Digital Faith Community

Platform Policies & User Agreement

Effective Date: January 1, 2022 | Version: 3.0

Operated by Alliance Technologies, LLC — Decatur, GA | Questions? helpdesk@digitalfaith.org

A Note About How This Platform Works: Digital Faith Community is used by many different churches and faith organizations. Each one has its own private space on the platform — so your church's information is kept completely separate from other organizations. The policies below apply to everyone who uses this platform. Your church or organization may also have its own additional rules that apply to their site.

1. Understanding Roles & Responsibilities

The Digital Faith Community platform involves three distinct parties, each with specific roles and obligations.

Alliance Technologies, LLC

The Platform Operator. Designs, builds, hosts, and maintains the Digital Faith Community software and infrastructure. Sets platform-wide policies and ensures technical security and compliance.

Sponsoring Entity

Your church, diocese, judicatory, conference, presbytery, or other faith organization that subscribes to DFC services. Responsible for administering their own site, managing their users, and ensuring compliance within their community.

Users

Administrators, staff, clergy, and members who access the platform. Responsible for their own account security, content posted, and compliance with both platform-wide and organization-specific policies.

Your Sponsoring Entity operates independently on this platform. Alliance Technologies provides the technology; your church or organization is responsible for its own governance, pastoral policies, and member data practices within their DFC site.

2. What Information We Collect

Personal Information

Collected when you register for events, create an account, or sign up for updates. This may include:

Name, address, phone number, and email address
Church membership status and household information
Giving records and financial transaction data (if using DFC financial tools)
Volunteer roles, group memberships, and ministry participation
Login credentials (passwords stored in encrypted form; never readable by staff)

Aggregate & Technical Information

Automatically collected to operate and improve the platform:

IP addresses and browser/device type
Pages visited, session duration, and feature usage patterns
Cookies for authentication and user preferences
Error logs and performance diagnostics

Aggregate data is never linked to personally identifiable information when used for analytics.

Voice Integrations: If your organization uses a voice assistant integration, we may collect a zip code and, optionally, your name and email to route information to your local church. This data is never sold or shared outside your Sponsoring Entity and is used solely to provide church-specific information on request.

3. Multi-Tenant Data Isolation

Because DFC serves many organizations on a shared platform, we have implemented strict technical and policy controls to keep each organization's data completely private from other organizations.

Logical Data Separation

Each Sponsoring Entity's data is logically separated. Administrators and members of one organization cannot access the data, records, or communications of any other organization on the platform.

Role-Based Access Control

Access within each organization is governed by assigned roles (Administrator, Staff, Member, etc.). Users may only access data appropriate to their assigned role within their organization.

Platform Staff Access

Alliance Technologies staff may access account data only on a case-by-case basis to investigate complaints, resolve technical issues, or respond to legal obligations. Such access is logged and audited. We will not disclose the existence of an investigation unless required by law or requested by the Sponsoring Entity.

Data Portability & Offboarding

When a Sponsoring Entity ends its subscription, their data will be made available for export for a period of 90 days before being permanently deleted from our active systems, unless otherwise required by law or agreed in writing.

Backups & Disaster Recovery

Data is backed up regularly across secure facilities. Backups are encrypted and access-controlled. Restoration may be requested by Sponsoring Entity administrators through official support channels.

Data in Transit & at Rest

All data transmitted to and from the platform is encrypted using industry-standard TLS. Sensitive data stored in our databases is encrypted at rest.

4. Sensitive Church Data

Church management systems handle categories of data that warrant heightened care. DFC recognizes the following data types as sensitive and applies additional protections.

Giving records, pledge information, and financial transaction history are strictly private to the individual donor and authorized administrative staff within the Sponsoring Entity. This data is never shared with other users, other organizations, or third parties (except payment processors necessary to complete transactions). Giving data is stored securely and included in data exports only for authorized Sponsoring Entity administrators.

Data relating to minors (persons under 13) is subject to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). DFC does not knowingly permit minors under 13 to create independent accounts. Records for children are entered and managed by a parent, guardian, or authorized church administrator. Sponsoring Entities are responsible for ensuring they have proper parental consent before entering or displaying any information about minors. DFC will promptly delete any minor's data upon request from a parent or guardian.

