This is the fourth of a series of posts from Matt Ward, associate pastor of FBC Thomson. Read the previous posts here:
The primary difference between leaders and paid staff is the employment contract; expectations are otherwise the same. In addition to statements about harassment, child protection, office security, and confidentiality, most churches have a formal social media policy that can be summarized in these statements:
Just as with a secular company, violating the church’s personnel policies can result in termination of employment. We take social media very seriously.
With personnel policies in mind, I found it very instructive to research social media policies for major companies whose bottom lines are heavily influenced by their social media presence. These are the “experts” in social media; their opinions are valuable. Next week's post will include three lists that were helpful in crafting this document: biblical passages related to communication, a business approach to social media, and a short list of applicable websites.