Church Code of Conduct

FaithBeacon exists to help seekers find a church home, and to help churches welcome them well. This Code of Conduct isn't here to weigh you down — it's here so every church carries that shared purpose with the same honesty, grace, and care. By claiming your church and using FaithBeacon, you agree to the expectations below.

Only someone authorized to represent the church — a pastor, leader, or staff member acting on the church's behalf — may claim its profile. By claiming, you confirm you have the authority to do so. The first verified claim becomes the primary owner; others from the same church can be added as team members by the primary. Claiming a church you do not represent, or claiming on behalf of a church without authority, is not permitted.

When you manage your profile, we ask that you:

• Keep your church's information accurate and current — address, service times, and details that help a visitor know what to expect.
• Use a profile photo and details that genuinely represent your church.
• Never post false, misleading, or deceptive information about your church or any other.
• Never misrepresent your affiliation, size, or practices to appear as something you are not.

The experiences people share are theirs. They stay public and unedited — a church can reply, but never remove, alter, or hide what someone has shared. When you respond, we ask that you:

• Respond with grace and gratitude — thank visitors, welcome newcomers, and address concerns with humility.
• Never retaliate against, attack, shame, or argue with anyone who shares an experience.
• Never attempt to identify, contact, or pressure someone into changing or removing what they shared.
• Never post content that is hostile, dishonest, or that would not honor the person or the mission.

Responding to feedback — even hard feedback — with kindness reflects the heart of your church. That is the only spirit in which replies should be made.

FaithBeacon serves the whole body — every tradition, every denomination, every congregation. We ask every church to:

• Treat seekers, visitors, and members with respect, whether or not they choose to attend.
• Never disparage, target, or speak falsely about another church or faith community.
• Use FaithBeacon to welcome people — never to recruit aggressively, mislead, or pressure.
• Respect the privacy of those who share experiences and any information you access about your visitors.

FaithBeacon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and claiming your church is free. No church can buy influence on FaithBeacon — no way to rank higher, be featured, hide feedback, edit the experiences others have shared, or be promoted above another. What a seeker sees on FaithBeacon is honest and unbiased — and it always will be. By participating, you agree never to seek or expect any such advantage.

A claimed church may add team members, each with access set by the primary owner. You are responsible for the conduct of everyone you grant access to, and for how your church's account is used. Handle any information about your visitors responsibly and in keeping with our Privacy Policy.

Claiming a church is a privilege extended in good faith. FaithBeacon may decline, suspend, or remove a church's claim at any time — including for conduct inconsistent with this Code, such as misrepresenting a church, claiming a church without authority, or responding to experiences in a way that violates these expectations. Where appropriate, we'll reach out first. Serious or repeated violations may result in immediate removal.

Claiming your church is free. If your church chooses to step back from managing its profile, it remains on FaithBeacon with a community-maintained profile, and you may claim it again whenever you're ready. Your church's presence never depends on anything but its people.

We may update this Code of Conduct from time to time as FaithBeacon grows. If we make meaningful changes, we'll let claimed churches know. Continued use of your church profile means you accept the current version. Questions about anything here? Email us at hello@faithbeacon.com — we're always glad to talk.