Welcome to The Outpouring Network. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website outpouring.us and related services (the "Service"). By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
Our Mission and Community Standards
The Outpouring Network exists to connect believers and unite Christian communities. We are committed to fostering a respectful, encouraging, and Christ-centered environment where believers can grow together in faith, share resources, and collaborate in Kingdom work.
Acceptance of Terms
By creating an account or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, you may not use our Service.
Community Guidelines and Conduct Standards
As a Christian community platform, we maintain high standards for interaction and content. All users must:
Respectful Communication
- Treat all people with respect and dignity in all engagements, reflecting Christ's love in your interactions
- Use appropriate language: profanity of any kind will not be tolerated
- Avoid denigrating or unbecoming behavior that does not reflect Christian character
- Engage constructively in discussions, seeking understanding rather than argument
Faith and Religious Content
- No proselytizing on behalf of non-Christian religions: this platform is specifically for Christian community building
- Questioning Christian faith must be done respectfully and in an information-seeking manner, not with intent to bring reproach upon the faith
- Theological discussions are welcome when conducted with humility and a heart for learning
- Denominational differences should be approached with grace and recognition of our unity in Christ
Prohibited Content and Behavior
- Harassment, bullying, threats, or intimidation of any kind
- Content that is hateful, discriminatory, or promotes violence
- Spam, excessive self-promotion, or commercial solicitation without permission
- Impersonation of others or providing false information
- Sharing copyrighted material without proper authorization
- Content that is sexually explicit, inappropriate, or not suitable for all ages
- Attempts to hack, disrupt, or compromise the security of our Service
- Any illegal activities or content
User Accounts and Registration
To access many features of our Service, you must create an account. You agree to:
- Provide accurate and complete information during registration
- Maintain the security of your account credentials
- Notify us immediately of any unauthorized account access
- Be responsible for all activities that occur under your account
- Use only one account unless specifically authorized otherwise
Content and Intellectual Property
Your Content
By posting content, you retain ownership of your content. You grant The Outpouring Network a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, publish, display, perform, and distribute your content solely for operating, promoting, and improving the Service. You can delete your content at any time; this license will continue for a commercially reasonable period to allow technical caching, backups, and lawful archival.
You represent and warrant you have all rights necessary for the content you post and that it does not infringe others' rights.
Training Courses and Materials
Training courses on our platform are publicly viewable and come with specific licensing terms as indicated on each course. License options include various Creative Commons licenses and All Rights Reserved options, as detailed in our licensing page.
Our Content
The Outpouring Network retains ownership of all proprietary platform features, design elements, and original content we create. Our trademarks, service marks, and logos may not be used without permission.
Privacy and Information Sharing
Public vs. Private Information:
- Forum posts, organization listings, events, and course content are publicly visible and should be considered public information
- Profile information (name, bio, contact details) is only visible to verified registered users
- Personal information will never be sold or shared with third parties without your consent
- For complete details, see our Privacy Policy
User Roles and Permissions
Our platform includes different user roles with varying permissions:
- Users: Basic access to view content and participate in forums
- Leaders: Can create and manage organizations, events, and training courses
- Moderators: Help maintain community standards and assist with content moderation
- Administrators: Full access to platform management and oversight
Moderation and Enforcement
We reserve the right to monitor, review, and remove content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable. We may also suspend or terminate accounts that repeatedly violate our community standards. Our moderation decisions are final, though we welcome respectful appeals through our contact process.
Copyright Concerns
We respect intellectual property rights and respond in good faith to notices of alleged copyright infringement. If you believe content on our Service infringes your copyright, please email admin@outpouring.us with the following:
- Your physical or electronic signature
- Identification of the copyrighted work
- Identification of the allegedly infringing material and its location on our site
- Your contact information (name, email, and phone number)
- A statement of good-faith belief that the use is not authorized
- A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the rights holder
We will review every notice we receive. We may remove allegedly infringing content and, in appropriate circumstances, terminate repeat infringers.
No Professional Advice
Content on the Service, including courses, discussions, and event materials, is provided for general informational and faith-based purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, medical, counseling, or financial advice. Seek a qualified professional where appropriate.
