This Policy applies as between you, the User of this Web Site, and The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership, the owner and provider of this Web Site. This Policy applies to our use of any and all Data collected by us in relation to your use of the Web Site and any Services or Systems therein.
Terms of Use and Participation
The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership
These Terms govern access to and use of the courses, materials, and services provided by The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership, a ministry unit of Faith for Living, Inc., a North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
By accessing this Website or enrolling in any course, the User agrees to these Terms.
1. Educational Purpose
All instruction, materials, and services provided by The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership are exclusively religious in nature and are intended solely for Christian ministry, ecclesiastical formation, and service within the Church of Jesus Christ.
The Institute does not offer degrees or credentials for secular licensure or professional certification outside the Church.
2. Accounts and Access (LearnWorlds-Compatible)
Users may be required to create an Account to access course materials. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and for all activity conducted under their Account.
Access to courses is granted for educational and formative purposes only and may be suspended or terminated for violations of these Terms or conduct inconsistent with the Institute’s mission.
3. Content and Intellectual Property
All course materials—including lectures, texts, videos, guides, assessments, and downloadable documents—are the intellectual property of The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership or its contributors and are provided for personal, non-commercial educational use.
Materials may not be reproduced, redistributed, or publicly shared without written permission, except where explicitly permitted for ministry use.
4. Services and Systems
The Institute provides instruction through an online learning management system (including LearnWorlds) and related communication tools. These systems exist to support instruction, reflection, and supervised formation and are not intended to replace pastoral authority, ecclesial oversight, or local church accountability.
Pastoral Confidentiality and Formation Ethics
(Required Reading for All Residents and Participants)
The Shepherd’s Path Pastoral Residency and related programs involve real ministry contexts, actual persons, and sensitive pastoral situations. Therefore, confidentiality is essential.
5. Verbatim and Ministry Reflection Confidentiality
All verbatims, reflections, and ministry-event discussions must protect the privacy and dignity of those under pastoral care.
Accordingly:
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All names must be replaced with pseudonyms
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Identifying details must be altered or omitted
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No recordings of ministry encounters are permitted
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Written materials are to be shared only with approved supervisors or residency team members
These practices are not optional. They are a matter of pastoral integrity.
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13).
6. Residency Team Confidentiality
Members of the Residency Team—including peers, lay leaders, and the female family representative—are bound to confidentiality.
Information shared in reflection meetings may not be repeated outside the approved formation setting. The purpose of reflection is formation, not exposure.
Violation of confidentiality may result in removal from the program.
7. Pastoral Authority and Accountability
Nothing in this program replaces:
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the authority of the local church,
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the oversight of a supervising pastor,
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or the jurisdiction of a presbytery, association, district, or other ecclesial body.
The Institute serves in partnership with, not in competition with, the Church.
Institutional Status and North Carolina Religious Exemption
8. Religious Educational Status
The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership is a religious educational ministry operating under the authority of Faith for Living, Inc., a North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (EIN 46-2467581).
All instruction provided is religious in nature and falls under North Carolina statutes governing religiously exempt educational institutions.
9. Academic Credit and Ecclesial Recognition
Courses such as PT 810 and PT 820 are competency-based pastoral formation courses valued at nine (9) graduate credit hours each, totaling eighteen (18) credit hours for the Shepherd’s Path Pastoral Residency.
Credit recognition and applicability are determined by:
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seminaries,
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denominations,
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judicatories, or
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partner institutions,
at their sole discretion.
The Institute does not represent that its programs confer secular degrees or licensure.
10. Data and Records
Resident records, supervisory assessments, and transcripts are maintained for institutional, ecclesial, and historical purposes and are handled with discretion and care.
The Institute does not sell or distribute personal data and limits access to those with legitimate educational or pastoral need.
11. Amendments
These Terms and Policies may be updated periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or program structure. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of such updates.
Closing Statement
The purpose of these policies is not merely legal compliance, but pastoral faithfulness—that ministry formation may be carried out with integrity, trust, and reverence before God.
