Gather is a private community app for the members of Christ Church Boerne (“we,” “us,” the “church”). This policy explains what information the app collects, how it is used, and the choices you have. By creating an account and using Gather, you agree to this policy.
Information we collect
- Account information you provide when you sign up: your first and last name and email address, and a password (stored securely by our authentication provider — we never see it in plain text).
- Profile information you choose to add: profile photo, phone number, address, household details, and group memberships.
- Content you create in the app: messages, photos, videos, voice messages, reactions, event and meal sign-ups, and announcements.
- Notification data: if you enable push notifications, a device subscription token so we can deliver alerts. You can turn this off at any time.
- Basic technical data needed to run the service, such as your login session. Gather does not use third-party advertising or tracking, and does not sell your information.
- Failed sign-in attempts.When a sign-in fails, we record the email address that was tried, the error, the kind of device, and the IP address, so a church leader can work out why someone can’t get in. Successful sign-ins are not recorded — we keep no log of when you open the app. These records are deleted automatically after 14 days.
How we use your information
- To create and secure your account and keep you signed in.
- To operate the app’s features — the member directory, messaging and calls, events, meals and sign-ups, groups, and announcements.
- To send notifications you’ve opted into (new messages, calls, reminders).
- To keep the community safe and enforce our Terms.
What other members can see
Gather is a shared community space. Your name and profile photo, and the messages and content you post, are visible to the other members you share conversations, groups, events, or the directory with. Please share only what you’re comfortable other church members seeing.
Service providers
We use a small number of trusted providers to run the app. They process data only to provide their service to us:
- Supabase — secure database, authentication, and file storage.
- Vercel — application hosting.
- GIPHY — GIF search (your search terms are sent to GIPHY to return results; family-friendly results only).
- Web/native push services (such as Apple and Google) — to deliver notifications to your device if you enable them.
Children’s privacy
Gather is intended for members of the church and their families under the oversight of a parent or guardian. If a child uses the app, a parent or guardian is responsible for their use and can manage or remove their account. If you believe a child has provided information without appropriate consent, contact us and we will remove it.
Data retention and deletion
We keep your information for as long as your account is active. You can delete your account yourself at any time, from inside the app: Profile → Delete my account. You do not need to ask anyone. A church administrator can also remove an account.
Deleting your account permanently removes your name, photo, email address, phone number and home address; every message you sent, whether private or in a group conversation, including the copies held for the people on the other side; your calls; your prayer requests; your Bible notes, highlights, memory verses and reading progress; your notification settings and any device registered for notifications; and your sign-ups, so those dates open back up for someone else. Your sign-in is deleted, so you will not be able to sign in again.
What remains, and why.Requests for help you raised on the Care Board remain, because others may have already offered to help. If you reported someone to a church leader, that report is kept so the leaders still have a record of it. Free text written by other people that happens to mention your name — a household name, for instance — is not something we can find automatically, and a church leader can edit it on request.
Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections and secure authentication. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to keep your data safe.
Your choices
- Edit or remove your profile information from within the app.
- Turn notifications on or off in your device and app settings.
- Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your data by emailing jared.griffin@gmail.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by the “Last updated” date above.
Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data? Email jared.griffin@gmail.com.