Terms and Conditions

Legal Binding of Terms

This website is owned and operated by the current President of the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR). The contents herein set forth the terms and conditions under which visitors may use this website and services as offered by GCRR. This website offers visitors access to media and platforms to enhance the academic study of religion, including (but not limited to) books, journals, virtual conferences, blog posts, and other research assistance. By accessing or using this website, visitors acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

In order to use this website and/or receive services from GCRR, you must be at least 18 years of age, or of the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction, and possess the legal authority, right and freedom to enter into these Terms and Conditions as a binding agreement. You are not allowed to use this website and/or receive services if doing so is prohibited in your country or under any law or regulation applicable to you.

GCRR reserves the right to modify these terms from time to time at its sole discretion. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all visitors, participants, clients, and customers should review these page periodically. When GCRR changes the Terms and Conditions in a material manner, it will notify visitors that material changes have been made to the Terms and Conditions. Any continued use of this website or GCRR's products and services after any such change constitutes acceptance of the new Terms and Conditions. If visitors do not agree to any of these terms or any future version of the Terms and Conditions, do not use or access (or continue to access) this website or its products and services.

Fulfillment/Shipping Policy

All non-digital purchases, such as book and journal copies, are print-on-demand. GCRR will fulfill non-digital orders within 48 hours. Please allow up to two weeks for your print-on-demand purchase to arrive in the mail in the United States and another two weeks for international shipping.

Refund, Chargeback, and Cancellation Policy

GCRR believes in taking care of academics and students alike. If you run into an issue with one of your orders, or you need to cancel a subscription for any reason, please reach out to us directly via email (info@gcrr.org). We will be happy to assist. Please note that all digital products and services, including GCRR academic society membership, research services, virtual conference tickets, and certification programs are not eligible for a refund.

For any undamaged physical product, simply return it with its included accessories and packaging along with the original receipt (or gift receipt) within 14 days of the date you received the product, and GCRR will exchange it or offer a refund based upon the original payment method. Products must be returned to GCRR headquarters (1312 17th Street Suite 549 Denver, CO 80202).

Commercial Terms

When buying an item, visitors are responsible for reading the full item listing before making a commitment to purchase. Clients and customers enter into a legally binding contract to purchase an item when making the commitment to buy an item and complete the check-out payment process.

The prices GCRR charges for its products and services are listed on the GCRR website. GCRR reserves the right to change its prices for products displayed at any time, and to correct pricing errors that may inadvertently occur. Additional information about pricing and sales tax is available on each item's payment page.

For monthly and yearly subscriptions, the fee for services and any other charges incurred in connection with the purchase of a product or service, such as taxes and possible transaction fees, will be charged on a monthly or yearly basis to the payment method on file until cancelled by the customer.

GCRR may, without prior notice, change the services; stop providing the services or any features of the services offered; or create limits to GCRR products and services. GCRR may also permanently or temporarily terminate or suspend access to the services without notice and liability for any reason, or for no reason.

Intellectual Rights

The products and services, as well all materials therein or transferred thereby, including, without limitation, software, images, text, graphics, logos, patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, photographs, audio, videos, music and all Intellectual Property Rights related thereto, are the exclusive property of the current President of the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR). As a sole proprietorship, the Global Center for Religious Research is currently owned and operated by President Darren M. Slade. Except as explicitly provided herein, nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be deemed to create a license in or under any such Intellectual Property Rights, and all visitors, clients, and customers agree not to sell, license, rent, modify, distribute, copy, reproduce, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, publish, adapt, edit or create derivative works thereof.

Website Engagement and Participation

All visitors and participants of the GCRR website recognize and agree that by uploading any content (including, but not limited to, designs, images, animations, videos, audio files, fonts, logos, illustrations, compositions, artworks, interfaces, text and literary works) through any means to the website, they confirm that they own all the relevant rights or received the appropriate license to upload/transfer/send the content. Visitors and participants agree and consent that the uploaded/transferred content may be publicly displayed on the GCRR website.

GCRR may permanently or temporarily terminate or suspend any person's access to GCRR services without notice and liability for any reason, including if in GCRR's sole determination, the visitor or participant violates any provision of these Terms and Conditions or any applicable law or regulations. Visitors and participants may discontinue use of GCRR's products, services, and website platforms and request to cancel their account and/or any services at any time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, with respect to automatically-renewed subscriptions to paid services, such subscriptions will be discontinued only upon the expiration of the respective period for which clients and customers have already made payment.

