Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Searching for churches, viewing listings, and exploring communities is completely free.

The only time we ask for support is if you want to leave a review or rating (a small $0.99 contribution that keeps the platform ad-free and spam-free). Think of it as supporting a community tool rather than paying for a service.

Your first review is always free - we want you to experience the platform before you support it.

We're purpose-built for faith communities. That means:

✅ Curated, verified data on 225,000+ churches
✅ Rich content beyond just addresses - service times, missions, community focus
✅ Ad-free experience - no tracking, no data selling, just authentic discovery
✅ Community-focused design - tools specifically built to help you find where you belong

Other directories are built for profit. GatheredNetwork is built for people.

Yes. We don't sell your data, track you across the web, or use third-party advertising networks. Your searches stay private, and we only use analytics to improve the platform.

No cookies. No tracking pixels. No data mining. Your privacy is sacred.

We use a combination of:
- Public records and official church sources
- Direct submissions from churches
- Community verification from members
- Ongoing updates through our Presence Manager system

Churches can claim their listing to ensure accuracy and add additional details like photos, service times, and welcome messages.

Great question. We charge $0.99 for reviews for three important reasons:

1. **It prevents spam** - Every review is thoughtful and genuine
2. **It keeps us ad-free** - No tracking, no data selling, just authentic connection
3. **It sustains the platform** - We're community-supported, not corporate-backed

Think of it as a "cover charge" for a sacred space. Everyone contributes a little so the whole community thrives.

**Plus:** Your first review is free.

**Review & Comment Guidelines:**

**What We Allow:**
- Honest, constructive feedback about your experience
- Specific observations about worship style, community, ministries
- Personal testimonies of how the church impacted you

**What We Don't Allow:**
- Profanity, hate speech, or personal attacks
- Doxing (sharing private information about individuals)
- Spam, fake reviews, or promotional content
- Inappropriate content (harassment, threats)

**Moderation:** All comments are pre-screened by AI before posting.

**Consequences:** First violation = warning. Second violation = 30-day ban. Repeated violations = permanent ban.

**Philosophy:** If you have a genuine grievance with a church, we encourage direct communication rather than public criticism. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

It's simple and free:

1. Search for your church on GatheredNetwork
2. Click "Claim This Listing"
3. Verify you represent the church (we'll send a confirmation email)
4. Update your information

That's it! You'll immediately get access to basic analytics and the ability to manage your listing.

Presence Manager is our suite of tools for churches who want to actively connect with seekers in their area.

**Free Tier:**
- Claim your listing
- Update contact info, service times, photos
- Basic analytics (page views)

**Basic Tier ($9/month):**
- Enhanced analytics (where seekers are coming from, what they're clicking)
- Pin announcements to top of listing
- Featured placement in local searches
- Respond to reviews

**Premium Tier ($18/month):**
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Welcome video on your listing
- Premium placement in 25-mile radius
- Full analytics dashboard
- Priority support

Seekers discover churches through:

- **Geographic search** (churches near me, churches in [city])
- **Filters** (denomination, worship style, service times)
- **Featured placements** (for Presence Manager subscribers)
- **SEO** (we rank highly for church-related searches)
- **Direct referrals** (when members share your church page)

Premium Presence Manager subscribers get priority visibility in local searches.

All reviews go through AI moderation to ensure they're constructive, appropriate, and policy-compliant. We don't allow:

- Profanity or hate speech
- Personal attacks or doxing
- Inappropriate content
- Spam or fake reviews

If a review violates our policies, it won't be published. If something slips through, you can flag it for review.

**However:** We don't remove negative-but-honest reviews. If someone has a legitimate concern, we encourage direct communication. Premium Presence Manager subscribers can respond to reviews publicly.

**Presence Manager Terms:**

**Eligibility:** You must be an authorized representative of the church to claim and manage a listing.

**Content Guidelines:** All content must be accurate, appropriate, and reflect your church's actual offerings. No misleading information.

**Payment:** Subscriptions are billed monthly via Stripe. Cancel anytime through your account dashboard.

**Refunds:** We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.

**Termination:** We reserve the right to suspend accounts that violate our terms, including posting false information, harassment, or using the platform for non-church purposes.

GatheredNetwork is independently owned and operated by Jason, the founder and developer from Allentown, PA. There's no venture capital, no corporate overlords, no exit strategy.

This is a calling, not a cash grab.

We're community-supported:

- Churches pay for Presence Manager tools ($9-18/month)
- Seekers contribute small amounts for reviews ($0.99)
- Churches pay for Group Chat infrastructure ($79-99/month)
- Listing fees for new churches ($5 one-time)

Everyone contributes a little, so no one is exploited. This keeps us sustainable, independent, and ad-free.

To create a complete ecosystem for faith communities that operates outside Big Tech control:

✅ Church discovery (GatheredNetwork)
✅ Bible study (Gathered Bible)
✅ Community infrastructure (Gathered Group Chat)
✅ News & information (Gathered Newswire)

All ad-free. All privacy-respecting. All built to serve communities, not exploit them.

Yes. Here's our promise:

- We never sell your data to third parties
- We don't use invasive tracking or retargeting
- We don't inject ads or affiliate links
- Your email is used only for platform updates (you can opt out)

We believe your privacy is sacred. Period.