Dispute Resolution
You and The Outpouring Network agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by a recognized arbitration provider, on an individual basis, and not in a class or representative action. The seat and venue will be Coweta County, Georgia, unless otherwise required by law.
You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of accepting these Terms by contacting us. If you opt out, you agree to exclusive jurisdiction in the state and federal courts located in Georgia.
Service Availability
We strive to provide reliable access to our Service but cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service with appropriate notice when possible.
Third-Party Services
Our Service may include links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of service of these third parties.
Some forms are protected by Google reCAPTCHA, which helps us detect and prevent automated abuse and spam. reCAPTCHA collects information such as your IP address, device and browser characteristics, and interaction data, and transmits it to Google for analysis. Google processes this information as our data processor solely to provide the reCAPTCHA service. This data may be processed on servers located outside your country, including in the United States. We use this information only for security and abuse-prevention purposes.
SMS/Text Messaging Terms
SMS Notification Program
The Outpouring Network ("we", "us", "our") offers an optional SMS text messaging service in two contexts:
- Subscriber Updates: Subscribers may opt in to receive SMS updates from organizations or events they follow on our platform. Opt-in is provided at the time of subscribing on an organization or event page.
- Administrative Alerts: Users with moderator or administrator roles may opt in via their account profile to receive urgent SMS alerts for high-priority moderation events.
By opting into SMS notifications, you expressly consent to receive text messages from or on behalf of The Outpouring Network at the phone number you provide. Consent is not a condition of purchase or use of our services.
Consent and Frequency
- Consent to Receive Messages: SMS notifications require explicit opt-in consent via a clearly labeled checkbox at the point of collection. You will not receive SMS messages unless you actively opt in.
- Subscriber Update Frequency: Depends on how often the organizations or events you subscribe to send broadcast messages. Typically low volume.
- Administrative Alert Frequency: Sent on an as-needed basis for urgent platform events. Frequency varies based on platform activity.
- Message and Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply based on your mobile carrier's plan. Standard messaging rates apply. Check with your carrier for details.
- Supported Carriers: Compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Boost, Cricket, MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, and most other major U.S. carriers. Service may not be available on all carriers.
How to Opt-Out (Unsubscribe)
- Text STOP to Unsubscribe: Reply STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, or QUIT to any message to immediately unsubscribe from all SMS notifications. You will receive one final confirmation message confirming your opt-out.
- Account Settings: You can also manage your SMS preferences through your account notification settings or by contacting us.
How to Get Help
- Text HELP for Support: Reply HELP or INFO to any message to receive support information.
- Contact Us: For additional assistance, contact us via our contact page or email us at admin@outpouring.us.
- Customer Support Hours: We respond to inquiries within 1-2 business days.
How to Re-Subscribe
If you previously unsubscribed and wish to re-enable SMS notifications, reply START or UNSTOP to any previous message from our system, or update your notification preferences in your account settings.
SMS Service Provider and Privacy
We use Twilio Inc. as our SMS service provider. By opting into SMS notifications, you acknowledge that your phone number and message data will be transmitted to and processed by Twilio in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We do not share your phone number with third parties for marketing purposes. For more information about how we collect, use, and protect your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Limitations and Disclaimer
SMS delivery is not guaranteed and may be affected by carrier restrictions, network availability, device compatibility, or other factors beyond our control. We are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Messages are sent via automated system. Carrier delays may apply.
General
Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any referenced policies, constitute the entire agreement between you and us.
Severability. If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions remain in full force.
Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them as part of a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer.
Survival. Provisions that by their nature should survive (including intellectual-property licenses, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution) shall survive termination.
Disclaimers
Our Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of user-generated content. Users are responsible for verifying information and making their own decisions based on content found on our platform.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Outpouring Network shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from your use of the Service.
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Outpouring Network and its affiliates from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.
Termination
Either party may terminate your account at any time. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Changes to Terms
We may modify these Terms from time to time. We will notify users of material changes through our platform or via email. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
Contact Information
If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us. We are committed to addressing your concerns and maintaining a positive community experience for all users.
We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, internet or hosting failures, labor disputes, or governmental actions.