growth Plugin and the e-Church Digital Connection Hub access, how that information is used, and the choices available to users.

This policy applies specifically to Church Growth Plugin and its Google Search Console integration. Other services offered through eChurchDigital.com may be covered by additional privacy disclosures.

2. Information We Access

When a church administrator chooses to connect Google Search Console, our application requests permission to access Search Console information associated with the Google account they authorize.

This may include:

• Verified or accessible Search Console properties.
• Google Search impressions.
• Google Search clicks.
• Click-through rate (CTR).
• Average search position.
• Search queries associated with a website.
• Search performance information for the selected website.

The application may also process the WordPress website address, connection identifiers, selected Search Console property, and technical information necessary to maintain the authorized connection.

We request read-only access to Google Search Console through the following permission:

https://www.googleapis.com/auth/webmasters.readonly

This permission allows the application to retrieve authorized Search Console information. It does not grant permission to modify a website, publish content, change Search Console settings, or manage a Google account.

3. How We Use Google Search Console Data

Information received from Google Search Console is used to provide the features requested by the connected church administrator.

These features include:

• Displaying website search performance.
• Showing impressions, clicks, CTR, and average position.
• Identifying five keywords to watch.
• Suggesting up to five blog opportunities based on available search queries.
• Helping administrators review potential improvements to existing website content.
• Maintaining the authorized connection and troubleshooting service errors.

Blog opportunities are suggestions derived from available search information. They are not recommendations from Google or guarantees of search rankings, website traffic, or ministry growth.

4. Our Google Connection Service

Church Growth Plugin uses a dedicated connection service operated by e-Church Digital:

connect.echurchdigital.com

This service helps WordPress website administrators authorize Google Search Console access without creating and configuring their own Google Cloud applications.

During authorization, users are directed to Google’s secure authorization process to review and approve the requested permission.

Following authorization, the connection service may securely store Google authorization credentials, including refresh tokens, to maintain access while the connection remains authorized.

The connection service associates each authorization with its corresponding registered WordPress installation.

Authorized Search Console reports are retrieved through the connection service and returned to the appropriate connected WordPress website.

Google access tokens, refresh tokens, and the shared Google OAuth Client Secret are not included in the Search Console reports delivered to connected church websites.

5. Data Storage and Security

The connection service uses the WordPress hosting environment to maintain application configuration, connection records, and authorization information.

Church Growth Plugin may also temporarily cache Search Console reports in the connected church’s WordPress database to reduce repeated API requests and improve performance.

We use technical and organizational measures appropriate to the service, including encrypted transport through HTTPS, restricted administrative controls, protected connection credentials, and website-specific authorization.

No internet-based service or data-storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users should protect access to their WordPress administrator accounts and Google accounts and notify us if they suspect unauthorized use of a connection.

6. Sharing of Information

Google Search Console information is processed to provide the reporting and content-planning features requested by the connected user.

Information may be transmitted between Google Search Console, the e-Church Digital Connection Hub, and the authorized WordPress installation.

Our hosting provider and other infrastructure providers may process information as necessary to operate and secure the service.

We do not sell Google Search Console information to advertisers, data brokers, or information resellers.

We do not use Google Search Console information to target advertisements or create advertising profiles.

We do not use Google Search Console information to train general-purpose artificial intelligence or machine-learning models.

We may disclose information where required by applicable law or when reasonably necessary to investigate security incidents or misuse of the service.

7. Google API Data Use

Church Growth Plugin’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including applicable Limited Use requirements.

Google information is accessed and used only for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and authorized by the user.

Church Growth Plugin is independently developed by e-Church Digital and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Google.

8. Data Retention

Search Console reports may be temporarily cached by the WordPress plugin to improve performance and reduce repeated Google API requests.

Connection records and authorization credentials may remain stored while a website’s connection is active or while they are reasonably needed for security, troubleshooting, or service administration.

Backup copies and technical logs may remain available for a limited period under the applicable hosting and backup arrangements.

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, subject to applicable legal requirements and the service’s implemented retention controls.