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Where possible, Users may choose not to provide optional information without penalty.
The data that may be collected includes:
2.1 Name;
2.2 Contact information, such as email address and telephone number;
2.3 Ministry role, vocation, or professional context (where relevant to course participation);
2.4 General location information (such as city, state, or postal code), when voluntarily provided;
The following information may be collected only as necessary for system functionality or payment processing:
2.5 Payment information (e.g., credit or debit card details), processed securely by third-party payment providers and not stored by the Institute;
The following technical data may be collected automatically by the learning platform for basic operational purposes:
2.6 IP address;
2.7 Web browser type and version;
2.8 Operating system;
2.9 Referring and exit URLs, and general activity within the Website;
2.10 Cookie information (see Cookies section below).
The Institute does not collect data unrelated to its educational and pastoral mission, nor does it sell, trade, or monetize User data.
3.1 Data Retention
Any personal Data you voluntarily submit will be retained by The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide access to courses, maintain academic and pastoral records, and fulfill the educational and ecclesial purposes of the program.
Data submitted through course-related communication systems (including messaging, assessments, or supervisory documentation) may be retained for a limited period following course completion, ordinarily not exceeding one (1) year, unless a longer retention period is required for legitimate institutional, ecclesial, or legal purposes.
Users may request clarification regarding the retention or removal of their personal Data, subject to institutional and ecclesial record-keeping responsibilities.
3.2 Disclosure to Third Parties
Except where required or permitted by law, and subject to applicable confidentiality and pastoral care obligations, personal Data will not be disclosed to third parties without the User’s consent.
This includes affiliates, partners, or service providers, except insofar as limited disclosure is necessary to:
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deliver course services (e.g., learning platform or payment processing), or
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comply with legal, financial, or regulatory obligations.
The Institute does not sell, trade, or otherwise monetize personal Data.
3.3 Data Security
All personal Data is stored and processed using reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information and consistent with responsible stewardship.
While no system can guarantee absolute security, the Institute seeks to handle personal Data with discretion, care, and integrity, recognizing the trust placed in it by those engaged in pastoral formation.
(For additional information regarding security measures, see Clause 9.)
3.4 Purpose-Limited Use of Data
Personal Data is collected and used only as necessary to support the Institute's mission and the proper functioning of its educational and pastoral programs.
Specifically, Data may be used for the following purposes:
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administering course enrollment and access;
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facilitating instruction, communication, and supervision;
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maintaining academic and pastoral records;
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issuing transcripts, certificates, or diplomas;
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improving course delivery and user experience in a general, non-intrusive manner.
The Institute seeks to collect the minimum amount of Data necessary and to use it in a manner consistent with Christian stewardship, pastoral ethics, and respect for personal dignity.
3.4.1 Institutional and Ecclesial Record-Keeping
To maintain accurate academic, pastoral, and administrative records related to course participation, supervision, and program completion.
3.4.2 Improvement of Educational and Formative Services
To evaluate and improve course content, instructional delivery, and learning tools in a general and non-intrusive manner, without profiling or tracking individual behavior beyond what is necessary for educational effectiveness.
3.4.3 Course-Related and Ministry Communications (With Consent)
To communicate with Users regarding matters directly related to their enrollment, course participation, program updates, or Institute-sponsored educational offerings. Users may opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
3.4.4 Voluntary Feedback for Educational Improvement
To invite Users, on a voluntary basis, to provide feedback regarding their learning experience for the purpose of improving course quality and pastoral effectiveness. Such feedback will be requested respectfully and without pressure.
The Institute does not engage in commercial marketing, behavioral profiling, or the sale of personal information, and does not use personal Data for purposes unrelated to Christian education and pastoral formation.
From time to time, The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership may make use of trusted third-party service providers to support essential operational functions related to this Website and its associated learning platforms. These services may include, but are not limited to, secure payment processing, course delivery infrastructure, email communications, and basic website functionality.
