Orthodox Circle Terms and Policy

ORTHODOXCIRCLE - Terms of use & policy

I. General
OrthodoxCircle respects the privacy of every user who visits our Site. OrthodoxCircle may collect personally identifiable information for registration in a number of locations throughout the Site, contests, sweepstakes, e-commerce, and other areas of the Site where information from the user is required. This Privacy Policy states how to verify the accuracy of personally identifiable information submitted to OrthodoxCircle, how to request the deletion of personally identifiable information from the OrthodoxCircle database, and how OrthodoxCircle uses collected information.

II. Membership

OrthodoXCircle is a private online community website designed for Orthodox Christians. We reserve the right to grant and revoke membership to any person(s) at any time for any reasons.

III. Personally Identifiable Information
All personally identifiable information (PIA--name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and the like) collected by OrthodoxCircle is provided voluntarily. Users are under no obligation to provide any PIA. However, if the user opts not to provide PIA, he/she may not be eligible to participate in certain areas of the Site.

IV. Use of Personally Identifiable Information
OrthodoxCircle may store and process PIA to better understand its users. OrthodoxCircle may use PIA to contact users, and may also enhance or merge PIA with data obtained from other parties for the same purposes. OrthodoxCircle will not give or sell personally identifiable information to any outside organization for such organization's own use without the user’s written or electronically indicated consent. PIA is shared with agents or contractors of OrthodoxCircle, but only in connection with services that these individuals or entities perform for OrthodoxCircle.

The copy, claims, and offers contained in the Site are directed at residents of the United States and Canada only and are valid only in the United States and Canada. In keeping with this policy, OrthodoxCircle may ask for verification of United States or Canadian residency, when handling certain comments, registrations, contest entries, and the like. If the PIA submitted indicates that you are not a resident of the United States or Canada, you may not be eligible for certain promotions, contents, or sweepstakes on the Site.

V. Security
OrthodoxCircle is committed to keeping user data secure and will take all reasonable precautions to protect PIA information from loss, misuse or alteration. Agents or contractors providing services to or for OrthodoxCircle, who may have access to PIA submitted by users of the Site as explained above, are required to keep that information confidential and are not permitted to use that information for any other purpose than to carry out the services they are performing for OrthodoxCircle.

VI. Minors
OrthodoxCircle has no intention of collecting any PIA from children or individuals under eighteen years of age. Where appropriate, OrthodoxCircle will specifically instruct any person under age 18 not to submit such information on the Site. If a minor has provided OrthodoxCircle with PIA, a parent or guardian of that minor may contact OrthodoxCircle via e-mail at: info@OrthodoxCircle.org , or via mail at: Privacy Compliance Coordinator, OrthodoxCircle, 28 North First Street, Suite 550, San Jose, CA 95113. Upon discovery that a minor has provided OrthodoxCircle with PIA, that minor's information will be removed from the OrthodoxCircle database as soon as practically possible.

VII. Non-Personally-Identifiable Information Collected Automatically
In some cases, OrthodoxCircle may collect information that is not personally identifiable. Examples of this type of information include the type of Internet browser or computer operating system, the domain name of a linking Web site to or from OrthodoxCircle, and IP addresses (i.e., the number that is automatically assigned to a computer for Internet usage). In addition, when a user views one of our Site advertisements, we may store some information on that user's computer. This information will be in the form of a cookie or similar file and helps OrthodoxCircle in many ways. For example, cookies allow for tailoring a Web site or advertisement to better match the users interests and preferences. Most Internet browsers enable users to erase cookies from their computer's hard drive, block all cookies, or receive a warning before a cookie is stored. Please refer to browser instructions or help screen to learn more about these functions. OrthodoxCircle does not collect PIA automatically, but may tie information collected automatically to previously submitted PIA.

VIII. Links
Users should know that while visiting OrthodoxCircle, they can be directed to other Web sites that are beyond OrthodoxCircle's control through links. Such links would be from an advertiser, sponsor, or partner. OrthodoxCircle cannot be responsible for the privacy policies of all the Web sites to which it is linked, or links from those other Web sites to which a user may be further directed.