Visitors and participants acknowledge that their profile is publicly visible to site visitors, and that their public activity (such as posts or comments) will be visible to other visitors of the GCRR website. Participants can delete their profile at any time; and upon doing so, such user’s profile will not be publicly visible.

Any work, writing, idea, discovery, improvement, invention (whether patentable or not), trade secret, video or intellectual property of any kind that is first made or conceived by a participant of or presenter at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise), shall be the exclusive property of GCRR. Participants and presenters grant GCRR a perpetual, non-exclusive, paid-up worldwide license to reproduce, distribute copies of, perform publicly, display publicly, or make derivative works from any video recording or other software and productions included in or provided with goods or services offered by GCRR.

Promotional Emails and Content

Visitors agree to receive from time to time promotional messages and materials from GCRR and its affiliates, by mail, email or any other form of contact (including your phone number for calls or text messages). If visitors do not want to receive such promotional materials or notices, please notify GCRR at any time or simply click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email message.

Indemnification and Limitations of Liability

All visitors, participants, clients, and customers agree to indemnify and hold the current President of the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR), as well as its Officers and Board Members, harmless from any demands, loss, liability, claims or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), made against them by any third party due to, or arising out of, or in connection with their use of GCRR website or any of the products and services offered on the GCRR website.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall the current President of the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR) be liable for any indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including without limitation, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses, arising out of or relating to the use of, or inability to use, the service.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the current President of the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR) assumes no liability or responsibility for any (i) errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies of content; (ii) personal injury or property damage, of any nature whatsoever, resulting from access to or use of GCRR's products and services; and (iii) any unauthorized access to or use of GCRR's secure servers and/or any and all personal information stored therein.

Participants of or presenters at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise) shall indemnify and hold GCRR and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) harmless against all legal claims and liability for any damages, costs, fines and/or personal injuries sustained by itself, its employees, or any other person or business entity arising out of the attendance or performance at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise) or the unethical or illegal conduct of participants and presenters. Furthermore, participants and presenters agree to indemnify the Releasees to the extent any claims are brought against any of them by employees, agents, or any other person or business entity of the participant or presenter arising out of the performance of GCRR services and events. These indemnifications shall include reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in the defense of any claim brought against or by the Releasees relating to GCRR services. Participants and presenters hereby agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless GCRR, its members, officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns and representatives from and against any and all actions, suits, proceedings, investigations, demands, claims, judgments, liabilities, obligations, liens, losses and damages and any related fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees) asserted against, imposed upon or incurred by GCRR arising out of or relating to or resulting from any services provided in good faith by GCRR.

Legal Dispute Resolution

These Terms and Conditions, the rights and remedies provided hereunder, and any and all claims and disputes related hereto and/or to the products and services, shall be governed by, construed under and enforced in all respects solely and exclusively in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Colorado, without respect to its conflict of laws principles. Any and all such claims and disputes shall be brought in, and you hereby consent to them being decided exclusively by a court of competent jurisdiction located in Denver, Colorado. The application of the United Nations Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is hereby expressly excluded.

GCRR EVENTS

Code of Conduct

The Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR) welcomes you and appreciates your participation at our conferences, webinars, certification programs, and on our online forums. GCRR is committed to fostering an inclusive, multidisciplinary community dedicated to the academic study of religion. We invite diverse approaches, both traditional and innovative, to a wide array of topics in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. We strive to provide a stimulating and nurturing environment for inquiry, expression, and learning. We are committed to mentoring new and young academic professionals, as well as inquisitive minds from the public, while offering guidance and networking opportunities. GCRR also strives for the highest standards of scholarship and professional integrity. At our events, you will encounter a safe, supportive, respectful, and enjoyable environment where you can express diverse viewpoints, test new theories, and encounter new ways of thinking. At the same time, GCRR endeavors to challenge these viewpoints and allow scholars in the field to subject each other’s work, research, or ideas to professional scrutiny. This is a necessary part of scholarship to ensure the highest academic quality possible with the information being presented and tested. Having your viewpoint and research challenged does not constitute defamation, harassment, or an attack against you personally. Indeed, it is an expected and celebrated part of the academic process.

