All digital communications must comply with our Safe Church policy. Ministry use of virtual platforms (such as Zoom) and social media is evolving, and protocols should be revisited as technology and platforms change. When questions arise about applying Safe Church to a particular technology or platform, consult with our Communications Director and Human Resources.

For Parishes

This social media policy should be posted at your church for staff to always view.

1. Social Media Access

1. The Rector/Priest-in-Charge and/or the primary social media Administrator for a parish must be aware of all social media and virtual platforms your parish has access to and how it is being used.
2. Use social media platforms that can be archived or printed, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Social media with disappearing media, such as Snapchat, should not be used.
3. Accounts and pages should be made public to allow transparency of activity. Any new pages or accounts created for a parish should be shared as a link to the Diocesan Office.
4. Your parish accounts on all social media platforms should have no less than two adult administrators and no more than three.
5. Anyone under the age of 18 should not have access to any parish accounts.
6. All social media accounts and pages should use at least one office email and office phone number as the primary and/or backup for password recovery. Any accounts that are strictly connected with a personal email address or phone number should be updated immediately. The only exception is Facebook. A Facebook page must be always maintained by a personal Facebook account. Please see 1.4 for the number of administrators.
7. Create an onboarding and offboarding process for social media access. If an administrator leaves or is no longer able to maintain your social media, you must remove them as an admin and replace them with a new one.

2. Rules of Conduct

1. The voice of clergy and lay leaders is often considered the voice of the church. You may speak in first person with your own voice on your personal page, but speak in the voice of the church when posting to a church or ministry page.
2. Inappropriate language and behavior, and references to illegal substances of any kind are prohibited for all parishes across The Diocese of West Missouri. This includes, but is not limited to, content that is sexual, profane, derogatory, and bullying of any kind.
3. Frequently review the content and photos posted on social media platforms and websites.
4. If you have a social media or virtual account that directly involves children or youth, parents must also be informed of the way that social media and virtual platforms are used in the ministry.
5. Respect the privacy of others. Do not publish personal information of others in the community without their permission or, in the case of minors, with the written permission of their parents or caregivers.
6. Obtain written parental approval before posting images or recordings of children or youth on social media or websites.
7. Any inappropriate or harmful material posted in online groups must be removed. Inappropriate content should first be saved by the Administrator and then reported to the Rector and the Diocesan Office, and in cases regarding minors, with the parents or caregivers to be addressed before removing.
8. Each parish should develop and publish agreed upon guidelines that staff and volunteers must follow, that stay within the boundaries of this policy, when using a social media account. These guidelines should include:

a. Content that may be posted/published on the site or page
b. How images will be taken and shared
c. Tone of voice when posting (professional, informative, pastoral, etc.)
d. Consequences for breaking guidelines, which may include removal from group
e. Mandatory rules for reporting misconduct

3. Online Meeting Guidelines

1. For virtual meetings or classroom forums, utilize passwords and/or waiting rooms that require the facilitator to admit each participant.
2. All virtual meetings or classes involving children, youth, or Vulnerable Adults should be scheduled in advance and added to a calendar that is shared with the Administrator and, when applicable, with parents or caregivers. The sharing of information should include a link to the meeting and any login information/passwords.
3. Consider recording all events that are held on virtual platforms. Before recording children or minors, obtain written parental approval.
4. Consider disabling private chat features on virtual platforms when private conversations are not necessary to the purpose of the gathering.
5. Wear appropriate attire and be mindful of your surroundings that are visible to the viewer when meeting online.
6. One-on-one video chats or meetings should follow the same guidelines as our Safe Church Policy.

For Clergy

A priest, deacon, or bishop is always a priest, deacon, or bishop. All postings, whether on the clergy’s personal social media accounts or the church’s social media account, should reflect appropriate boundaries and respect for all people.

1. Personal Use

1. Remember that privacy settings do not ensure confidentiality. Regardless of whether your personal account is public or private, all digital communication should be considered public in that it can be shared with and forwarded to others (intentionally or unintentionally) or reposted elsewhere. Content can continue to live on the internet even when specific posts have been deleted.
2. Social media is not appropriate for sensitive matters that require pastoral care and attention. In those instances, a face-to-face meeting or phone call is preferable as it allows for an assessment of tone and demeanor to help evaluate the situation and determine both urgency and appropriateness of a response.
3. Be respectful of others’ opinions. The Diocese of West Missouri is a thoughtful and prayerful community that encourages free expression and values civil debate. If you disagree with others, do so with civility. Respect your audience, express your views with appropriate language, and be respectful of the Church and its teachings.

2. Connecting with Youth

1. Adults are to not submit connection requests (such as a friend request on Facebook) to vulnerable adults, children, or youth for personal interactions. See page 31 of the Safe Church Policy for recommended practices and guidelines when using social media with youth.