1. Who We Are
The Garden is a scripture-centered Christian dating and social community. Contact: thegarden@meetinthegarden.net.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you use the Service, we may collect:
- Account information — name, email, phone, username, password (stored hashed), birthdate, gender, and membership status.
- Profile information — bio, preferences, faith-related fields, and other details you choose to share.
- Media — photos and videos you upload.
- Communications — messages and related metadata needed to deliver messaging; likes and introduction activity.
- Payment information — processed by Stripe. We receive limited billing status and identifiers; we do not store full card numbers.
- Device and usage data — approximate technical logs such as IP address, browser/app type, and timestamps when you access the Service.
- Marketing email opt-in — if you subscribe via our Kit (ConvertKit) form or similar, that provider processes your email for newsletters.
- Notification preferences — settings such as email-on-like or email-on-message, and unsubscribe tokens.
3. How We Use Information
We use information to:
- Create and manage your account and membership.
- Operate profiles, browsing, likes, messaging, and related features.
- Process payments and fulfill paid memberships.
- Send transactional email (for example, account or security notices).
- Send optional product emails (likes/messages digests) when you have not opted out.
- Send marketing newsletters only if you opt in (for example, via Kit).
- Protect safety, prevent abuse, enforce our Terms, and comply with law.
- Improve and troubleshoot the Service.
4. Legal Bases and Consent (US-oriented)
We process information as needed to provide the Service you request, to operate our business, for security and fraud prevention, and where you have consented (such as marketing opt-in or certain notification preferences). Where required, you may withdraw optional consents without affecting core account operation, subject to feature limitations.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with:
- Service providers who help us operate the Service (for example Stripe for payments, hosting providers, email delivery, and Kit for optional newsletters), under contractual obligations to protect data.
- Other members — profile information and media you choose to publish are visible according to product rules; messages are shared with the intended recipient.
- Legal and safety — when we believe disclosure is required by law, court order, or to protect rights, safety, or integrity of the Service or others.
- Business transfers — if we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, information may transfer subject to this Policy or successor notice.
6. Retention and Deletion
We retain account and profile data while your account is active and as needed for legitimate business, legal, and security purposes afterward. When you delete your account or we permanently remove it, we delete or de-identify personal data associated with that account according to our systems and backups, except where we must retain limited records (for example billing or legal obligations).
7. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information (including hashed passwords and HTTPS where applicable). No method of transmission or storage is completely secure; you use the Service understanding that residual risk remains.
8. Children’s Privacy
The Service is not directed to anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a minor has registered, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove the account.
9. Your Choices
- Update profile and notification settings in the app where available.
- Unsubscribe from like/message notification emails via the link in those emails or our unsubscribe page.
- Unsubscribe from marketing/newsletter email via the provider’s unsubscribe link (for example Kit).
- Request account deletion through in-app tools or by emailing us.
10. International Users
The Service is operated from the United States. If you access it from another country, you understand that your information may be processed in the U.S. and other locations where our providers operate, which may have different data protection rules than your home country.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will revise the “Last updated” date and, when changes are material, may provide additional notice (such as an email or in-product message). Continued use after the effective date means you accept the updated Policy.
12. Contact
Privacy questions or requests:
thegarden@meetinthegarden.net
The Garden · meetinthegarden.net