Social Medial Policy and Guidelines 

 

Introduction

The term Social Media covers an ever-expanding range of electronically based applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok, WhatsApp, YouTube, and many others, allowing the user or organisation to communicate instantly with people both known and unknown - within the Parish, in this country and internationally. Social Media Applications can instantly transmit text, photos, video to and from individuals and groups, both publicly and privately. 

Social Media content (e.g. photos and text) can easily break the requirements of the General Data Protection Register (GDPR), especially where data being “processed” can be classified as “Special Category Data”, which includes things like race, trade union membership, or political affiliation, as well as religious belief, which obviously affects the Parish, its members and visitors. Special care needs to be taken where the data can identify children, young people, or vulnerable adults. All aspects of these policy and guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Parish and Diocesan Safeguarding and Data Protection policies, and the Church of England’s Parish Safeguarding Handbook (rev. ed. 2019), section 12.

Social Media Policy

St Andrew’s PCC social media policy adopts that of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which in turn is aligned with that of the National Church. 

The policy will be reviewed annually.

This policy document contains:

• Diocesan digital charter and social media guidelines (June 2021) , with online link – p.2
• Links to other relevant documents – p.3
• Register of St Andrews social media platforms, with their named contacts – p. 4
• Statement of responsibility of St Andrews Church in cases of misuse of Social Media – p. 5
• St Andrews Photography/video recording Consent Form  - p. 6
• St Andrews Photography Advice notice - p. 7

 
The online documents may be updated periodically, due to the rapidly changing landscape of social media applications, case law and guidance.  They will be reviewed annually, as part of the annual policy review,  to ensure our links are up to date.  A hard copy of any document linked to this policy can be supplied by the Parish Office on request.
 
Signed:   ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Vicar
 
 
                …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… PCC Secretary
 


Diocese of Bath & Wells - Digital charter and social media guidelines (June 2021)
 
Digital Charter
 
The digital charter is a voluntary pledge that Christians and churches are encouraged to sign up to, to help make social media more positive and healthy places for conversations.
 
What does it look like to be a Christian online? Everyone’s engagement is different. Whether you’re a member of clergy using Twitter or a churchgoer replying to the comments on a blog, we all have different views, histories and areas of interest that will affect how we perceive things, and how we respond to those events. The comments we make can reach thousands and even millions of people both in this country and around the world very quickly.
 
However, there are a number of ways we can make the digital world as loving and generous as we would when speaking face to face:
 

• Truth - we should hold ourselves to high ideals of checking that what we post online is fair and factual.
• Kindness - we are all different and that makes the world an interesting place – and at times a challenging one. Think the best of people, whether they share our views or are speaking against them and aim to be constructive in the way we engage.
• Welcome - in the language we use and the way we interact. It’s easy for Christians to speak in another language using words that those outside the Church might not relate to.
• Inspiration - we are called to be witnesses of our faith and to use social media in a way that genuinely engages others.
• Togetherness - we are one Church and other members of this Church are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is crucial we treat those around us in this way.
• Safeguarding - if you have any concerns about the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults, please contact the diocesan safeguarding adviser.
• Agree to the Church’s and Archbishops’ social media guidelines (see below)

 
Social media guidelines
The Church of England's social media guidelines (https://www.churchofengland.org/terms-and-conditions/our-social-media-community-guidelines) were created to help Christians and churches begin conversations online which reflect their values. Social media is one public way of living and telling our story as followers of Jesus Christ.
  Link to the Diocesan Social Media Guidelines 
https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/parish-support/effective-communication/digital-charter-and-social-media-guidelines/digital-charter-and-social-media-guidelines.php

Diocesan support with digital or social media presence - Diocesan communications team. https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/contact-us/diocesan-contacts-list/communications/
  LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Parish Safeguarding Handbook, 2019 – Sect. 12 covers use of social media
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/ParishSafeGuardingHandBookAugust2019Web.pdf
This is the latest edition of the Handbook, amended in 2019; a print version is also available, ISBN: 978 0 7151 1138 3.
 
General Diocesan safeguarding guidance
https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/parish-support/safeguarding/parish-safeguarding/
 
[All links given above current as at 26-09-2022]


Register of all Social Media systems in use by St Andrew’s
This Register will be monitored by Lesley Gold (Parish Administrator), to whom all changes, additions, queries, &c should be directed.
 
All the individuals named below are data processors, for the purposes of GDPR.
Each name person will be given a copy of this policy, and a record kept of their acknowledgement of this.
 
 
Social media platforms used officially by St Andrew’s are:
 
Website : https://www.standrewstaunton.org.uk/   (Open public access)
Managed/edited by Lesley Gold, Parish Office & Bill Perry
Hosted by: HUBB.church [formerly ChurchInsight.com ]  [from 1 July 2021]
 
Facebook (Open public access)
Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewsChurchTaunton/
Managed/edited by Esther Checketts, Sue Lodge, Robin Lodge & Katy Gough.
Hosted by :  https://www.facebook.com/
 
Church Hall Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewsHallTaunton/
               Managed by Lesley Jones
Hosted by :  https://www.facebook.com/
 
WhatsApp: https://web.whatsapp.com/ (Closed access)
[Ad-hoc closed groups formed when needed for specific projects.]
 
