At St. Francis Old Catholic Church (SFOCC), we value the power of words to inspire, inform, and connect with our community. As writers contributing to our church website, we have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, authenticity, and inclusivity. These content publishing guidelines are designed to ensure consistency, clarity, and a positive user experience for all visitors to our website. Please familiarize yourself with these guidelines before submitting your content:
- Stay True to Our Church’s Values: Ensure that your content aligns with the values, beliefs, and teachings of SFOCC. It should reflect our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, compassion, and faith.
- Write with Clarity and Conciseness: Craft your content in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Use simple language and avoid jargon or overly complex terminology that may confuse or alienate readers.
- Be Respectful and Inclusive: Treat all individuals with respect and promote inclusivity in your writing. Avoid discriminatory or offensive language, and be sensitive to cultural, religious, and personal differences.
- Cite Sources and Give Credit: When referring to external sources, statistics, or quotations, ensure proper attribution through citations and links. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
- Provide Accurate and Reliable Information: Verify the accuracy of the information you include in your content. Double-check facts, dates, and names before publishing to maintain the credibility of our website.
- Proofread and Edit: Review your content for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Pay attention to sentence structure and readability. Editing is crucial to ensure a polished and professional final piece.
- Engage and Inspire: Aim to captivate readers’ attention and leave a lasting impact. Use storytelling techniques, personal anecdotes, and real-life examples to engage and inspire our online community.
- Respect Copyright Laws: Obtain proper permissions or use content (such as images or videos) that are licensed for use or are in the public domain. Do not infringe on any copyright or intellectual property rights.
- Be Careful with Controversial Topics: While we do not restrict our authors from writing about controversial topics be careful that how you write doesn’t promote hate or intolerance. Focus on topics that foster understanding, spiritual growth, and connection.
- No Political Promotions: Since SFOCC is a registered 501(c)(3) with the IRS we are may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of our activities and we may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. That, however, doesn’t prevent us from speaking about matters of faith and how certain legislation does not align with our faith.
- Collaborate and Seek Feedback: We encourage collaboration and teamwork among writers. Be open to feedback from editors or other team members to continuously improve the quality of your content.
By adhering to these guidelines, we can ensure that our website remains a reliable and inspiring resource for our community and visitors alike. Thank you for your commitment to creating meaningful and impactful content for [Church Name].
Blessings,
Fr. Tommy Sheppard, MDiv, MS
Pastor