The following policies are observed for all Facebook accounts authorized by the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Like most technology, its proper use can further the mission of The United Methodist Church, namely, to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Since social media leverages relationships, healthy relationships are vital for Christian community. When relationships break down, so does the means in which we build those relationships.
The following has been adopted by the IGRC Commission on Communications on Sept. 11, 2021.
If you are not sure about appropriateness of a post, do not post it. Every post -- personal or corporate -- reflects back on our Christian witness. Ask yourself: is this post or information timely? Newsworthy? Ready for the world to see?
Be respectful, collegial and intentional of other’s privacy including the announcing of prayer concerns. Ask yourself: Do I have permission to share this information? If you feel it is important to share the information but don’t know about your standing, contact the group administrators and we will obtain permission before posting it.
Take care to adhere to Safe Sanctuary guidelines, adapting them to social media practices. For more information, visit: https://www.igrc.org/safesanctuaries
Remember your Christian witness and allow your use of social media to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Persons that join IGRC Facebook groups should see a higher level of conversation. One faith should influence one’s views rather than partisan or political views influencing one’s faith.
We firmly believe that the groups will self-regulate themselves because the greater the trust is within Christian community, the fewer the rules are necessary.
Authorized by the IGRC Commission on Communications, Sept. 11, 2021, replacing any existing policies that have previously been in effect.