Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2026

Gathering Saints ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly when you create an account or use the app:

Name, email address, and profile photo
Ward and stake area (used to surface nearby groups)
Approximate location (city/region level)
Date of birth (to determine age-appropriate content)
Marital status and parental status (used for group filtering)
Messages sent through the app
Content you post, including photos and event RSVPs

We also collect limited technical data automatically, including device type, operating system version, and crash logs, to improve app stability.

2. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account
To surface relevant local groups and events near you
To send push notifications for messages, event reminders, and join approvals
To enable communication between members
To enforce our community safety standards
To improve the app through aggregated, anonymized analytics

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in these limited circumstances:

With other users: Your display name, profile photo, and general location are visible to other app users. Your ward and stake are only shown if you enable that setting.
With service providers: We use Firebase (Google) for authentication, database, storage, and push notifications. Their privacy policy applies to data processed on their infrastructure.
For safety: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety of our users.

4. Children's Privacy

Gathering Saints supports youth group features. Accounts for users under 13 require parental consent and are subject to additional protections under COPPA. Minor accounts have restricted messaging capabilities and are not shown to non-members of their groups.

If you believe a child under 13 has created an account without parental consent, please contact us at privacy@gatheringsaints.app and we will promptly delete the account.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us. Some data may be retained for a limited period to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes.

6. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including encrypted data transmission (TLS), Firebase Authentication, and Firestore security rules. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data
Opt out of non-essential communications

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@gatheringsaints.app.

8. Third-Party Services

The app uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

Google Firebase (authentication, database, storage, messaging)
Resend (transactional email)

9. Non-Affiliation

Gathering Saints is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via the app or email. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions about this policy? Contact us at privacy@gatheringsaints.app.