Grace Buckler’s Church Privacy Series: A Guide to Safer and Stronger Communities
In an era where privacy concerns often dominate headlines, it’s easy to forget that these issues don’t stop at the doors of our churches. Grace Buckler, an accomplished author and privacy advocate, tackles this overlooked subject with remarkable clarity through her three-book Church Privacy Series. Each book approaches privacy from a unique angle, yet all share a common goal: equipping church communities to protect dignity, build trust, and foster authentic relationships.
Church Privacy: Who Cares? You!
The first book, Church Privacy: Who Cares? You! lays the foundation for understanding why privacy matters in sacred spaces. Grace presents a simple but powerful truth: safeguarding privacy is an act of care. She illustrates how breaches—whether intentional or accidental—can harm members emotionally, spiritually, and legally.
Her guidance covers everything from protecting digital communication to managing sensitive prayer requests. The book is full of actionable advice, such as creating a personal privacy policy and sparking dialogue with church leaders about the responsibilities they share. Readers discover how to shield their congregations from liabilities while cultivating a culture of respect and trust.
What makes this work stand out is its blend of practical tips and scriptural reflections. Grace inspires churches to embrace privacy as a cornerstone of hospitality and compassion. By weaving timeless wisdom with modern solutions, she offers a blueprint that any congregation can follow to strengthen community bonds.
Church Privacy Team: Building a Trust-Centered Church
In her second installment, Church Privacy Team, Grace takes a closer look at what it means for a church to act collectively in protecting members’ privacy. This book speaks directly to ministry workers, leaders, and volunteers who juggle countless responsibilities and often overlook how small gaps in privacy practices can create serious liabilities.
Grace answers common questions with clarity: What happens if financial transactions are mishandled? How should churches manage sensitive details gathered at events or during counseling? What safeguards are essential for children’s personal information? Each scenario is broken down with practical solutions that fit within any budget.
More importantly, Grace frames privacy as a matter of dignity and safety rather than just compliance. She explains domestic and global privacy laws in a way that feels approachable, then provides steps for implementing changes that minimize risks. By the end, readers see privacy as more than a policy—it’s a shared responsibility that builds trust and helps transform lives.
Church Privacy 101: Protecting Privacy In and Out of Church
The final book, Church Privacy 101, broadens the lens to show how privacy extends beyond Sunday services and into everyday life. Grace emphasizes that valuing privacy supports healthier relationships and safeguards personal dignity.
Through relatable examples, she guides readers on how to maintain boundaries while navigating friendships, prayer groups, and ministry work. Mental health, personal conversations, and sensitive topics are all addressed with the same approachable clarity. The goal is to empower individuals to respect themselves and others by practicing discretion.
This book especially resonates with those who’ve struggled to set boundaries in faith settings. Grace provides the tools to reclaim autonomy while fostering deeper and more genuine connections within the church community. It’s a reminder that authentic relationships thrive when privacy is honored.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. We have divided the interview into sections for the benefit of our readers.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Why This Series Matters
Grace Buckler’s Church Privacy Series is timely, practical, and deeply compassionate. Each book can stand on its own, yet together they form a comprehensive guide to privacy in faith communities. From foundational awareness in Church Privacy: Who Cares? You! to collective action in Church Privacy Team: Building a Trust-Centered Church and personal empowerment in Church Privacy 101: Protecting Privacy In and Out of Church, Grace gives readers everything they need to safeguard both individuals and congregations.
Churches that engage with these works can cultivate cultures of trust where dignity is protected, relationships are strengthened, and hospitality shines brighter. Grace’s voice reminds us that privacy is less about restrictions and more about respect—a value that resonates deeply in every community of faith.
For leaders, volunteers, and churchgoers alike, these books are essential roadmaps to a safer and more compassionate future.
From National Security to Church Service
Q: From crawling under federal government fences and into ceilings to protect national security in the US and overseas, to becoming an award-winning US Secret Service consultant, leading privacy compliance efforts for Fortune 500 companies, and serving on the advisory board of the largest global privacy association—how did you end up in church, writing about churches, and writing for churches?
That sounds cinematic, doesn’t it? But I didn’t just end up in church. I am the church. That’s the definition of church—the people. Before I ever went on a national security mission or worked in cybersecurity and privacy, I was first a missionary. Of course, not by title. I was born on a church mission field. From church plants to mature churches, I’ve seen the church unfiltered—more than most people I know.
Add my professional background, personal experiences, and years of tending to church members’ privacy wounds, and you’ll see the insights that shaped these books.
A Defining Moment in Sweden
Q: You mentioned in your book being in Sweden during the early stages of writing this series. What was the significance?
A church volunteer there had faced a lawsuit for a privacy violation. By God’s design, a business award had taken me to Scandinavia, and I couldn’t shake off that case from my mind.