IX. Contacting Us Regarding Your Personally Identifiable Information
If a user submits PIA through an OrthodoxCircle Web site or interactive advertisement, and he/she would like to have that information deleted from the OrthodoxCircle database, please visit OrthodoxCircle for removal, or send a letter to: Privacy Compliance Coordinator, 28 North First Street Suite 550, San Jose, CA 95113. All such PIA will be removed as soon as practically possible.

OrthodoxCircle is a private online community, allowing members to post content & information that reflects the teachings of the Orthodox Christian Church. OrthodoxCircle takes NO responsibly for ANY misuse or abuse that may take place by other members. If you find offensive material or think that some one is taking advantage of your identity, please contact us.

X. Content Rules
OrthodoxCircle strives to provide a chaste, family-friendly, Christian environment for all its members. At no time may you post any text, music, graphics, photos, or videos that are innapropriate for our Orthodox community on anywhere on your profile page, photo albums, blogs or in your comments to friends that is against the patristic teachings, traditions, doctrines of the Holy Orthodox Christian Church.

DO NOT POST
1. Videos containing sexual references, partial nudity, etc.
2. Music containing violence, profanity or sexual references.
3. Hate speech, racist, or culturally insensitive text, even if its meant to be humor.
4. Sexists jokes or humor disparaging against men or women, i.e. blonde jokes.
5. Photos or graphics of nude or partially-nude models, actors, etc.
6. Photos of celebrities, actors, models, etc. as your profile photo.

GUIDELINES:
1. Text, graphics or videos on your page should strive to teach and inspire our community.
2. Remember your audience. This site for Orthodox by Orthodox.
3. Use your common sense. If it's not appropriate for Church, it doesn't belong on this site.
4. Be an active contributor to our Circle of fellowship and unity.
5. Be an icon of Christ for others.

CONDUCT:
OrthodoXCircle is not a place for Apologetics nor a platform for debates. There are many other sites where Orthodox Christians discuss tradition, theology, doctrine, history, etc. with Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Muslims, etc. On OrthodoXCircle we discuss ways to defend and explain the faith to others.

OrthodoXCircle is not a place to post your personal opinions, disagreements or prejudices about the Holy Orthodox Faith, its history, theology, doctrine, sacraments, moral beliefs, and traditions, its Patriarchs, Hierarchs, Bishops, Monks, Priests, and Laity, its Churches, Jurisdictions and Monastic communities. Posting any content, links, polls, forum posts, private messages that violates this rule of conduct will result in account termination. Offensive or divisive behavior, comments, posts, graphics will also result in account termination.

OrthodoXCircle is not a place for Church politics nor a place to sow discord among canonical vs. non-canonical members.

XI. Acceptance of Terms
By using the OrthodoxCircle Site, a user is implying his/her assent to this Privacy Policy. Users unwilling to accept the terms of the Privacy Policy should not access the OrthodoxCircle Site.

XII. Changes to Privacy Policy
OrthodoxCircle reserves the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of this policy at any time. Any changes to the Privacy Policy will be posted in this space.

OrthodoxCircle Chat Rules

1. No Profanity.

2. Show respect for the channel moderators.

3. No person under the age of 13 will be permitted in chat.

5. No racism, bigotry, hate-speech against any persons, gender, culture or sexual orientation.

6. Users must NOT post msn / email / mobile phone information in the public window, if you wish to share your own info with another user, please do so via the private message function. However, OrthodoxCircle strongly urges users not to give out such information, keep your privacy private!

8. Users who wish to complain about other users should private message the channel moderators, these can be identified by having bold green / red text in the userlist.

9. No Flooding - which is sending too much information to the channel at once. Flooding is generally considered to be 4+ lines at once.

These basic rules are in place to ensure all users enjoy their time in OrthodoxCircle chat, moderators are always on hand to enforce the rules. And remember to keep private information PRIVATE