1. Introduction
The Orthodox Church recognises the growing prevalence of false information and disruptive behaviour on the internet, including blogs, discussion forums, and social media platforms. Such misinformation often originates from non-members who seek to undermine the Church’s mission, cause distress to its members, or sow discord. This policy provides guidelines on how the Church, dioceses, parishes, and individual members should handle false and disruptive online content, ensuring that time and resources are preserved for more productive purposes.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
- Outline the Church’s stance on responding to false information and disruptive individuals online.
- Provide guidance on when and how to engage with misinformation or disruptive behaviour.
- Establish procedures for removing or limiting the participation of disruptive individuals in online forums or groups maintained by the Church or its members.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all clergy, directors, officers, staff, volunteers, and individual members of the Church. It governs the Church’s response to false information or disruptive behaviour that occurs on:
- Blogs or personal websites.
- Online discussion forums or message boards.
- Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
- Any other digital space where the Church’s mission, teachings, or members may be misrepresented.
4. Policy on Responding to Online Misinformation and Disruption
4.1. No Engagement with Disruptive Individuals
The Church recognises that responding to disruptive individuals who spread false information or engage in antagonistic behaviour online often results in a waste of time and resources. Therefore, the Church adopts a policy of non-engagement with such individuals. Specifically:
- Time should never be wasted on replying to non-members who spread false accusations or seek to disrupt the Church’s mission.
- Responding to these individuals often gives them the attention they seek and detracts from the Church’s efforts to focus on its mission.
- Engaging in back-and-forth arguments or defending against baseless claims serves no constructive purpose and may even amplify the misinformation.
4.2. Identifying Disruptive or False Information
Disruptive or false information includes:
- Claims that misrepresent Church teachings, beliefs, or practices.
- Personal attacks on clergy, staff, or members of the Church.
- Accusations that are deliberately misleading or meant to incite hostility towards the Church.
- Online campaigns aimed at disrupting the Church’s operations or creating division among its members.
Once such information is identified, it should be noted, but not responded to, unless specific circumstances dictate otherwise (see section 5.2).
5. Procedures for Handling Online Misinformation and Disruptive Behaviour
5.1. Monitoring and Identifying Issues
While the Church will not actively engage with every false or disruptive claim made online, it is important that online spaces maintained by the Church, its dioceses, parishes, or individual members are monitored. This includes:
- Official Church websites.
- Social media accounts of the Church, dioceses, or parishes.
- Discussion groups or forums created by Church members.
Designated individuals or administrators may be assigned the role of monitoring these spaces for disruptive activity or the spreading of false information.
5.2. When to Consider a Response
In rare cases, it may be necessary to issue a formal response to false information, particularly when:
- The false information poses a direct threat to the safety or well-being of Church members.
- The misinformation is widely disseminated and risks damaging the Church’s reputation or mission in a way that could cause serious public harm.
In such cases, the response should:
- Be carefully crafted and focus on correcting misinformation without engaging in personal attacks or emotional reactions.
- Be issued by designated Church authorities (e.g., diocesan or parish leadership) to maintain professionalism and avoid escalating the situation.
5.3. Removing Disruptive Individuals from Church-Maintained Online Spaces
If disruptive individuals join online groups, forums, or social media pages maintained by the Church, its dioceses, parishes, or individual members, steps should be taken to limit their engagement or remove them entirely. Procedures include:
- Removing Individuals: Administrators of Church-affiliated online groups or forums should remove any individuals who engage in hostile behaviour, spread false information, or disrupt conversations.
- Limiting Engagement: If outright removal is not immediately warranted, administrators may restrict or limit the individual’s ability to post, comment, or engage with other members of the group. This can include:
- Muting or limiting the person’s posts so that others do not see them.
- Banning or suspending the individual from the group if disruptive behaviour persists.
5.4. Reporting Serious Incidents
In cases where online communications contain threats of violence, harassment, or other illegal activities, the Church will report such incidents to law enforcement authorities. This includes:
- Direct threats against the Church, its clergy, staff, or members.
- Cyberbullying or harassment campaigns targeted at the Church or specific individuals within it.
- Attempts to incite violence or illegal activity.
6. Role of Church Personnel and Members
6.1. Church Authorities
Clergy, diocesan leadership, and parish officials should take responsibility for overseeing the Church’s online presence. This includes ensuring that official Church platforms are not misused or hijacked by individuals seeking to spread false information or disrupt its mission.
6.2. Individual Members
Individual Church members are encouraged to refrain from engaging with hostile or disruptive individuals online. Instead of responding to false claims, members should:
- Report the misinformation to group administrators or Church authorities.
- Avoid engaging in online arguments, which can escalate tensions and divert attention from more meaningful engagement.
- Trust that designated Church leaders and administrators will handle such situations in a manner that protects the Church’s mission and reputation.
7. Protecting Church Resources
The Church’s resources, including the time and energy of its clergy, staff, and members, should not be squandered on futile attempts to correct every instance of false information posted online. By ignoring disruptive individuals, removing them from Church-affiliated spaces, and issuing formal responses only when necessary, the Church can focus its efforts on advancing its mission and engaging in positive outreach.
8. Conclusion
This policy ensures that the Church maintains a thoughtful and measured approach to handling false information and disruptive individuals on the internet. By focusing on non-engagement with antagonistic individuals, removing disruptive participants from Church-maintained forums, and responding only when necessary, the Church protects its resources and upholds its mission with dignity and integrity.
September 15, 2011
