Guidelines for HMC Website Information

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?

In general, if possible, any articles / information to be used on this website should be written so that they can be clearly understood by:

• The man and women in the street
• People who have never been to church
• People who went to church a long time ago and are now thinking about coming back to a church
• Parents who do not go the church but want their children to go to ‘Sunday School’.

This will not be possible for all articles, eg one advertising Synod! – but it should be a guiding principle.

THE TONE OF THE CONTENT

So, as this is the main audience that means, in general:

• Assume the reader has no previous knowledge of HMC / church
• Avoid the use of jargon
  • Or if you have to use it, clearly explain what it means
• Avoid abbreviations
  • Or, if you do use abbreviations, clearly explain what they stand for

WHO CAN SUBMIT ARTICLES / INFORMATION?

Generally articles / information should be submitted by the head of the activity concerned.  So any article / information about Junior Fellowship should be submitted by the Head of Junior Fellowship.  Any article / information about the Boys’ Brigade should be submitted by the Boys’ Brigade Captain.  Any article about the Madhatter Group House Group should be submitted by the Madhatter House Group Leader.  You get the idea.

USING NAMES / TELEPHONE NUMBERS / EMAIL ADDRESSES

If you want the information on your activity to give a point of contact, say John Smith – 01480 123456 – john.smith@emailaddress.com – make sure you obtain John Smith’s permission to put that information on the website.  Or John Smith might get quite annoyed.

SAFEGUARDING AND THE INTERNET

All articles / information must fully comply with the Methodist Church safeguarding policy.  Persons submitting articles must read the ‘Safeguarding and the Internet’ article on the Methodist Church of Great Britain website.

DATA PROTECTION - USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

All use of photographs must fully comply with the Methodist Church policy on the use of photographs in websites.  Persons submitting photographs must read the ‘Some Legal Matters’ article on the Methodist Church of Great Britain website.

And ‘Methodist Guidance on Church Photography, the Internet and Publicity - Photographs of children and young people under 18’ article on the Methodist Church of Great Britain website.

In brief – for the HMC website:

• The parent / guardian of any U18 featured in a photo to be used on the website must have given their permission for the photo to be used – before it is placed on the website.
• Under 18s will not be individually identified in any photo.
• Over 18s may be individually identified – if the individual has given their permission - in the full knowledge that the photo is to be used on a website.
• The general rule is - no permission for use - no use on the website.

 THE ROLE OF THE WEBMASTER

The webmaster looks after the technical issues concerning the website.  It obviously is the responsibility of the article / information author to ensure that the article / information is correct and complies with all legal requirements.  The HMC website webmaster can be contacted via email or you could even talk to him (Bob Salmon) face-to-face!

AND FINALLY

These guidelines will evolve with use and will be re-issued as required.

Last updated: 18th November 2007