9. Disconnecting Google and Requesting Deletion

Church administrators can disconnect Google Search Console or request removal of Church Growth Plugin connection information. Disconnecting Google and permanently removing connection data are separate actions.

Disconnecting Google Search Console

Users can withdraw Google authorization through their Google Account permissions:

Manage Google Account Connections

Church administrators may also contact e-Church Digital for help disconnecting their site’s Google authorization from the e-Church Digital Connection Hub.

When Google is disconnected through the Connection Hub, the website’s WordPress pairing may remain in place so an authorized administrator can reconnect without registering again. While the hub confirms Google is disconnected, the plugin pauses hub reporting and does not display previously cached Search Console reports as current.

Disconnecting Google does not, by itself, remove every stored connection record, local plugin setting, or hosting backup.

Permanently Removing a Website’s Hub Connection

An authorized church administrator may request permanent removal of the website’s connection information from the e-Church Digital Connection Hub.

The hub administrator’s permanent-removal process is designed to remove the selected site’s registry entry, pairing credentials, approved Search Console property, and locally stored Google authorization token. It also requests Google token revocation when available.

Permanent hub removal ends that site’s existing pairing. Using the connection service again requires a new registration and authorization.

Removing Local WordPress Connection Data

Church Growth Plugin provides separate privacy controls within the church’s WordPress installation.

An authorized WordPress administrator can clear locally cached Search Console reports and temporary diagnostics without removing active connection settings.

After the Connection Hub rejects a website’s saved pairing, the plugin may offer a separate, administrator-confirmed full local removal option.

This is designed to clear the plugin’s saved hub identity and pairing secret, locally stored direct Google credentials and OAuth settings, selected Search Console property, reporting configuration, cached reports, and temporary diagnostics.

These controls concern Church Growth Plugin’s connection information. They do not delete the church’s WordPress website, pages, posts, or unrelated plugins.

What Is Not Automatically Deleted

Hub-side and local WordPress removal do not automatically erase information in hosting or database backups, server logs, or systems outside the specific removal process.

Local WordPress cleanup also does not automatically revoke a separately authorized direct Google connection. Users may need to revoke that connection through their Google Account settings.

Information in backups or logs remains subject to the relevant retention arrangements, legal requirements, and technical limitations.

Requesting Assistance or Deletion

To request help disconnecting Google, removing a website’s hub registration, or deleting associated connection information, contact e-Church Digital.

We may need to verify that the requester is authorized to act for the website.

We review and process applicable requests subject to identity verification, legal obligations, and technical retention limitations.

Email: info@eChurchDigital.com

10. Website Visitors and Personal Information

Church Growth Plugin is designed primarily for website administrators and authorized ministry personnel.

The plugin’s Search Console reporting is not intended to identify individual visitors who discover a church through Google Search.

The plugin does not provide churches with the names, email addresses, or telephone numbers of individual Google Search users.

A church’s own website may collect additional information through contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, visitor forms, or other plugins. Those activities are governed by that website’s privacy policy and applicable service providers.

11. Third-Party Services

Church Growth Plugin relies on the following services:

• Google Search Console: Provides authorized website search performance information.
• Google OAuth: Handles authorization of access to Google information.
• e-Church Digital Connection Hub: Manages authorized connections and reporting requests.
• WordPress and hosting infrastructure: Runs the application and stores necessary configuration and reporting information.

Google’s privacy practices are described at:

Google Privacy Policy

12. International Users

Church Growth Plugin may be used by churches in different countries.

Depending on the user’s location and hosting arrangements, information may be processed in a country different from the user’s country of residence.

Users and church administrators are responsible for ensuring that their use of the service complies with applicable privacy and data-protection requirements.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in the application, its features, applicable requirements, or data-handling practices.

The effective date at the top of this page will be updated when the policy changes.

Material changes affecting how Google user information is accessed or used will be reflected in our published disclosures.

14. Contact Us

For privacy questions, connection assistance, or requests involving your information, please contact: