Terms and Conditions

The guidelines for using our website, engaging with our content, and understanding your rights.

Terms and Conditions

The guidelines for using our website, engaging with our content, and understanding your rights.

The guidelines for using our website and digital resources
Last updated: 24 December, 2025

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to your use of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission website, https://apostolicoldcatholic.org (“the website”), and all services, media, learning content, or digital resources connected to it. By accessing this site, creating an account, enrolling in a course, or using any learning materials, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use the website.

1. Who we are

The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is a small independent sacramental Christian community based in Sofia, Bulgaria. We offer pastoral care, teaching, and sacramental ministry primarily through online and house-church style settings. We do not operate as a registered religious corporation in our own right, and we do not maintain institutional bank accounts or property in the Mission’s name. Our contact details are listed below.

2. Accounts, eligibility, and fair use

Accurate information: When creating an account or enrolling in learning, you agree to provide accurate, current information and to keep it updated.
Account security: You are responsible for safeguarding your login details and for all activity under your account.
One person, one account: Accounts and course access are for the registered individual only and must not be shared.
We may restrict access: We reserve the right to suspend or close accounts where we reasonably believe there has been misuse, dishonesty, harassment, threats, unlawful behaviour, or serious breach of these Terms.

3. Use of the website

You may use this website for lawful, non-commercial purposes. You agree not to:

Violate any local or international law
Distribute spam, malware, or abusive content
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the site or its services
Reproduce or exploit the content for commercial purposes without written permission

4. Learning and courses (including assessments and conduct)

This section applies to any free or paid learning content accessed through our Learning area (including courses, quizzes, assignments, downloadable materials, certificates, and any learner community features).

4.1 Enrolment and access

Email verification: We may require email verification before you can fully use your account and course access.
Access period: Where a course has a time-limited access period (for example, a set number of days), this will be stated on the course page or within the learning area.
Personal licence: Course access is granted as a personal, limited, non-transferable licence for your own formation. It does not grant ownership of the content.
Platform changes: We may update, improve, or reorganise course content from time to time to keep it accurate and pastoral. This does not reduce your responsibility to meet the stated learning outcomes.

4.2 Fees, refunds, and removals

Course fees: Where a course has a fee, the price and what is included will be stated on the course page.
Digital access and refunds: Because course enrolment typically provides access to digital content immediately, course fees are generally non-refundable once access has been granted, except where a refund is required by applicable law or where we agree, in writing, to an exception.
No refunds for non-completion or failure: No refunds are provided if you do not complete the course, miss deadlines, or do not achieve the required pass mark(s).
No refunds if removed: If you are removed from a course or the learning platform due to cheating, plagiarism, harassment, threats, serious misconduct, or a serious breach of these Terms, no refund will be issued, and any certificate may be cancelled or withheld.
Chargebacks and disputes: If you believe there is an error, contact us first so we can try to resolve it. Unexplained chargebacks may result in account suspension while the matter is reviewed.

4.3 Assessments, completion, certificates, and verification

Pass marks and attempts: Where a course includes quizzes and assessments, the pass mark, attempt limits, and any deadlines are stated within the course.
No guarantee of outcome: Completing a course does not guarantee ordination, licensing, employment, placement, or recognition by any external body.
Certificates: Where a certificate is offered, it is issued only when the stated requirements are met.
Unique certificate number: Each certificate is issued with a unique certificate number.
Certificate verification: We provide an online certificate verification service. A certificate number may be checked on our verification page: https://apostolicoldcatholic.org/certificate-verification/
Revocation and status: We may withhold, cancel, or revoke a certificate where we reasonably believe the certificate was obtained through academic dishonesty, serious misconduct, misrepresentation, or a serious breach of these Terms. Where a certificate is revoked, the verification status may display as revoked on the certificate verification page.
No refunds: Where a certificate is revoked due to academic dishonesty or serious misconduct, no refund is provided.

4.4 Academic Integrity (Cheating & Plagiarism) Policy

We want learning to be honest, fair, and worthy of trust. In ministry formation, integrity is not a technicality; it is part of the work of discipleship. This policy applies to all quizzes, tests, assignments, case studies, and any other assessed work.

A. Plain-language expectations

Do your own work.
Use sources properly.
Ask for help honestly.
Do not try to “beat the system”.

If you are unsure whether something is permitted, ask before submitting.

B. What counts as cheating or academic dishonesty (examples)

Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to):

Plagiarism: Copying words, ideas, or structure from a website, book, article, sermon, or another learner and presenting it as your own, whether copied exactly or lightly paraphrased.
Contract cheating: Paying, asking, or persuading another person to write or substantially complete your work.
Collusion: Working together on an assessment that is meant to be individual, or submitting substantially similar work.
Sharing answers: Sharing quiz answers, screenshots, assignment prompts, marking rubrics, or “model answers” so others can bypass learning.
Unauthorised assistance: Using help that goes beyond what the assessment allows (including the hidden use of tutors/mentors to produce the work).
Misuse of AI tools: Using AI to generate all or most of an assignment, reflection, or case study response in a way that misrepresents your own learning, insight, or writing.
Bypassing controls: Attempting to exploit platform settings, attempt limits, time limits, or technical controls to gain an unfair advantage.
False statements: Claiming to have completed required reading, videos, reflection, or safeguarding steps when you have not.

