Membership Policy

Paid memberships are processed through Stripe, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor. The Shepherd Network does not store your full credit card number. By enrolling, you authorize The Shepherd Network to charge your payment method on a recurring basis according to the billing cycle you select (monthly or annual).

Your membership begins immediately upon successful payment. Access to member-only content is granted within minutes of enrollment confirmation.

Renewal charges will appear on your statement as "THE SHEPHERD NETWORK" or "TSN MEMBERSHIP." You will receive an email reminder at least 3 days before any annual renewal charge. Monthly renewals do not include advance notice emails but may be cancelled at any time before the next billing date.

You may cancel your membership at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. You will retain full access to your membership tier until the end of the period for which you have already paid.

To cancel, log in to your account and navigate to Account Settings → Membership → Cancel Membership, or send a written cancellation request to [email protected]. Cancellations submitted by text to 502.517.9093 are also accepted.

Cancellation does not delete your account. Your free community (The Fold) access remains active after cancellation.

The Shepherd Network is committed to fair, transparent billing. The following refund terms apply to all paid membership tiers (The Well and The Upper Room).

Monthly Memberships

Monthly memberships are billed on a recurring basis. No refunds are issued for monthly charges once a billing period has begun. If you cancel a monthly membership, you retain full access through the end of the current paid period, and no further charges will be made. Cancellation does not delete your account or remove your free community (The Fold) access.

Annual Memberships — 3-Day Grace Period

Annual memberships are billed once per year. If you are charged for an annual renewal and wish to cancel, you may request a full refund within 3 calendar days of the renewal charge. Refund requests submitted after the 3-day grace period will not be honored, and you will retain access through the end of the annual period.

To request an annual refund within the grace period, contact us in writing at [email protected] or by text at 502.517.9093 with your name, email address, and the date of the charge. Refunds are processed within 5–10 business days and returned to the original payment method.

Note: Certain states may provide additional cancellation or refund rights under applicable law. Nothing in this policy limits any rights you may have under the laws of your state of residence.

Auto-Renewal Disclosure (Required by Law)

Your membership will automatically renew at the end of each billing period (monthly or annual) at the then-current rate unless you cancel before the renewal date. You authorize The Shepherd Network to charge your payment method on file for each renewal period. For annual memberships, you will receive an email reminder at least 3 days before the renewal charge is processed.

You may cancel at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at [email protected]. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

Exceptions

Technical Failure: If a technical error on our part results in a duplicate charge or incorrect billing, a full refund of the erroneous charge will be issued within 5 business days of the error being confirmed.

First-Time Members: New members who have never previously held a paid membership may request a full refund within 7 days of their first charge if they are not satisfied with their membership. This one-time courtesy refund may be requested by contacting [email protected].

No refund is issued upon Citation 3 removal for community conduct violations. See the Community Conduct Policy for details.

The Shepherd Network reserves the right to change membership pricing at any time. Existing members will be notified of any price increase at least 30 days in advance via email. If you do not cancel before the price change takes effect, your continued membership constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

Complimentary memberships granted by the site administrator are non-transferable and are tied to the specific email address to which they were assigned. Complimentary memberships may not be shared, sold, or transferred to another individual under any circumstances. Violation of this policy will result in immediate termination of the complimentary membership.

VerseKey access codes grant a 45-day trial membership at the Scholars tier of the VerseKey Bible study game. VerseKey trial memberships are separate from The Well and The Upper Room community memberships. A VerseKey trial does not include community membership benefits unless the member separately enrolls in a paid community tier.

At the end of the 45-day trial, the member's VerseKey access downgrades to the free Wanderers tier unless they choose to upgrade. No charge is applied at the end of a VerseKey trial. Upgrade offers are presented at the time of trial expiration.

Membership accounts are for individual use only. Sharing your login credentials with others is prohibited. The Shepherd Network reserves the right to terminate accounts found to be shared between multiple individuals without prior notice or refund.

For billing questions, disputes, or cancellation requests, contact The Shepherd Network in writing:

If you believe a charge was made in error, please contact us before initiating a chargeback with your bank. Most billing issues can be resolved quickly through direct communication.

The Shepherd Network reserves the right to amend this Membership Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated to active members via email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued membership after the effective date of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Paid membership in The Well and The Upper Room is available to individuals who are 13 years of age or older. The Shepherd Network does not offer paid memberships to children under the age of 13. By completing the enrollment process and checking the age confirmation box, you represent and warrant that you meet this minimum age requirement.

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), The Shepherd Network does not knowingly collect, use, or retain personal information from children under 13. If a paid membership is found to have been created by a user under 13, the account will be deactivated and any charges for the current billing period will be refunded in full.

Members between the ages of 13 and 17 may enroll in a paid membership with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian is responsible for all charges associated with the membership and for ensuring the member's compliance with this policy and the Community Conduct Policy.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has enrolled in a paid membership, please contact us immediately at [email protected] or by text at 502.517.9093. We will deactivate the account and issue a full refund for any charges incurred.

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Membership Policy, your membership, or any services provided by The Shepherd Network — including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate — shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules.

Class Action Waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against The Shepherd Network LLC.

Informal Resolution First: Before initiating arbitration, you agree to contact The Shepherd Network in writing (via email at [email protected] or text at 502.517.9093) and allow 30 days for informal resolution. Most disputes can be resolved without formal proceedings.

Small Claims Exception: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court in Louisville, Kentucky, if the claim qualifies under the court's jurisdictional limits.

Arbitration Location: Arbitration shall take place in Jefferson County, Kentucky, or at another mutually agreed location. Virtual arbitration via video conference is available upon request.

This Membership Policy and all matters arising out of or relating to your membership shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

The Shepherd Network LLC is a Kentucky limited liability company. Any legal proceedings not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Severability: If any provision of this policy is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this policy shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.