Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the National African Traditional Religion Congress ("NATRC") website, services, and credentialing programs. By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our services. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of any changes.

To apply for NATRC membership and credentialing, you must: - Be at least 18 years of age - Have verifiable initiation and training in an African Traditional Religion - Provide accurate and truthful information in your application - Have legitimate lineage and credentials that can be verified through your elders By submitting an application, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

**Application Submission:** When you submit a membership application, you agree that: - All information provided is accurate, complete, and truthful - You authorize NATRC to contact your listed elders, priests, priestesses, and references to verify your credentials - You understand that providing false or misleading information may result in immediate rejection or revocation of credentials - Application fees are non-refundable, regardless of approval status **Verification Timeline:** NATRC conducts thorough human verification of all credentials, which may take up to 30 days. We personally contact your initiating priests/priestesses and elders to verify your lineage, initiations, training, and credentials. **Approval Decision:** NATRC reserves the sole and absolute discretion to approve or reject any application. Reasons for rejection may include: - Inability to verify credentials through listed references - Inconsistencies in application information - Lack of legitimate lineage or training - Previous ethical violations or misconduct - Failure to meet membership tier requirements Rejected applicants will receive notification but are not entitled to a detailed explanation of the decision.

NATRC offers three membership tiers: **Practitioner ($150/year):** For initiated practitioners with verified training **Certified Practitioner ($250/year):** For advanced practitioners with extensive training and experience **Clergy ($350/year):** For ordained priests and priestesses with authority to initiate others Each tier includes: - Physical ID card (mailed via USPS) - Digital certificate - Listing in public practitioner directory - Credential verification services - Access to educational resources Membership is valid for one calendar year and requires annual renewal.

NATRC reserves the right to suspend or revoke credentials at any time for: - Violation of the NATRC Code of Ethics - Fraudulent misrepresentation of credentials or lineage - Unethical conduct or harm to clients/community - Failure to renew membership - Criminal conviction related to spiritual practice or fraud - Complaints substantiated through investigation Suspended or revoked members will be removed from the public directory and their credentials will be marked as invalid in the verification system. No refunds will be provided for suspended or revoked memberships.

All NATRC members must adhere to the NATRC Code of Ethics, which includes: - Maintaining integrity and honesty in all spiritual work - Respecting client confidentiality and autonomy - Avoiding exploitation, manipulation, or harm - Honoring traditional protocols and lineage - Continuing education and professional development - Transparency about credentials and limitations Violations of the Code of Ethics may result in investigation, suspension, or permanent revocation of credentials.

**Directory Listing:** Approved members will be listed in the NATRC public practitioner directory, which displays: - Name, credential tier, and tradition - Location (city and state) - Contact preferences Members may request to be excluded from the directory by contacting NATRC. **Credential Verification:** The public credential verification system allows anyone to confirm the validity of a member's credentials by entering their credential ID or name. This system displays basic credential information and validity status. **Accuracy:** Members are responsible for ensuring their directory information remains accurate and up-to-date. NATRC is not responsible for errors resulting from outdated member information.

**Application Fees:** All application fees are non-refundable, regardless of approval status. Fees cover the cost of credential verification and administrative processing. **Membership Dues:** Annual membership dues are non-refundable once paid. If your membership is suspended or revoked for cause, you are not entitled to a refund of dues. **Renewal:** Memberships must be renewed annually. Failure to renew by the expiration date will result in credential deactivation and removal from the directory. **Payment Processing:** All payments are processed securely through Stripe. NATRC does not store credit card information.

All content on the NATRC website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of NATRC or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not: - Reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without permission - Use our name, logo, or trademarks without authorization - Scrape, data mine, or systematically collect information from our website - Reverse engineer or attempt to access our source code Members may display their NATRC credentials and use the NATRC name to indicate their credentialed status, but may not imply endorsement or affiliation beyond their actual membership tier.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NATRC AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR: - Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages - Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities - Damages arising from your use or inability to use our services - Reliance on information provided by credentialed members - Actions or omissions of credentialed practitioners NATRC provides a credentialing and verification service but does not supervise, control, or guarantee the quality of services provided by individual practitioners. Clients engage practitioners at their own risk. IN NO EVENT SHALL NATRC'S TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless NATRC and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from: - Your violation of these Terms - Your violation of the Code of Ethics - Your provision of services to clients - Your misrepresentation of credentials or qualifications - Your infringement of any third-party rights - Any claim brought by a client or third party related to your services This indemnification obligation survives termination of your membership.

NATRC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: - Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose - Warranties that services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free - Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of information - Warranties regarding the qualifications or conduct of credentialed members NATRC does not warrant that credentialing ensures competence, ethical conduct, or quality of services provided by members.

Your use of NATRC services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our services, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

**Governing Law:** These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. **Arbitration:** Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of NATRC services shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits. **Exceptions:** Either party may seek injunctive relief in court to protect intellectual property rights or prevent irreparable harm. **Venue:** Any legal action not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in [Your State], and you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

**By You:** You may terminate your membership at any time by providing written notice to NATRC. Termination does not entitle you to a refund of dues or fees. **By NATRC:** We may terminate or suspend your membership immediately, without notice, for: - Violation of these Terms or the Code of Ethics - Fraudulent conduct or misrepresentation - Non-payment of dues - Any reason at our sole discretion Upon termination: - Your credentials will be deactivated - You will be removed from the public directory - You must cease using NATRC credentials and materials - Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive will remain in effect

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Code of Ethics, constitute the entire agreement between you and NATRC regarding your use of our services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: **National African Traditional Religion Congress** Email: [email protected] Phone: (888) 739-4379 By using NATRC services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.