Privacy Policy

1. Who this policy applies to

This policy covers two groups of people:

• Account holders — pastors and church staff who register for and use the Service (“you” or “users”).
• Congregants — the members of a user’s church whose information a user chooses to bring into the Service so they can be cared for.

For account holders, Arkon acts as the controller of your account information. For congregant information that a user imports or enters, Arkon acts as a service provider that processes that information on behalf of the user and their church, under the user’s direction.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide when you create an account. Your name, email address, mobile phone number, business or church name, role or title, and billing information.

Congregant information you bring into the Service. Users may connect Arkon to a church management system (such as Planning Center) or enter information directly. This can include a congregant’s name, contact details, involvement history, and notes a pastor records to provide pastoral care. Arkon organizes and surfaces this information for the user; it is provided and controlled by the user and their church.

Information we generate. Records of how you use the Service, such as reminders created, items you mark complete, and preferences you set.

Technical information. Log data, device and browser type, and similar information collected automatically when you use the Service, used to operate and secure the platform.

3. How we use information

We use information to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service;
• Surface reminders and pastoral-care context to you, the account holder;
• Send you service-related messages and notifications (see Section 4);
• Process payments and manage your subscription;
• Secure the Service and prevent misuse;
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information. We do not use congregant information for any purpose other than providing the Service to the user and their church.

4. SMS / text messaging

Arkon offers an optional SMS text-messaging program to registered users (pastors and church staff who hold an Arkon account). If you opt in, Arkon sends you text-message reminders and notifications about the people in your pastoral care — for example, follow-up reminders, check-in prompts, and care-related alerts. Arkon sends these messages only to you, the account holder, at the mobile number associated with your account. Arkon does not send text messages to your congregants or to any third party.

Consent. You provide consent to receive these messages by opting in within the Arkon application. Consent is not a condition of purchasing or using Arkon. You may decline SMS and continue using every other part of the service.

Message frequency. Message frequency varies and depends on your pastoral care activity within Arkon. Message and data rates may apply.

Opting out. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any Arkon text message. After you reply STOP, Arkon will send one confirmation message and will not send further texts unless you opt back in by replying START. For help, reply HELP or email us at help@joinarkon.com.

Your mobile information. Arkon does not sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number or SMS consent with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes. Mobile opt-in information and consent are never shared with any third party for marketing. We share your mobile number only with the messaging providers that operate the SMS program on our behalf (for example, our telecommunications provider), solely to deliver the messages you have requested.

Supported carriers. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Message and data rates may apply.

5. How we share information

We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers. With vendors who help us operate the Service (for example, hosting, payment processing, and message delivery), under agreements that require them to protect the information and use it only to provide services to us.
• Legal requirements. When required by law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.
• Protection of rights. To protect the safety, rights, or property of Arkon, our users, or others.
• Business transfers. In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to this policy.

As stated in Section 4, mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in data are never shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

6. Data retention

We retain account information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Service. Congregant information is retained on behalf of the user and their church and is deleted or returned when the user removes it or closes their account, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your choices and rights

You may access, correct, or delete your account information, and manage your communication preferences, within the Service or by contacting us. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under applicable law, such as the right to request access to or deletion of your personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us at help@joinarkon.com.

9. Children’s privacy

The Service is intended for use by pastors and church staff and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through the Service.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, contact us at: