SMS/Text-Messaging Communications and Consent Policy

3.1 Program Owner

The sender and program owner is The Shepherd Network LLC. Individual services such as ShepherdSync, ShepherdChek, VerseKey, and TheShepherdNetwork.org may identify themselves in messages, but the registered business sender remains The Shepherd Network LLC unless a separate organization is expressly registered and identified.

3.2 SMS Is Optional

Providing a mobile telephone number does not, by itself, enroll a user in recurring SMS messages. SMS consent must be affirmative, voluntary, and separate from required acceptance of Terms, Privacy Policy, account creation, purchase, donation, subscription, or other mandatory action. Any electronic SMS checkbox must be unchecked by default. Users must be able to decline recurring SMS and still complete the underlying action unless the requested service cannot technically function without a specific non-recurring message and applicable law permits that communication.

3.3 Website/App Opt-In Standard

For website or app enrollment, the user enters or confirms a mobile number and affirmatively selects a separate consent control that identifies The Shepherd Network LLC and the categories of recurring SMS the user is requesting. The disclosure must state that message frequency varies, message and data rates may apply, and users may reply STOP to opt out and HELP for help. The opt-in page must link to the public Terms and Privacy Policy. TSN should maintain a timestamped record of the disclosure version, consent action, program/service, telephone number, and source page.

3.4 Program Categories

Consent should be scoped to what the user reasonably expects. TSN may offer separate categories such as: (a) ShepherdSync scheduling and volunteer communications; (b) ShepherdChek registration/check-in communications; (c) devotionals, prayer responses, community/ministry updates; (d) account/security notices; and (e) marketing/promotional messages. A user's consent to one category does not automatically authorize unrelated recurring categories.

3.5 Marketing SMS

TSN will not treat consent to informational, devotional, scheduling, registration/check-in, account, or transactional messages as consent to advertising or telemarketing. If TSN sends SMS that advertises or promotes products or services in a manner requiring prior express written consent under the TCPA/FCC rules, TSN will obtain the required written consent before sending those messages and will preserve evidence of that consent.

3.6 Frequency, Rates, STOP, and HELP

Message frequency varies by program, user activity, scheduling needs, and communications requested. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE—or use any other reasonable method that clearly communicates revocation—to stop messages for which consent is required. Reply HELP for assistance. TSN will honor valid revocation requests within the time required by applicable law and carrier rules and should process standard STOP requests immediately whenever technically feasible.

3.7 Confirmation of Opt-Out

After a valid SMS opt-out, TSN may send one non-promotional confirmation message acknowledging the request and confirming that no further recurring messages requiring that consent will be sent. If the user had consented to multiple distinct message categories and the request is ambiguous, TSN may seek clarification only as permitted by applicable law while pausing covered messages absent clarification.

3.8 No Transfer of Consent

SMS consent is specific to the sender and messaging program identified at opt-in. TSN will not transfer or assign messaging consent to another church, business, affiliate, or third party for that party's marketing. A church using a future TSN platform to send messages in the church's own name must have its own lawful consent and, where required, its own messaging registration.

3.9 Records

TSN should retain consent and opt-out records for a period reasonably sufficient to demonstrate compliance, subject to legal requirements and the Data Retention Schedule. Records should include the mobile number, date/time, consent text/version, source, program, user action, and opt-out history.

3.10 Delivery and Carriers

Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Delivery is not guaranteed and depends on carrier and device availability.

3.11 Public SMS Compliance Page

TSN should maintain a publicly accessible, crawlable SMS page that displays the current SMS program disclosures, opt-in mechanism or evidence, links to Terms and Privacy, and current support information. The page should not require login or client-side interaction before the legal text is available to automated compliance reviewers.