As you set about preserving information for future reference, plan for the entire life cycle of the records you are creating.
Consistency is important in the care of records.
Any records retention policy has validity, once accepted as the policy of the organization, only as it is uniformly practiced. It should be neither selectively implemented nor disregarded at the whim of the custodians of the records. Never purge records in the face of potential litigation. Information that is retained in hard copy or in electronic files is the property of the congregation. Such information is not the property of the pastor or of the of ficers of the congregation to be removed, retained personally, or destroyed at will.