Moravian Church Southern Province
Social Media Policy
This policy provides clergy and lay staff of the Moravian Church Southern Province guidance for the use of social media, which for purposes of this policy should be broadly understood to include blogs, social networking sites, Web sites, message boards, chat rooms, electronic newsletters, on-line forums and other electronic sites and services that permit users to share information with others. We believe it is in the best interest of the church to be aware of and participate in the positive benefits of social media. The objective of this policy is to establish guidelines that protect our clergy, staff and congregations and avoid legal, ethical and moral issues.
This policy applies to all Moravian Church, Southern Province clergy and lay staff at all locations.
Guidelines:
- If you create a social media group or profile for a specific ministry, you should inform the Provincial Elders’ Conference (PEC). We ask that a minimum of one church staff member and one lay member be made administrators of any social media or profile created.
- Your online presence and posts can have the potential to affect the ministry of the church. You should conduct your online interactions in accordance with the Employee Handbook (as applicable) and the Moravian Covenant of Christian Living. Your online behavior should reflect the highest standards of honesty, respect and consideration. Respecting differences, appreciating diversity of opinion and writing in a professional, ethical manner is expected.
- All Moravian Church policies, including electronic media use, internet use, software use, personal conduct, harassment, and confidentiality, apply in the use of social media
- All MCSP clergy and lay staff are personally responsible for all content they publish online. Items published on a social media network (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest) may be shared by the recipient(s) or inadvertently viewed by others. Regardless of format, all content has the potential to become public and should be written from that perspective.
- Social media postings should never disclose sensitive or confidential information, unless written consent to share said information is obtained from the individual it concerns. This includes but is not limited to personal and/or medical information.
- Copyright and Fair Use Laws must be adhered to. Feel free to point or link to another individual’s site; do not post or blog about it as if it is your own content.
- When uploading photos to social media sites, you must have permission from the people in the photo or in the case of underage individuals, their parents, to post it.
- Refrain from any online postings that are derogatory toward the Moravian Church, its agencies, governing bodies, policies, employees, members, guests or others. Communicate concerns that you may have directly to the Provincial Elders Conference.
- Do not provide personal counseling over social media. Such discussions must be held in an appropriate, private venue.
- Be sure to review the content of posts for factual and grammatical errors.
- Any violations of the social networking policy may result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, termination of employment.
Approved by the Provincial Elders’ Conference, Nov. 8, 2018