GCRR is committed to providing an inclusive and harassment-free environment for all, regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, religion, geographic location, age, or other group identity. In order to ensure a supportive space for all, we require a certain code of conduct for both presenters and attendees.

The following behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated by presenters or attendees at GCRR events, institutes, or online spaces:

“Discrimination” (i.e., the unjust and prejudicial mistreatment of others) based solely on gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, religion, geographic location, age, or other group identity. Academically challenging or morally opposing the viewpoints of any of these groups does not constitute “discrimination.”
Harassing or intimidating others based on gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, religion, geographic location, age, or other group identity.
Engaging in sexual harassment or intimidation, including unwelcome sexual attention, stalking (physical or virtual), or unsolicited physical contact.
Shouting down, threatening, or defaming others.
Deliberately acting in a way that is harmful, physically or emotionally, to others. Being offended or having one’s feelings hurt does not qualify as sufficient evidence for having been harmed or injured.
Deliberately acting in a way that is disrespectful to others, including loud and disruptive behavior during conference presentations or events, whether through chat messaging or other communication mediums.
Not respecting others’ viewpoints. Academically challenging or morally opposing others’ viewpoints does not constitute “disrespect.”
Plagiarizing or presenting material that is not your own without proper attribution.
Misrepresenting your rank or identity during the registration or presentation process.
Sharing others’ personal information or intellectual property without consent.
Failing to appear for scheduled presentations without notifying GCRR leadership in the case of a non-emergency.
Speakers should frame discussions as openly and inclusively as possible and be aware of how language or images may be perceived by others.
Attendees may exercise their option to leave a session or a conversation, and if asked to leave during an altercation should do so.

All attendees are expected to follow these guidelines at all virtual and in-person events. Presenters and attendees asked to stop a hostile or harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Please report any of the unacceptable behaviors above to GCRR staff. GCRR reserves the right to bar participation in organizational activities for violation of the above policies.

Indemnification and Limitations of Liability

Participants of or presenters at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise) shall indemnify and hold GCRR and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) harmless against all legal claims and liability for any damages, costs, fines and/or personal injuries sustained by itself, its employees, or any other person or business entity arising out of the attendance or performance at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise) or the unethical or illegal conduct of participants and presenters. Furthermore, participants and presenters agree to indemnify the Releasees to the extent any claims are brought against any of them by employees, agents, or any other person or business entity of the participant or presenter arising out of the performance of GCRR services and events. These indemnifications shall include reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in the defense of any claim brought against or by the Releasees relating to GCRR services. Participants and presenters hereby agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless GCRR, its members, officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns and representatives from and against any and all actions, suits, proceedings, investigations, demands, claims, judgments, liabilities, obligations, liens, losses and damages and any related fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees) asserted against, imposed upon or incurred by GCRR arising out of or relating to or resulting from any services provided in good faith by GCRR.

Privacy

GCRR takes its attendee privacy seriously. We will never sell attendee information to third parties. However, presentation titles, presenter names and conference schedule are available to the visitors of our website, including publishers who exhibit at our conference. Additionally, we may publish attendee names and email addresses in our written and digital program.

Any work, writing, idea, discovery, improvement, invention (whether patentable or not), trade secret, video or intellectual property of any kind that is first made or conceived by a participant of or presenter at one of GCRR's public events (whether a paid event or otherwise), shall be the exclusive property of GCRR. Participants and presenters grant GCRR a perpetual, non-exclusive, paid-up worldwide license to reproduce, distribute copies of, perform publicly, display publicly, or make derivative works from any video recording or other software and productions included in or provided with goods or services offered by GCRR.

Photography

By attending or participating in our events, you agree to be photographed and/or video recorded for use in GCRR’s website, social media accounts, newsletters, and other products. Visitors and participants acknowledge that their name and image may be publicly visible as a result of attending one of our events, and that their public activity (such as posts or comments) may become visible to other visitors of the GCRR website.

Refunds

Due to the financial commitment GCRR must make to running the organization year-round, society membership fees and event tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. In order to support GCRR initiatives, endowment grants and awards, and institutional awards, all donations are also non-refundable.