Such third-party providers are given access only to the limited information necessary to perform their specific services and do not have independent access to personal Data beyond that scope. Any Data shared with third-party providers is used solely to carry out the services requested by the Institute and may not be used for any other purpose.
All third-party providers engaged by the Institute are expected to handle personal Data in a manner consistent with this Policy, applicable law, and standards of confidentiality appropriate to religious and educational contexts.
The Institute does not permit third-party providers to use personal Data for commercial advertising, behavioral profiling, or unrelated marketing purposes.
5.1 Continuity of Mission and Stewardship of Data
From time to time, The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership may experience changes in organizational structure, governance, or ministry oversight (for example, the reorganization of programs, the establishment of new ministry units, or partnership with aligned institutions).
In such cases, any personal Data associated with a specific program may be transferred only insofar as necessary to ensure continuity of instruction, pastoral formation, and institutional record-keeping, and only to an organization or governing body that is substantially aligned with the Institute’s religious, educational, and pastoral mission.
Any such transfer will be governed by the same standards of confidentiality, purpose limitation, and stewardship outlined in this Policy.
5.2 Notice and User Choice
If personal Data is to be transferred as a result of a significant organizational change, Users will be informed in advance, where reasonably practicable.
Upon notification, Users will be given a reasonable opportunity to:
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request clarification regarding the nature of the transfer, and
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request that their personal Data be deleted or withheld from transfer, subject to legitimate institutional, ecclesial, or legal record-retention responsibilities.
The Institute seeks to handle all such matters with transparency, care, and respect for the trust placed in it by those engaged in pastoral formation.
6.1 Wherever you are required to submit Data, you will be given options to restrict our use of that Data. This may include the following:
6.1.1 Course-Related Communications and Updates
The ability to opt out of non-essential communications that are not directly related to course participation, supervision, or institutional notices required for program administration.
6.1.2 Sharing of Data with Third Parties
The ability to restrict the sharing of personal Data with third-party service providers, except where such sharing is necessary to deliver core services (such as secure payment processing or course platform functionality) or is otherwise required by law.
The Institute seeks to honor User preferences wherever possible and to exercise restraint and care in the handling of all personal Data.
- 7.1 Voluntary Disclosure and Necessary Information
Users may access certain areas of the Website without providing personal Data. However, to participate fully in courses, supervised formation activities, or communication systems, Users may be asked to provide limited Account information or other Data reasonably necessary for course access, instruction, and pastoral supervision.
The Institute seeks to collect only the minimum information required to fulfill its educational and ecclesial responsibilities and does not require the disclosure of personal Data unrelated to participation in its programs.
7.2 Control Over Cookies and Browser Settings
Users may choose to restrict or disable the use of Cookies through their internet browser settings. Please note that doing so may affect the functionality of certain features of the Website or learning platform.
For additional information regarding Cookies and their use, see Clause 10 below.
- 8.1 You may access your Account at any time to view or amend the Data. You may need to modify or update your Data if your circumstances change. Additional Data as to your marketing preferences may also be stored, and you may change this at any time.
- 8.2 You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal Data on payment of a small fee.
The security of personal Data is important to The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership. Accordingly, the Institute seeks to protect Data entrusted to it by employing reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse of information collected through the Website and associated learning platforms.
While no online system can guarantee absolute security, the Institute endeavors to handle all personal Data with care, discretion, and integrity, consistent with its educational mission and pastoral responsibilities.
From time to time, The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership may update this Privacy Policy in order to reflect changes in law, technology, institutional practices, or program structure.
When material changes are made, the revised Policy will be posted on the Website, and reasonable efforts will be made to notify Users through appropriate means. Continued use of the Website or course platform following the effective date of such changes constitutes acknowledgment of the updated Policy.
The Institute seeks to implement any changes with transparency, restraint, and respect for the trust placed in it by those it serves.
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us at
info@faithfor.living. 
