Opening Consultation: Social Media Guidelines

The Methodist Council has asked for an open review of the Social Media Guidelines for the Methodist Connexion (see 42: Social Media and the Methodist Church).

The Council have suggested that a summary be added based on the Civil Service Guidelines. They are:

How the Civil Service Code applies to online participation

• Disclose your position as a representative of your department or agency unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as a potential threat to personal security. Never give out personal details like home address and phone numbers.
• Always remember that participation online results in your comments being permanently available and open to being republished in other media. Stay within the legal framework and be aware that libel, defamation, copyright and data protection laws apply. This means that you should not disclose information, make commitments or engage in activities on behalf of Government unless you are authorised to do so. This authority may already be delegated or may be explicitly granted depending on your organisation.
• Also be aware that this may attract media interest in you as an individual, so proceed with care whether you are participating in an official or a personal capacity. If you have any doubts, take advice from your line manager.

1. Be credible

• Be accurate, fair, thorough and transparent.

2. Be consistent

• Encourage constructive criticism and deliberation. Be cordial, honest and professional at all times.

3. Be responsive

• When you gain insight, share it where appropriate.

4. Be integrated

• Wherever possible, align online participation with other offline communications.

5. Be a civil servant

• Remember that you are an ambassador for your organisation. Wherever possible, disclose your position as a representative of your department or agency.

Transformation into native Methodist thinking

How do you feel these should be transformed so become native Methodist Guidelines (ie completely in tune with our understanding of God, Christian Faith & Discipleship and our Traditions)?

[Update 2]

I have decided to get the ball rolling with an entirely unofficial process allowing anyone to contribute to an unofficial summary that the Connexional Team will be free to use (or ignore) as they choose.

[End update 2]

I will do my best to ensure that anyone and everyone who wishes can contribute, obviously this has no official status and you should also feel free to provide your thoughts directly to the Connexional Team or in some other way. 

I have created a google document for the latest version of everyone's contributions which is automatically published at http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgtrsgks_60dp2s2xc7 

My idea is to offer you freedom to contribute to this document in as many ways as possible. Here are some possibilities:

• Directly edit the document within Google Docs from any web browser. If you me your email address (by commenting here, by email to dave@warnock.me.uk or direct tweet to @dave42w) I will send you an invite allowing you to directly edit the document.
• Leave suggestions in the comments below
• Tweet suggestions to me @dave42w
• Write suggestions on your own blog (please let me know about the blog post anyway you wish, if your blog is in my blogroll I should pick it up anyway)
• Email me using dave@warnock.me.uk

Please note that I am not trying to control this process, you are completely free to ignore my suggestions for ways to contribute and handle things anyway you wish. My hope is to enable and encourage, not control. I will try to merge any suggestions I discover into the google document at http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgtrsgks_60dp2s2xc7 although if you have asked for edit access please feel free to do it yourself.

[Update 1]

I hope it is obvious, but I will state it anyway. All contributions should be compatible with the existing guidelines (see 42: Social Media and the Methodist Church) and with the summary itself as it emerges.

[End Update 1]

[Update 3 on 3/2/10]A first draft with pretty minimalist changes from the Civil Service Code is now in the Google Document at http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgtrsgks_60dp2s2xc7 .[End Update 3]

Comments

[Richard Hall]

Great idea Dave. I'd be glad of an invite.

[Dave]

Richard, Done - get on with it :-)

[Davefaulkner]

Brilliant idea, Dave - this is how to use Web 2.0! Have emailed you from the address linked to my Google account.

[Dave]

Dave. Done - so you get on with it as well :-)

[Pete]

Would be glad to be involved

[Dave]

Pete, Done.

[PamBG]

I still remain honestly confused by all the anxiety and conviction that the wheel needs to be reinvented.

It looks to me like modeling our policy from the Civil Service policy would result in a more succinct and better written document, which is fine by me.

[Michaela]

Would love to join in!

[Dave]

Michaela,

Done. Although my Linux machine was struggling to not reject a mac.com email address - still I suppose in the interest of openness even mac users are allowed in as long as there is no gloating about imac's, iphones or iDontHaveALife.

Pam,

There are many ways that modelling can be done. People expressed dis-satisfaction at the way the previous paper was developed so this is a chance to take part and avoid the disconnected or disenfranchised feelings.

[Mattwardman]

>I still remain honestly confused by all the anxiety and conviction that the wheel needs to be reinvented.

Belatedly.

Perhaps, to some degree, the process of "reinventing the wheel" is not about making a better wheel, but making it "our" wheel.