C. What is usually allowed (so learners are not anxious)

We do not want this to feel like a trap. These are generally acceptable:

Using spelling/grammar tools for clarity
Using accessibility tools (dictation, screen readers)
Quoting sources with clear attribution
Discussing ideas with others, so long as the final submission is truly your own and the task permits discussion
Using AI for minor support (for example, proofreading), provided the ideas, structure, and substance remain your own and you do not submit AI-generated work as if it were your own

If a specific assessment has stricter rules, those rules apply.

D. How we respond (step-by-step process)

When we reasonably suspect cheating or plagiarism, we aim to act firmly, fairly, and without drama.

Initial review: We review the submission and any available platform evidence.
Learner contact: We may contact you to explain the concern and request a response (and, where appropriate, drafts/notes/sources) within a reasonable time.
Interim action (if needed): We may temporarily pause assessment marking, restrict further attempts, suspend course access, and/or suspend certificate issuance while the matter is reviewed.
Decision: We decide what outcome is appropriate based on the evidence and the seriousness of the breach.
Outcome applied: We apply the consequence and record the decision for safeguarding, quality assurance, and fairness across learners. This may include cancelling or revoking a certificate and updating the certificate verification status.
Finality: The decision of the Rector is final and non-negotiable.

E. Possible outcomes (depending on seriousness)

One or more of the following may be applied:

A warning with guidance
A requirement to resubmit (with clear instructions)
A fail for the assessment item
Loss of an attempt (where attempts are limited)
Removal of course access (temporary or permanent)
Withholding, cancellation, or revocation of a certificate (including showing as revoked on the verification system)
Suspension or termination of the learner account

Where a learner is removed for academic dishonesty or serious misconduct, no refund will be issued.

F. A pastoral note

If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help early. We would rather walk with you in the learning than deal with dishonesty later.

5. Donations

We accept voluntary donations through secure platforms including GiveWP and PayPal. All donations are considered gifts and are non-refundable unless stated otherwise. We do not issue tax certificates unless explicitly noted. If you have a question regarding a donation, please contact us.

6. Newsletter and communications

By subscribing to our newsletter or submitting a contact form, you consent to receive occasional updates from the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission via Brevo. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in each email.

7. Downloads and usage rights

Some downloadable content on this website is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence. This allows you to share and adapt the content as long as you credit the source, do not use it commercially, and apply the same licence. Other materials, including but not limited to our Statutes and Ecclesiological documents, are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission. Each download will be clearly labelled with its applicable licence.

Course content (including videos, handouts, quizzes, templates, and written materials) is provided for personal use only and may not be republished, sold, or redistributed without written permission.

8. Pastoral guidance and support

The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission offers spiritual care and support rooted in Scripture, tradition, and lived experience. While we may address topics such as addiction, sexuality, stress, grief, or identity, we do not provide medical, legal, or psychological advice. Any support we offer is spiritual in nature and not a substitute for professional care. We encourage individuals to seek guidance from licensed professionals as needed, and we do not assume liability for any decision or action taken based on pastoral advice offered through this website or its representatives.

9. User submissions and ownership

If you submit content to us (e.g. feedback, suggestions, testimonials), you grant the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual right to use, modify, reproduce, or publish that content, unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing. We reserve the right to moderate or decline any submitted content.

For course assignments: you retain ownership of your work, but you grant us permission to store it and use it for assessment, moderation, and quality assurance. We will not publish your assignments publicly without your permission.

10. External links and third-party tools

Our website may link to external platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Brevo, or donation processors. These links are provided for convenience. We are not responsible for the content, policies, or functionality of third-party websites or services.

11. Limitation of liability

All content provided is intended for general spiritual enrichment. We strive for accuracy but make no guarantees of completeness or uninterrupted access. We shall not be held liable for any damages arising from the use (or inability to use) the website or its resources.

12. Language and jurisdiction

The official language of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission and its website is English. Where content is translated, the English version remains legally authoritative. These Terms are governed by the laws of Bulgaria. Any disputes shall fall under the jurisdiction of the civil courts of Sofia, Bulgaria.

13. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. When updated, the “last modified” date will change. Continued use of the site implies acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Contact details

For any questions regarding these Terms, course access, refunds, or permissions, please contact:

Apostolic Old Catholic Mission
Sofia, Bulgaria
Website: https://apostolicoldcatholic.org
Email: admin@apostolicoldcatholic.org