Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") outlines the rules governing use of the ChurchHub platform ("ChurchHub," "we," "us," or "our"). By creating an account or using ChurchHub in any way, you agree not to misuse the service or assist others in doing so.

ChurchHub is designed exclusively for legitimate church and ministry administration. This policy exists to protect the integrity of the platform, safeguard the data entrusted to it, and ensure a safe experience for all users and the individuals whose data is managed within it.

This AUP applies to all users including church administrators, staff members, volunteers, and any individual granted access to a ChurchHub account. It should be read alongside our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Data Processing Agreement.

2. Prohibited Activities

Users must not use ChurchHub to:

Legal Violations

• Violate any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation
• Facilitate or encourage any criminal activity
• Infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party, including copyrights, trademarks, or patents
• Upload, store, or distribute any content that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, abusive, threatening, or hateful

Malware and Harmful Software

• Distribute, upload, or transmit any viruses, malware, ransomware, spyware, or other harmful software
• Introduce any code or scripts designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorised access to any system

Spam and Unsolicited Communications

• Send unsolicited bulk messages, commercial advertising, or spam to platform users or church members
• Use ChurchHub's communication tools to send messages unrelated to legitimate church activities
• Harvest or collect contact information from the platform for unsolicited outreach

Harassment and Abuse

• Harass, intimidate, bully, or threaten any individual
• Use the platform to target, discriminate against, or harm any person based on their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic
• Impersonate any person, organisation, or entity

Illegal Content

• Upload, distribute, or store any child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any content that exploits or endangers minors
• Upload or distribute any content that promotes terrorism, violence, or illegal activity
• Store or distribute stolen data, pirated software, or illegally obtained content

3. Data Misuse

Churches and account holders must not use ChurchHub to:

• Collect personal data from individuals without a lawful basis under applicable data protection laws, including the UK GDPR
• Share, sell, or transfer member data to third parties without the documented consent of those individuals
• Process personal data for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was originally collected
• Store personal data beyond the period for which a lawful basis exists
• Enter data about individuals without their knowledge in a manner that violates applicable privacy laws
• Use ChurchHub to profile individuals in ways that are discriminatory, deceptive, or harmful

As Data Controller, the Church is responsible for ensuring all personal data entered into ChurchHub is handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. See our Data Processing Agreement for full details.

4. Security Abuse

Users must not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of ChurchHub, its servers, databases, or infrastructure
• Probe, scan, or test the platform for security vulnerabilities without our prior written authorisation
• Bypass, disable, or circumvent any authentication, access control, or security mechanism
• Conduct denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against the platform or any of its users
• Intercept, monitor, or exploit any network traffic flowing to or from ChurchHub without authorisation
• Use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access, extract, or copy data from the platform without our written consent
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the ChurchHub software

If you discover a security vulnerability, please report it responsibly to hello@churchhubapp.com rather than exploiting or disclosing it publicly.

5. Content Standards

Any content uploaded to or created within ChurchHub (including member records, notes, announcements, and event details) must:

• Be accurate and not misleading
• Comply with all applicable laws
• Respect the dignity and privacy of the individuals it references
• Not contain defamatory, abusive, or offensive material

ChurchHub reserves the right to remove any content that violates this policy without prior notice.

6. Pastoral and Sensitive Data

Standard ChurchHub accounts are designed for general church administration. Storing special category data (such as health records, detailed pastoral counselling notes, criminal history, or information relating to safeguarding incidents) may require additional safeguards, enhanced data processing agreements, and appropriate legal advice.

Churches with specific needs for storing sensitive pastoral data should contact us at hello@churchhubapp.com before proceeding to discuss what additional protections may be required.

7. Enforcement

ChurchHub takes violations of this policy seriously. If we determine, in our sole discretion, that a user or organisation has violated this AUP, we may take any of the following actions without prior notice:

• Issue a warning for minor or first-time violations
• Suspend access to the account pending investigation
• Remove content that violates this policy
• Terminate the account permanently for serious, repeated, or wilful violations
• Report to authorities where the violation involves illegal activity, including the police or relevant regulatory bodies
• Seek legal remedies where ChurchHub has suffered loss or damage as a result of the violation

We will always aim to act proportionately, but certain violations, particularly those involving illegal content, data breaches caused by deliberate misuse, or security attacks, may result in immediate and permanent termination without warning.

Account termination does not relieve users of liability for violations that occurred before termination. No refunds will be issued for accounts terminated due to policy violations.

8. Reporting a Violation

If you become aware of any use of ChurchHub that violates this policy, please report it to us as soon as possible. You can contact us at:

• Email: hello@churchhubapp.com

We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly. Where appropriate, we will keep the identity of the person making the report confidential.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, our services, or our practices. When we make material changes, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify users by email or through a notice within the platform.

Continued use of ChurchHub after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, please contact us:

• Email: hello@churchhubapp.com
• Address: ChurchHub, Sheffield, United Kingdom