If your organization uses DFC to store pastoral care notes, prayer requests, or other sensitive ministry records, access to these records should be restricted to authorized clergy and staff using role-based permissions. Alliance Technologies does not review or use the content of pastoral care records for any purpose. Sponsoring Entities bear responsibility for establishing appropriate access controls to protect the confidentiality of these records.

Background check results and volunteer screening records stored in DFC are accessible only to designated Sponsoring Entity administrators. This data is not shared across organizations or with Alliance Technologies staff except in cases required by law. Sponsoring Entities are responsible for complying with all applicable laws regarding background check storage and use.

Health-related information or accessibility notes that a Sponsoring Entity may collect (e.g., for event planning or pastoral care) must be treated as strictly confidential. This information must never be displayed publicly, shared with other members, or used for any purpose other than caring for the individual's needs within the context of your ministry.

5. Privacy Policy

Alliance Technologies respects your privacy and believes personal information should remain private. We will not sell, rent, or trade personal information to any outside organization for any purpose other than to provide Digital Faith Community services or directly related services.

Email Communications

Registered users may choose whether to receive promotional or informational emails. If you do not grant permission, Alliance Technologies will communicate with you only for account maintenance and service-related purposes. Sponsoring Entities may separately manage their own communications to their members under their own policies.

Data Storage Location

Personal information is stored in secure databases located primarily within the United States. If you are accessing DFC from outside the United States, you acknowledge that your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States.

Your Rights

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting your Sponsoring Entity administrator or Alliance Technologies at helpdesk@digitalfaith.org. Residents of California and certain other states may have additional rights under applicable state law (CCPA/CPRA).

Cookies & Tracking

We use session cookies for authentication and functional cookies for user preferences. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. You may disable cookies in your browser, but some features of DFC may not function properly without them.

6. How We Use Your Information

Platform Operations
To provide, maintain, and improve the DFC platform and services you use.

Customer Support
To diagnose technical issues, respond to help requests, and investigate reported violations.

Security & Compliance
To detect fraud, prevent abuse, enforce policies, and meet legal obligations.

Analytics & Improvement
Aggregate usage analytics help us understand how the platform is used and prioritize improvements.

Service Communications
To notify Sponsoring Entities of system updates, maintenance, security notices, and urgent platform information.

Never Sold
We do not sell your personal information to any third party, ever. Period.

7. Community Standards

The Digital Faith Community platform is used by many faith communities. We welcome users of all backgrounds and traditions and ask that all interactions reflect the respect, care, and civility consistent with a faith-based environment.

Inclusive Participation

We welcome participation from members of diverse faith traditions and backgrounds. We appreciate respectful curiosity and interfaith dialogue. We ask that all participants extend the same respect to others.

Self-Moderation

We rely on users to exercise good judgment before posting. If you find yourself about to post something in anger or frustration, please pause. Disagreement is normal; disrespectful behavior is not. If another user has crossed a line, gently let them know privately before escalating.

Constructive Discourse

Posts should contribute meaningfully to the community. Use clear, descriptive subject titles. Post in appropriate categories. Avoid deliberately inflammatory content, "trolling," or excessive repetitive posting.

Content Moderation

Posts may be edited or removed at the discretion of Sponsoring Entity administrators or Alliance Technologies staff. Violations may result in a private warning, public warning, temporary suspension, or permanent ban, depending on severity and history.

8. Prohibited Uses

The following are prohibited across all DFC sites and organizations. Sponsoring Entities may enforce additional restrictions within their own communities.

Category	What Is Prohibited
Hate Speech & Harassment	Derogatory slurs, racial or ethnic attacks, religious insults, sexual harassment, personal attacks, threats, stalking, or any content designed to demean or harm an individual or group.
Profanity & Obscenity	Profanity and obscene language in posts, post titles, usernames, or signatures. Interpretation is at the discretion of administrators.
Pornography	Posting, linking to, or otherwise distributing pornographic or sexually explicit material of any kind.
Malware & Harmful Code	Uploading or distributing viruses, malware, ransomware, or any code designed to harm systems or users.
Spam & Flooding	Posting the same message repeatedly, cross-posting across multiple organization accounts, chain letters, pyramid schemes, or unsolicited bulk messaging.
Unauthorized Advertising	Using DFC to advertise commercial products or services, solicit business, or drive traffic to external sites for commercial gain, without explicit authorization from the Sponsoring Entity.
Copyright Infringement	Posting copyrighted materials without written permission or outside of fair use guidelines. Impersonating hymn publishers, liturgical resource providers, or other copyright holders is also prohibited.
Impersonation	Impersonating clergy, administrators, DFC staff, or any other person or entity. Creating false affiliations or misrepresenting your identity or authority.
Privacy Violations	Posting other users' personal information (phone numbers, addresses, email, photos, financial details, health data, etc.) without their explicit consent.
Minor Safety	Any content that exploits, harms, or endangers minors. Posting identifying information about children without parental consent. Creating accounts intended to be used by minors under 13 without proper parental oversight.
System Disruption	Interfering with platform performance, attempting unauthorized access to other accounts or organizations, or circumventing security controls.
Illegal Activity	Using DFC in violation of any applicable local, state, national, or international law, including laws protecting minors, securities regulations, or intellectual property rights.

