The world is expanding rapidly with electronic communications. Use of Social media is a big part of that expanding cyber world that includes all means of communicating or posting information or content of any sort on the Internet, few examples are, but not limited to your own or someone else’s blogs, journal or diary, short message service, personal website, image and video sharing sites, social networking or affinity website, web bulletin board or a chat room, whether or not associated or affiliated with Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception, as well as any other form of electronic communication. 

At Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception, we understand that social media can be a fun and rewarding way to share your life and opinions with family, friends and co-workers around the world. However, the use of social media also comes with certain risks and certain responsibilities. To assist you in making responsible decisions about your use of social media, we have established these guidelines for appropriate use of social media.

This policy applies to all parishioners of our community. Because the Social Media is a rapidly changing and growing area, this policy applies to all new social media platforms whether or not they are specifically mentioned in this policy.

Know and Follow the Rules

Carefully read these guidelines and contact our Website Maintenance to post any information on Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception church website.  Inappropriate postings that may include discrimination, violence or any information that is offensive to our Christian values will not be accepted. We reserve the right to refuse any information deemed not appropriate for our website.

Be Respectful

Always be fair and courteous when giving any kind of information. 

Be Respectful to the Privacy of Others

Do not share or publish any personal information without the permission of the party involved or without parental written permission of children or minors.

Be Honest and Accurate

Be always honest and accurate when posting information or news.  Never post any information or rumors that you know to be false.

Be Knowledgeable

Please know that what is on the web or in any type of social media is visible to the entire world and will remain public for a very long time, even permanent.  Anything you are posting can be re-shared with no control. Make sure all the facts are clearly stated so as to convey the necessary information properly.

Confidentiality

Respect the confidentiality of the information shared with you or that is meant to be kept confidential by its nature or purpose.

Be Transparent

When sharing any topics or discussion related to Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception in Social Media make sure to include the disclaimer that everything you are posting reflects only your own opinion and not those of the Church.

Use of Good Shepherd and Immaculate Conception Name and Logo

Any use of Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception name or Logo on social media must be preapproved in writing by Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception Officials.

Copyright Laws

Users must comply fully with copyright laws when posting and uploading materials. Every posting made on behalf of Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception must be limited to materials in which the copyright is owned. 

Using Social Media at Work

Refrain from using social media while on work time or on equipment we provide, unless it is work-related as authorized by your manager or consistent with the Church teachings and rules.  Do not use Good Shepherd and/or Immaculate Conception email addresses to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use.