<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" width="40px" /> If you’re looking for our guidelines related to official public communication on behalf of Grace Bible Church, look at our ‣ policy from the @Anonymous group

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Purpose

We live in a technological age, and social media is increasingly becoming a major component of communicating with and relating to other people. Grace Bible Church is interested in expanding the reach of our ministry by using social media and other online resources. Our desire is that our staff, elders, and ministry leaders accurately reflect the character of Jesus Christ in our online interactions.

Scope of this policy

“Social media” refers to those websites that allow people to post personalized content in the form of status updates, Internet links, videos, photos, and articles. Some examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube, Wiki pages, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Any online interaction with other people that can be viewed by the public (or by a significant private audience) is considered social media interaction.

General principles

• As a Christian and an employee of Grace Bible Church, you represent Jesus and our ministry. Use social media in ways that honor God and the ministry of this Church. Social media have many valuable uses:
  • Connecting with members of the congregation
  • Engaging in thoughtful and respectful conversations about theological, spiritual, political, or personal subjects
  • Gathering prayer requests
  • Promoting events
  • Disseminating valuable information and resources

Don’t be afraid to utilize social media for the above purposes, since the internet is a powerful tool if used wisely.

• Do not post anything on a social website that would be damaging to the Church or to the reputation of Jesus. Here are some examples of things that would be considered inappropriate (this is not comprehensive, but provides a general overview):
  • Sarcastic or unkind remarks about other people
  • Pictures of you or others in revealing attire or compromising situations (drinking large quantities of alcohol, smoking, breaking laws, etc.)
  • Gossip, whether true or false
  • Confidential information about events or decisions being made at the Church
  • Criticism of the Church’s elder board or Leadership
  • Any information about others that would embarrass them or damage their reputations
  • Extreme political or social commentary – e.g. directing insults or names toward politicians who don’t share your views
  • Links to articles with inappropriate content (e.g. four-letter words, inappropriate images, etc.)
• Assume that everything you post online will be there forever. Even if it can be removed, it only takes a few seconds for people to see it and react.
• As a general rule, adults should not initiate online relationships with minors outside of their own families. If a minor “friends” or “follows” an adult, that adult is responsible to exercise discretion regarding whether an online relationship with this student is healthy and appropriate.
• Anonymous or pseudonymous profiles and comments are strongly discouraged. People tend to say things anonymously that they would never say with their names attached to the statement. If you are ashamed to have your name connected to a statement, it’s probably best not to say it at all.
• Keep your cool. If somebody responds to your status or tweets in an unkind or unfair manner, don’t respond in kind. Walk away from your computer if necessary and don’t reply until you can do so in a calm and gracious manner. Most of the time, the best response to unkind comments or messages is no response at all. Instead, contact the person directly and resolve your differences face-to-face.

Ways to Make Your Social Media Presence Effective

• Post consistently. If you post 4 times in one day and then refrain from posting again for two weeks, people will be confused. Try to be relatively consistent and people will be more likely to pay attention.
• Focus on quality instead of quantity. Don’t link to every article you read; people won’t read any of them. Instead, select the best of what you see online and develop a reputation as a person who provides engaging and interesting content.
• Be yourself. If you’re funny in real life, let your sense of humor shine through on Facebook or Twitter (as long as you follow the guidelines above). If you’re a Bible scholar, post verses or ideas from your studies.
• Be generous and humble. It’s not all about you, so don’t inundate people with pictures of your own face or mundane details about your private life. Focus instead on what will be useful, encouraging, or entertaining to other people.
• Engage in conversations. Respond to or like other people’s posts and Tweets. There’s a reason they’re called “social media.” At their best, social media are relational, allowing us to connect with others and learn about their lives. If the only time you are active on Facebook is to promote your own blog, you’re shouting into a one-way megaphone. Relationships, on the other hand, involve two-way interactions.
• Don’t be obsessive. Your number of friends, fans, or followers does not define your worth – your significance and purpose are found in Christ. Don’t measure your effectiveness by the number of people who comment on your status or by how many Twitter followers you have.