Relief Society Facebook page

[EmilyRathke]

Hi! I'm a new RS president. I'm trying to understand the rules about having a ward RS facebook page. Right now our private group is named "Sheboygan Ward Relief Society." And from what I read on the guidelines, that name needs to be changed because it is a unit name. Right? IF this is true, how does someone change it? And can the name be changed without altering its membership or posts? Or do we have to create a new group? Thanks for the help!

[aebrown]

Right now our private group is named "Sheboygan Ward Relief Society." And from what I read on the guidelines, that name needs to be changed because it is a unit name. Right?

No, that name doesn't have to be changed because it is NOT a unit name. It CONTAINS a unit name, but is not actually the name. If you review the instructions at internet.lds.org, point #8 says that social media items "should not simply be the name of a Church unit or individual." It then says that "First Ward News” is acceptable, but “First Ward” is not. So "Sheboygan Ward" would not be acceptable, but I don't see any problem with "Sheboygan Ward Relief Society."

[russellhltn]

Right now our private group is named "Sheboygan Ward Relief Society." And from what I read on the guidelines, that name needs to be changed because it is a unit name. Right?

It strikes me as somewhat of a gray area. The guidelines found at internet.lds.org says says "should not simply be the name of a Church unit" and goes on to say that adding "news" or "Friends of" to the unit name makes it acceptable. None of the following examples indicate if adding an auxlery to the ward name makes it acceptable.

But personally, I'd say that your page name goes against the spirit of what's indicated as it sounds "offical". It would be better if something like "news" or "Friends of" could be added to the name.

I'm not sure what it takes to change the name on orginzational Facebook page, but I did find this.

[drepouille]

In my ward, I don't mind if the Relief Society has a Facebook page. What I don't like, and complain about to my wife, is when they use Facebook to replace all the tools available to them on lds.org, such as the calendar, lesson schedules, and newsletter.

I was grumpy last week when the bishop asked for volunteers to man the nursery for a Relief Society meeting on Thursday night. I grumbled within myself that I wouldn't volunteer to help with an event that was not posted on the calendar at lds.org. But that's just me, a grumpy old guy.

[jdlessley]

What I don't like, and complain about to my wife, is when they use Facebook to replace all the tools available to them on lds.org, such as the calendar, lesson schedules, and newsletter.

These are some of the restrictions or limitations placed on the use of social media discussed at Use of Online Resources in Church Callings.

[johnshaw]

what drepouille says is VITAL - This page should not be used as the ONLY communication page. It can become very exclusive and cause some real hurt feelings.

[russellhltn]

My ward still relies on printed bulletins and announcements over the pulpit. Which would be fine if they also put it on the calendar. <sigh>

[drepouille]

Likewise. They announced a youth baptism trip to the temple in priesthood opening exercises, but it wasn't in the bulletin or on the ward calendar. So I called the temple office to find out when my ward was scheduled to be there.

[russellhltn]

And then there was two Sundays ago when the announcement for upcoming Women's Conference was made. Between the bulletin, pulpit and stake calendar, there was three different date/times. As the guy who has to show it, I complained about that. They got it together for this last Sunday.

[drepouille]

When you are in Hawaii, and you have Internet access, does it really matter what time anything starts?