Terms of Service

Last updated: December 7, 2024

Welcome to Flock! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Flock's platform for discovering churches, Christian businesses, and ministries, including our website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By using our Service, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using Flock, you agree to be bound by:

  • These Terms of Service
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Any additional terms and conditions that may apply to specific features

You represent that you are at least 13 years old. If you are under 18, you must have permission from a parent or guardian to use our Service.

2. Description of Service

Flock provides a platform that allows users to:

  • Search for Christian churches, Christian businesses, and ministries based on location and preferences
  • View information including service/operating times, denominations, types, and programs
  • Save favorites and write reviews for churches, businesses, and ministries
  • Create and claim profiles (subject to verification)
  • Connect with churches and ministries for volunteer opportunities
  • Find help and resources through ministry listings
  • Subscribe to paid business accounts ($5/month for Christian businesses)
  • Access information powered by Google Places API and user-contributed data

Disclaimer: Flock is an informational service. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of information. Always verify details directly before visiting or engaging with any listed entity.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To use certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Keep your password secure and confidential
  • Maintain only one account per person
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • Not impersonate others or use misleading information

3.2 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

3.3 Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to:

  • Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
  • Impersonate any person or entity
  • Post hateful, discriminatory, or offensive content
  • Harass, threaten, or harm others
  • Post spam or unsolicited promotional content
  • Violate any laws or regulations
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights
  • Upload viruses, malware, or malicious code
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
  • Scrape, data mine, or use automated tools to access the Service
  • Use the Service for commercial purposes without our written permission
  • Create fake church profiles or reviews
  • Interfere with other users' enjoyment of the Service

Violation of these rules may result in immediate account suspension or termination, and we may report illegal activity to law enforcement.

5. User Content

5.1 Your Content

"User Content" means any content you post, upload, or submit to the Service, including:

  • Church profiles and information
  • Reviews and ratings
  • Photos and videos
  • Comments and messages

5.2 License to Your Content

By posting User Content, you grant Flock a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, display, and distribute your content in connection with operating and improving the Service. This license continues even if you stop using our Service, but you can revoke it by deleting your content.

5.3 Content Ownership

You retain ownership of your User Content. You represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have the right to use the content you post
  • Your content does not violate any third-party rights
  • Your content complies with these Terms and applicable laws

5.4 Content Moderation

We reserve the right (but have no obligation) to review, monitor, or remove any User Content at our discretion, including content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable.

5.5 Feedback

If you provide us with feedback, suggestions, or ideas about our Service, you grant us the right to use them without compensation or attribution.

6. Church Profiles

6.1 Claiming a Church

Church leaders may claim existing church profiles on our platform. By claiming a church, you represent that you have the authority to manage information for that church.

6.2 Verification

We may require verification before allowing you to claim or create a church profile. Providing false information during verification may result in account termination.

6.3 Church Information Accuracy

Church administrators are responsible for keeping their church information accurate and up-to-date. Flock is not responsible for inaccurate or outdated information.

6.4 Scope of Churches

Flock focuses exclusively on Christian churches across Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. We do not include Jehovah's Witnesses or Latter-day Saints (Mormon) churches. We reserve the right to remove profiles that do not meet our criteria.

7. Reviews and Ratings

7.1 Review Guidelines

When posting reviews, you agree to:

  • Base your review on genuine personal experience
  • Provide honest and constructive feedback
  • Avoid profanity, hate speech, or personal attacks
  • Not post fake, misleading, or fraudulent reviews
  • Not be compensated for positive reviews
  • Review each church only once

7.2 Review Removal

We may remove reviews that violate our guidelines. Users can also edit or delete their own reviews at any time.

7.3 No Endorsement

Reviews represent the opinions of individual users, not Flock. We do not endorse any specific church or verify the accuracy of user reviews.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Flock's Property

The Service, including its design, features, functionality, and content (excluding User Content), is owned by Flock and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

8.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes, subject to these Terms.

8.3 Trademarks

"Flock" and our logo are trademarks of Flock. You may not use our trademarks without our prior written permission.

8.4 Copyright Infringement

If you believe content on our Service infringes your copyright, please contact us atour contact page with:

  • Description of the copyrighted work
  • Location of the infringing content on our Service
  • Your contact information
  • A statement of good faith belief that use is unauthorized
  • A statement that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act
  • Your physical or electronic signature

9. Third-Party Services

Our Service uses third-party services, including Google Maps and Google Places. Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms:

We are not responsible for third-party content, services, or websites linked from our Service.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.

We disclaim all warranties, including:

  • Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information
  • Uninterrupted or error-free service
  • Security or freedom from viruses
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Non-infringement

Church Information: We aggregate information from multiple sources, including user submissions and Google Places. We do not verify the accuracy of this information. Always contact churches directly to confirm details before visiting.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

Flock and its officers, directors, employees, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including:

  • Loss of profits, data, or goodwill
  • Service interruption or unavailability
  • Errors or inaccuracies in content
  • Unauthorized access to your information
  • Third-party conduct or content

Our total liability to you for all claims will not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim (or $100 if you haven't paid us anything).

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of certain warranties or liabilities, so some limitations may not apply to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Flock and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the Service
  • Your User Content
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
  • Your violation of any laws or regulations

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us at [legal-email@example.com] and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will try to resolve disputes within 60 days.

13.2 Arbitration Agreement

If informal resolution fails, you agree that disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration rather than in court, except:

  • Small claims court disputes (if they qualify)
  • Intellectual property disputes
  • Claims of unauthorized use

13.3 No Class Actions

You may only resolve disputes with us on an individual basis. You may not bring a claim as a plaintiff or class member in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

13.4 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your State/Country], without regard to conflict of law principles.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
  • Notify you via email or a prominent notice on our Service
  • Give you at least 30 days' notice before changes take effect

Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you don't agree to the new Terms, you must stop using the Service.

15. Termination

15.1 By You

You may terminate your account at any time by deleting it through your account settings or by contacting us.

15.2 By Us

We may suspend or terminate your access if you:

  • Violate these Terms
  • Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
  • Harm or threaten to harm other users
  • Create risk or legal liability for us

15.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. We may delete your account and data, though some information may remain in backups for a limited time. Sections of these Terms that should survive termination will continue to apply.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Flock regarding the Service.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

16.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Email: [legal-email@example.com]

Address: [Your Business Address]

Customer Support: [support-email@example.com]

Acknowledgment

By using Flock, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.

Thank you for using Flock to discover Christian churches, ministries, and businesses in your community! We're honored to help you find a church home, connect with meaningful ministries, and support Christian businesses.