Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What are Cookies?

There are two common kinds of Cookies:

  • A Session Cookie: this is a line of text that is stored temporarily in your computer's memory. This cookie is destroyed as soon as you close your browser.
  • A Persistent Cookie: is a line of text that is saved to a file on your hard drive and is called up each time you visit the website. This allows the website to "remember" information about your previous visits and use of the website.

Because of our web server configuration, any page that is served securely (where the URL starts with "https://" also known as SSL or secure socket layer), sets a persistent cookie that expires and is deleted after one hour. Usually, only pages that use these cookies are pages containing web forms (like the Prayer Request page). This cookie ensures that you—the user—stays on the same web server and the site maintains a secure connection through the process of completing and submitting the web form.

Please be aware that some links on Church of Philadelphia website could point you to external sites that may place their own persistent cookies on your computer. We will notify you (usually with a modal) if you are leaving this site when selecting one of these links.

For more information on how to "opt out" of cookies, please visit "Web Measurement and Customization Opt-out". Choosing to opt-out has no bearing on which content/functionality the user will have access to.

Third-Party Website Measurement Tracking Technologies

In order for us to deliver optimal experiences for our users we may include third party services to track or embed web content.

Google Analytics

Our church websites use Google Analytics to measure the number of visitors. Google Analytics places a persistent cookie on your computer to provide this information. This cookie does not store any personal identifiable information. Learn more about Google Analytics cookie usage on websites.

Other Third Party Vendors

Some of the pages on our website may include web content, such as embedded videos hosted by non-Church of Philadelphia services. As of December 2, 2021, content or functionality from the following third parties may be presented in some manner or another throughout Church of Philadelphia pages:

This list will be updated on a regular basis to reflect the third party providers of content or functionality that are commonly used on our website.