A family quietly opts their child out, a congregant asks why their face is on your social media, a photo goes up before anyone checked — these moments happen without a consent policy in place. This framework prevents them, clearly and compassionately.
**[CHURCH_NAME]** **Effective Date:** [EFFECTIVE_DATE] **Policy Owner:** [POLICY_OWNER] **Review Date:** [REVIEW_DATE] ---
[CHURCH_NAME] captures photos and video during services, events, and ministry activities. These images are used to tell the story of our community, promote events, and document ministry history. This policy explains what we capture, how we use it, and how to opt out. We are committed to protecting the privacy and dignity of every person — especially children — in all our media activities. ---
We may capture the following during church activities: 1. **Photography:** Still images during Sunday services, events, youth activities, children's ministry, small groups, and community outreach 2. **Video Recording:** Services, sermons, testimonies, worship, and special events 3. **Livestreaming:** Sunday services and special events streamed live to online audiences 4. **Audio Recording:** Sermons, teaching sessions, and worship for podcast or digital distribution We do not capture photography or video in: - Bathrooms, changing rooms, or any private space - Pastoral counselling sessions - Recovery or support group meetings - Any setting where privacy is reasonably expected ---
Captured media may be used in the following ways: 1. **Church social media:** Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other official channels 2. **Church website:** [CHURCH_WEBSITE] 3. **Marketing materials:** Flyers, banners, presentations 4. **Internal communications:** Newsletters, email updates 5. **Ministry documentation:** Archive records 6. **Media/press releases:** In collaboration with [MEDIA_CONTACT] We will not: - Sell images to third parties - Use images for commercial advertising without explicit consent - Share images with any external organisation without consent - Post images in a way that discloses sensitive personal circumstances ---
### 4.1 General Congregation Members By attending [CHURCH_NAME] services and events, adults (18 and over) consent to being photographed or filmed in group settings (e.g., congregation shots, wide event photos). This is implied consent for general crowd photography. For **individually identifiable** photos (portrait-style, close-up, or any image where you are the clear subject), we will: - Request verbal or written consent before publication - Offer you the opportunity to review images before use where practical ### 4.2 Specific Consent Scenarios The following require **explicit written consent** before any capture or use: - Testimonies on video where personal circumstances are disclosed - Images used for advertising or promotional campaigns - Any media involving minors (see Section 5) - Recovery or support group contexts - Any image or video that will be used outside our standard channels ### 4.3 Consent Form Consent forms are available from [FORM_LOCATION] and are collected: - At membership registration - At event check-in where media is planned - Via digital consent at [DIGITAL_CONSENT_URL] ---
The protection of children in our media activities is a priority. ### 5.1 Parental Consent Required - No child may be photographed, filmed, or included in any published media without **prior written parental or guardian consent** - Consent is collected at registration for children's ministry and annually thereafter - A child's consent form (signed by parent/guardian) is stored and referenced before any image is published ### 5.2 Identification of Minors - We will not post images of children that include their full name, school, or location in any public media - Group photos of children are permissible with general parental consent; individual identifiable photos require specific consent - In the event of doubt, the image will not be published ### 5.3 Special Restrictions - Children in sensitive ministry contexts (special needs groups, counselling, trauma care) will **never** be photographed or filmed - Any staff member or volunteer who captures images of children without parental consent will be subject to immediate disciplinary action ---
Anyone — adult or child (via a parent) — has the right to opt out of being photographed or filmed at any time. ### How to Opt Out 1. **At registration:** Indicate opt-out preference on your registration or consent form 2. **At any time:** Contact [MEDIA_CONTACT_EMAIL] or speak to any member of the welcome or media team 3. **During an event:** Inform a media team member and they will ensure you are not captured or that existing images are not published Opt-out requests will be honoured promptly. We will make reasonable efforts to exclude opted-out individuals from existing media in circulation upon request. ---
If you discover that an image or video of you or your child has been published without consent or in violation of this policy: 1. Contact [MEDIA_CONTACT_EMAIL] with details of the image and where it appears 2. We will acknowledge your request within [ACKNOWLEDGMENT_DAYS] business days 3. We will remove the image from our platforms within [REMOVAL_DAYS] business days 4. We will provide confirmation of removal Please note: once images have been shared publicly, complete removal from third-party platforms (e.g., if someone has shared our post) cannot always be guaranteed. ---
Congregation members and visitors who take personal photos or video during services: 1. Must not publish images of other congregants without consent, especially children 2. Must not film or photograph any person who has expressed a preference not to be captured 3. Must not publish images that could be embarrassing or harmful to another person 4. Are encouraged to follow the same spirit as this policy when sharing on personal social media ---
Persons who participate in, pray at the front, share testimonies, or appear prominently during a livestreamed service should be advised that: 1. The service is being streamed live to a public or semi-public online audience 2. The stream may be recorded and remain publicly accessible afterward 3. If they wish to opt out of appearing on stream, they may sit or participate away from camera angles Camera operators will use reasonable judgement to avoid capturing distressed individuals, private moments, or people who appear uncomfortable with being filmed. ---
- All media team members and photographers must be familiar with this policy - Media team members must complete training on consent and privacy within [TRAINING_DAYS] days of joining the team - Any concern about consent or privacy must be escalated to [POLICY_OWNER] immediately ---
This policy will be reviewed annually. Questions about this policy should be directed to [MEDIA_CONTACT_EMAIL]. ---
**Photography and Media Consent — [CHURCH_NAME]** I, the undersigned, consent to [CHURCH_NAME] capturing and using photographs, video, and audio of myself and/or my child/ward in accordance with the Photography and Media Consent Policy. **Name:** _________________________ **Date:** _____________ **Minor's name (if applicable):** _________________________ **Relationship to minor:** _________________________ **Signature:** _________________________ ☐ I DO consent to general photography and video ☐ I DO consent to individual/portrait photography for publication ☐ I DO consent to livestream inclusion ☐ I DO NOT consent — please note my opt-out preference