Instagram:  (Open public access)
https://www.instagram.com/standrewschurchtaunton/
Managed/edited by Libby Checketts and  Robin Lodge.
Hosted by: https://www.instagram.com
 
Email: standrewstaunton@gmail.com  (Closed access to incoming emails)
Managed/edited by Lesley Gold, Parish Office
Hosted by: www.gmail.com
 
Dropbox:  (Closed Access)
Managed/edited by Bill Perry
Hosted by: www.dropbox.com
(Dropbox is not Social Media but an effective means of storing, encrypting and providing trackable limited access to sensitive information, e.g. photos)
 

 
Responsibility of St Andrew’s Church, Taunton, in cases of misuse of St Andrew’s Social Media 
 
The primary named person will be responsible for actioning any complaints or breaches to our social media policy; the secondary named person will take responsibility when needed.  Response to complaints may include the following:
 

•  Contacting the source of the complaint / breach to discuss issue and advice on expectations.
• Removal / blocking an individual from social media.
• Making a safeguarding report where a concern has been identified

 
 
The Primary Named Person is:__________  Revd Robin Lodge, Vicar  _____________________
 
Contact details:  robin.lodge1@btinternet.com
                              The Vicarage, 118 Kingston Road, Taunton, TA2 7SR
 
 
 
Secondary Named Person is:  ___  Mrs Alison Perry, Parish Safeguarding Officer  ___
 
Contact details: c/o Parish Office, Greenway Avenue, Taunton TA2 6HU
                              standrewstaunton@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
 

St Andrew’s Church, Taunton
Photography/video recording consent form
 
Date ...................................................................................................................................................
 
Event ...................................................................................................................................................
 
Location ................................................................................................................................................
 
At St Andrew’s Church we take very seriously the issue of safeguarding, and our responsibilities under data protection regulations. This includes ensuring the appropriate use of images of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
 
As such we require the written consent of parents or carers to use photographs or video recordings of children, young people (under 18 years old) and vulnerable adults. 
 
Any use of images at St Andrew’s Church is underpinned by our Safeguarding Policy. We will only caption with first names, if appropriate, and will not publish personal information such as addresses or other contact details by which the person in the photograph or video could be identified.
 
The images may appear in printed material (such as a parish magazine, newspaper, annual report) or may be used for display purposes.
 
We may also circulate images to local or national media, or upload them to parish/ diocesan websites and social media, but only with the express permission of the parent or carer – see below.
 
Please tick all applicable statements:
 
I give consent for photographs/video recordings taken at the above event to be used by St Andrew’s, Taunton and the Diocese of Bath and Wells for the purposes detailed above.

I consent to the photographs being circulated to local/national media.
 
I consent to the photographs or video recordings being uploaded to the parish/diocesan website.

 I consent to the photographs or video recordings being uploaded to the parish/diocesan Facebook page or other social media.
 
Signed .......................................................................................... Date ………………………………………….
 
 
Print name ...........................................................................................................................................
 
 
Position/relationship to person in the photograph/video………………………….......................................

 

St Andrew’s Church, Taunton

 

Photography advice (Events)

 
An official photographer may be capturing photographs/video recordings of today’s event. The images are likely to be used on the parish  website and social media channels,  in our publications and for media use.
 
If you would prefer that images of you or a child, young person or vulnerable adult in your care are not captured, please advise the organiser.
 
Note that St Andrews Church, Taunton will take all steps to ensure that these images are used solely for the purposes that they are intended.  If you become aware that these images are being used inappropriately you should inform the Parish Office as soon as possible.
Email: standrewstaunton@gmail.com
 
 
 
St Andrew’s Church, Taunton
 
 

Photography advice

 (Public Worship)

 
An official photographer may be capturing photographs/video recordings of today’s service, which will be livestreamed to our Facebook page.
 
If you would prefer that images of you or a child, young person or vulnerable adult in your care are not captured, please speak to a Churchwarden or a member of the Welcome Team.
 
Note that St Andrews Church, Taunton will take all steps to ensure that these images are used solely for the purposes that they are intended.  If you become aware that these images are being used inappropriately you should inform the Parish Office as soon as possible.
Email: standrewstaunton@gmail.com
 




 

St Andrew’s Church, Taunton

 

Video advice (Public Worship)

 
Today’s service will be livestreamed to our Facebook page; all sounds and images are broadcast.  An official photographer may also be capturing photographs/video recordings.
 
If you would prefer that images of you or a child, young person or vulnerable adult in your care are not captured, please speak to a Churchwarden or a member of the Welcome Team.
 
Note that St Andrews Church, Taunton will take all steps to ensure that these images are used solely for the purposes that they are intended.  If you become aware that these images are being used inappropriately you should inform the Parish Office as soon as possible.
Email: standrewstaunton@gmail.com