Guidelines for Internet Use

The Internet has the potential to do great good... and great harm. To help direct the outcome, many communities have begun to develop guidelines for Internet use. Here are some helpful sites:

VIDEO

• August 31, 2010 - How Are You Solving the Puzzle? Church Law Group posted on YouTube 

RESEARCH

• January 3, 2011 - When a Pstor's Study Moves to Cyberspace: An Examination of Ecclessial Social Media Policies, Alan J Copeland (Presbytery pastor, freelance author/Christian Century, grad student pursuing MA in Communications at University of North Dakota)

POPULAR COMMENTARY

Christian Century Blog

• November 9, 2010 - Where are the Church Social Media Policies?, Adam Copeland
• October 5, 2010 - Facebook Rules for Pastors,  Adam Copeland
• October 5, 2010 - Episcopal Cafe Response - Clergy: Facebook or Not, Ann Fontaine

Other Popular references

• November 23, 2010 - Does the Church of England Need a Social Media/Blogging Policy? (commentary on Bishop Pete Broadnet's throwaway comments on Twitter about Prince Charles and Lady Diana that exploded after hitting Facebook and going viral), Exigency in Specie, Richard and Beth, A Canadian and A Brit living in Southern England.
• November 15, 2010 - Social Media Policies for Church Groups, Catholic Web Solutions, Susan Wolf, SND (19 yrs, Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Associaiton prior to launching Catholic Web SOlutions)
• March 6, 2010, Resources for Church Social Media Policies, Faith and Web: A Church Web Diva's Musings on Excellence in Religious Websites, Anna Belle Leierson (web coordinator Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, member First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville)
• June 18, 2009 - 12 Tips for Developing a Social Networking Policy and Usage Guidelines for Your Church, Church Crunch, John Saddington (curator of 8BIT)
• 2000, Church Internet Issues - Part III - Policies, Nick Nicholaou

CHURCH AND JUDICATORY RESOURCES

• Episcopal Diocese of CT, Office of Pastoral Response - Suggested Practices and Guidelines for use of Spcoal Networking Websites and other forms of Digital Communications 
• Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco - Using Technology with Discernment: Guidelines for Electronic Communications 
• Kentucky Baptist Convention, Safe Church Initiative - Sample Church Internet Policy 
• Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Communicaitons Development Committee - Internet Use Guidelines
• United Church of Christ (UCC) - CT Conference 
• United Methodist Church - Wisconsin Conference - Internet Guidelines
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Your Family and Cyberspace 
• Central Presbyterian Church - CPC Information Privacy Policy
• St Jude Catholic Church (USCCB source) - Parish Website and Internet Use Guidelines and Privacy Statement 
• St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church - Video and Webcasting Guidelines and Policies 
• Guides and Guidelines for a Church Website - Mark Vitalis Hoffman, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg

OTHER RESOURCES

• Social Media Governance Website - collection of industry policies on Social Media - over 164 company policies included in database
• NACADA/National Academic Advising Association - Technology in Academic Advising, Jeff Carter
• Microsoft - Parents Guide to Child Safety