The lesson: sometimes our fiery zeal for ministry can unintentionally create blind spots that could result in privacy violations. My heart broke for both the victims and violator. That was one of my defining confirmations that I was meant to help prevent similar lawsuits in churches.
Unique Challenges in Churches
Q: What’s interesting about working with churches compared to big corporations or the federal government?
While corporations and the federal government are distinct in their own ways, churches are very unique. The approach is different. I don’t show up, listen, and offer strategies and plans. Instead, I bring scriptural, regulatory, and legal solutions—ensuring that the church’s sacred responsibilities are clear, alongside regulatory and legal obligations.
I meet people where they are. Often, I’m put on the spot to explain or defend scriptures and align them with privacy requirements. That doesn’t happen in other markets. I don’t pray out loud with teams or explain scriptures to corporations. That’s what makes church work unique and very interesting
Roles in the Church
Q: You wear many hats in churches. What privacy roles do you play most when supporting them?
I serve as a contract Director of Information Governance, Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), Director of Privacy Compliance, Privacy Advisor, and Instructor.
Q: What does a Director of Information Governance do?
It’s like governing a pantry of information. Churches, like corporations, have information assets critical to their mission. I take a holistic view: how information is created, collected, valued, used, retained, and eventually deleted.
I assess risks, define strategies, and ensure proper privacy and security measures are in place, all while meeting legal and regulatory obligations. It’s a high-level role that sets direction for information managers who execute policies day-to-day. My tools include policies, procedures, standards, training, and regulatory requirements.
Privacy Advocacy
Q: Are you a privacy advocate?
I am the Privacy Advocate. I’m the founder of The Privacy Advocate. I advocate both in corporations and churches.
For churches, I give a voice to what members are afraid to say or don’t know they should say. I also say what leaders don’t know to say—or don’t want to say—because they fear they might appear weak. The love for God and people should be stronger than fear and pride. I advocate for church members and leaders alike.
Faith and Privacy
Q: It must be scary to tie scriptures to business solutions?
It once was scary but not anymore. People who ask scriptural questions are earnest and genuinely seeking relevant answers. The Bible is loaded with privacy principles. Those are cherished learning moments for me. I learn from those I serve, and that drives me to study, know my Bible, and always be ready to give an answer.
Writing the Series
Q: What troubled you most when writing this series?
That I might be misunderstood. That privacy would be dismissed as an obsession, a trend, or just a money-making concept. That I’d be seen as anti-transparency, anti-testimony, anti-fellowship, and anti-community.
I’ve never attended seminary, divinity school, or Bible college. I’m not a clergy person. I worried my intentions might be silenced, or that people might ask, “By whose authority do you say these things to us?” Those were the distracting voices I wrestled with before I wrote. They stopped when I started writing.
Q: How would you have dealt with that question?
Humor. I sometimes practiced answers in the mirror: “By the highest authority” or “By the One Who kept me awake at 3 a.m. until I wrote this book to help you.” I laughed at my answers. Humor gets me going. When you understand your assignment, you want people to ask you questions.
I didn’t want this assignment, but I knew it was mine. I’m equipped for it. I may not understand every verse in the Bible, but I know privacy risks and their negative impacts. I know what it’s like to be hurt, unseen, or unheard in church. I understand the pain of leaving a once-cherished church community because it no longer felt safe mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically.
Consulting and Books
Q: And all your roles are part of your privacy consulting work?
Yes. They’re part of the services offered exclusively to churches through The Privacy Advocate, LLC.
Q: What was the process of planning the book series like?
It wasn’t planned at all. I was content with speaking engagements at churches. I didn’t want to write about churches—it was daunting. I had no church privacy books to reference, and that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It stretched me.
I felt that the timing was bad: COVID-19, church closures, churches scrambling to offer remote worship services, and privacy regulatory upheaval. It was my most challenging ministry assignment. Corporations knew they needed me; the church was just discovering me. A lot was happening at once.
Originally, I had planned to write for Fortune 500s. That project went on hold. The church privacy books had no outline—the outlines came after the books were written. What started as the book I hesitated to write became the start of a series, sparked by churches opening up about their concerns. It became clear this was beyond me and beyond one book.
A Message to Readers
Q: Anything you want to tell your readers?
Your privacy matters. If you leave a church because of a privacy violation but only say, “The Lord has called me elsewhere,” you’re not helping make it better for the next person. Write a note—anonymous if necessary.
The violators need to know. If you’re afraid, blame it on me: “Grace said it.” And when asked “Who?”—hand them one of my books (Church Privacy: Who Cares? You! and Church Privacy Team). My contact details are inside churchprivacybookseries.com.
To leaders: privacy is a love and trust language. Respecting and protecting it demonstrates care to your people. The church handles some of the most personal and sensitive information. Privacy is urgent. Also allow anonymous exit notes. Love God, love people.
Thank you so much, Grace Buckler, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!