Moderation Policy
Last Updated: February 12, 2026
1. Scope
This policy explains how ChurchSearch handles reports about church listings, including inaccuracies, spam, impersonation, and abusive content.
2. Reporting
Signed-in users can submit a listing report from the church detail page. Reports enter pending review and are evaluated by moderators.
3. Review Outcomes
- No action: report is closed and listing remains visible.
- Correction requested: listing remains visible while metadata is corrected.
- Taken down: listing is removed from public search and detail views.
4. Decision Principles
- Evidence-based decisions using listing data, source links, and report context.
- Consistent enforcement across denominations and geographies.
- Fast handling for impersonation, fraud, or harmful abuse.
5. Appeals
Claimed church admins may request reconsideration with supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by a moderator who did not make the original takedown decision when possible.
6. Review Timelines (Placeholder)
- Standard reports: initial review target 7 business days.
- Urgent safety/fraud reports: expedited review target 24 hours.
- Appeals: final decision target 14 business days.
7. Repeat Abuse Handling
Repeated fraudulent claims, impersonation attempts, or abusive submissions may result in stricter controls, including claim restrictions or account suspension where permitted by applicable law.
8. Transparency Reporting (Placeholder)
We may publish periodic moderation statistics (e.g., reports received, actions taken, appeals granted) as part of transparency commitments. Format and cadence: quarterly summary report.
Contact
Questions about moderation decisions can be sent to legal@churchsearch.us.