Reporting Violations: If you believe a post or user has violated these standards, please contact helpdesk@digitalfaith.org or use your organization's designated reporting process. We take all reports seriously.

9. Account Security & Passwords

Your account security is a shared responsibility. Because DFC stores sensitive member and organizational data, account security is critically important. Please follow these requirements:

Use a strong, unique password that is not used on other websites.
Never share your password with another person, even a trusted colleague.
Each person should have their own individual account. Shared or group accounts are prohibited.
Report suspected unauthorized access to your account immediately to your administrator and to helpdesk@digitalfaith.org.
Log out of shared or public computers after each session.
Do not create accounts for other people without their knowledge and consent.

You are responsible for all actions taken under your account login. Alliance Technologies will not be liable for losses resulting from compromised credentials due to your failure to follow security best practices.

For Administrators

If you have administrative access to your organization's DFC site, you have elevated responsibility. Administrative credentials grant access to member records, giving data, and communications. You should:

Use a passphrase of at least 16 characters
Enable multi-factor authentication if available
Regularly review which staff have administrator-level access
Revoke access promptly when a staff member or volunteer's role changes
Never use administrative credentials on unsecured networks

10. Content & Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of original content you post to DFC. By posting, you grant Alliance Technologies and your Sponsoring Entity a limited license to display and distribute that content within the DFC platform for the purpose of providing services. You may request deletion of your content at any time by contacting your organization's administrator.

Copyright Compliance

You may only post material created by others if you have written permission from the copyright holder or if the use falls within applicable fair use provisions. This includes sermon manuscripts, liturgical texts, hymn lyrics, images, and other creative works. Posts that violate copyright may be removed without notice.

Platform Ownership

The Digital Faith Community software, design, systems, brand, and associated documentation are and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Alliance Technologies, LLC. The non-exclusive, non-transferable license granted to Sponsoring Entities does not convey any ownership rights in the platform.

No Required Downloads

You are not required to download or install any software to use Digital Faith Community. If you receive a request to install software claiming to be from DFC, do not comply and report it immediately to helpdesk@digitalfaith.org.

11. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

Service Disclaimer

Alliance Technologies provides Digital Faith Community services "AS IS" and assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery, or failure to store any user communications or personalization settings. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or service with or without notice.

Information and opinions expressed in posts or other interactive communications are those of the individual user, not Alliance Technologies or any Sponsoring Entity, unless explicitly attributed.

Warranty Disclaimer

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED, ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

Limitation of Liability

ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE DFC SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Alliance Technologies, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, consultants, and agents from any and all third-party claims, liability, damages, and costs (including attorneys' fees) arising from your use of DFC services, your violation of these policies, or your infringement of any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity. This obligation survives termination of your account.

12. Legal & Governing Law

Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. Any action brought to enforce this agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in DeKalb County, Georgia. If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Policy Updates

Alliance Technologies reserves the right to update these policies at any time. Sponsoring Entities will be notified of material changes via the registered administrative contact email. Continued use of DFC following notice of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. It is the Sponsoring Entity's responsibility to communicate relevant policy changes to their users.

Account Termination

Alliance Technologies reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account or organization's access to DFC if we determine that the Terms of Service have been violated, false registration information was provided, or the account poses a risk to other users or organizations on the platform. Sponsoring Entities will be notified where practical.

Contact & Dispute Resolution

We encourage users to resolve concerns directly with their Sponsoring Entity administrator whenever possible. For platform-level concerns, security issues, or legal matters, contact Alliance Technologies at:

Alliance Technologies, LLC
116 Geneva St, Decatur, GA 30030
helpdesk@digitalfaith.org