Grace Buckler’s Mission: Safeguarding Privacy in Church Communities
When people think about church life, they often picture worship, fellowship, and service. What’s less common is the thought of privacy, yet it shapes how safe and respected members feel within their congregations. Grace Buckler recognized this gap and set out to create resources that address it head-on. Her three-book Church Privacy Series shines a spotlight on the importance of protecting personal information, setting healthy boundaries, and building trust in sacred spaces. Each title offers its own unique focus, making the series a well-rounded guide for anyone involved in church life.
Book One: Church Privacy: Who Cares? You!
The journey begins with Church Privacy: Who Cares? You! This book makes an immediate impact by reframing privacy as more than a legal or technical issue. Grace highlights that privacy is a form of respect and care, a way of nurturing the community as much as feeding the flock. Through relatable stories and thoughtful teaching, she draws attention to vulnerabilities many churchgoers and leaders don’t even realize exist. Readers learn how to protect communication channels, secure digital spaces, and approach sensitive conversations responsibly. What stands out is the way she connects these practical lessons with scripture, reminding readers that safeguarding privacy is part of living out compassion and hospitality. The book delivers simple steps—like drafting a personal privacy policy—that can be applied right away. It’s approachable, practical, and motivating, making it clear that anyone can play a role in strengthening privacy within their congregation.
Book Two: Church Privacy Team
The second title, Church Privacy Team, shifts the focus to the collective responsibility of church groups, leaders, and ministry workers. This book is especially valuable for those who may feel too busy, under-resourced, or uncertain about where to begin. Grace reassures readers that even small improvements can dramatically reduce risks and strengthen trust. She tackles real-world concerns such as financial transactions, counseling sessions, children’s ministry programs, and the handling of personal details gathered at events. Each scenario is explained in plain language, followed by guidance on how to protect both individuals and the church as a whole. One of the most powerful messages in this book is that privacy is about creating an environment where people feel safe to share their struggles, their hopes, and their faith journeys. Grace also introduces global and domestic privacy standards, showing how churches can stay aligned with laws while focusing on the deeper mission of fostering trust. For ministry teams, this resource feels less like a rulebook and more like a trusted advisor offering a clear path forward.
Book Three: Church Privacy 101
The final entry in the series, Church Privacy 101, addresses privacy on a deeply personal level. Grace encourages readers to see privacy as a tool for building stronger, more respectful relationships both inside and outside the church. The book covers common challenges many face in faith communities. How do you share personal matters in a prayer group without feeling exposed? What does it mean to respect someone’s mental health journey while maintaining discretion? How can friendships within the church flourish without overstepping personal boundaries? Grace answers these questions with wisdom and empathy. What makes this title especially compelling is its focus on dignity. Grace dismantles the misconception that prioritizing privacy is selfish. Instead, she shows how setting boundaries is essential for protecting one’s well-being and for creating an atmosphere where others feel secure. By reclaiming autonomy and respecting the privacy of those around us, we can build relationships that are genuine, supportive, and lasting.
A Series That Meets the Moment
Taken together, the three books form a complete toolkit for addressing privacy in church life. Church Privacy: Who Cares? You! lays the groundwork for individuals to see privacy as an act of care. Church Privacy Team equips groups to implement practices that protect their communities. Church Privacy 101 empowers churchgoers to embrace boundaries that nurture dignity and authenticity. Grace Buckler’s writing blends practical solutions with compassion. She understands the challenges churches face and offers guidance that is realistic, accessible, and rooted in values of trust and respect. Each book can stand on its own, but the full series provides a holistic perspective on how privacy strengthens both individuals and congregations.
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!
