As our use of social media as a Church increases we see the need to address the risks and behaviours on social media. As a result we use the Church of England's Social Media Guidelines and encourage all who use our social media pages to comply with the following:

By engaging with the Church of England and Archbishops’ social media accounts, you agree to:

Be respectful. Do not post or share content that is sexually explicit, inflammatory, hateful, abusive, threatening or otherwise disrespectful.

Be kind. Treat others how you would wish to be treated and assume the best in people. If you have a criticism or critique to make, consider not just whether you would say it in person, but the tone you would use.

Be honest. Don’t mislead people about who you are.

Take responsibility. You are accountable for the things you do, say and write. Text and images shared can be public and permanent, even with privacy settings in place. If you’re not sure, don’t post it.

Be a good ambassador. Personal and professional life can easily become blurred online so think before you post.

Disagree well. Some conversations can be places of robust disagreement and it’s important we apply our values in the way we express them.

Credit others. Acknowledge the work of others. Respect copyright and always credit where it is due. Be careful not to release sensitive or confidential information and always question the source of any content you are considering amplifying.

Follow the rules. Abide by the terms and conditions of the various social media platforms themselves. If you see a comment that you believe breaks their policies, then please report it to the respective company.

If breaches of these guidelines are reported we will take steps to remove posts or participation and escalate further as appropriate (see full guidance here if you would like further information https://www.churchofengland.org/terms-and-conditions/our-social-media-community-guidelines).

We have also signed the Digital Charter, a voluntary pledge to uphold and support making the web a more supportive and positive space. This is covered by the following principles and behaviours: 

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 relevant diocesan safeguarding adviser.

Agree to the Church’s and Archbishops’ social media guidelines.

We will ask for written consent for anyone who features in our images either on social media, websites or published documents. These consent forms will be kept securely for the minimum appropriate time. Church members will only need to sign a form every three years as per Church of England guidance, however, non-members will have consent re-checked at future events. 

Consent for use of images can be withdrawn at anytime by contacting a member of the church management team or by emailing [email protected]. This information is also available on the consent form as understood at the time of giving consent.