CHURCH MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY AND HERMES SARGENT BATES WISH TO POINT OUT THAT NO WARRANTY

ATTACHES TO THESE DOCUMENTS, AND IN FACT, THESE DOCUMENTS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SPECIFIC

NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR ENTITY. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD PRACTICE, PROPER

SUPERVISION, AND DILIGENT OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE DOCUMENTS WILL

PROTECT ANY FACILITY THAT CHOOSES TO USE THEM. BEFORE USING THESE DOCUMENTS OR ANY SIMILAR

DOCUMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR OWN ATTORNEY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE DOCUMENT YOU

EVENTUALLY USE IS CORRECT AND CURRENT UNDER THE LAW OF YOUR PARTICULAR JURISDICTION AND THAT THE

DOCUMENT MEETS YOUR NEEDS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION. FURTHER, THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO

COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT.

Please consider the following sample Guidelines and Social

and Digital Media Code of Conduct that may help in the

administration of your ministry. These Guidelines and the Code of

Conduct are not intended to be inclusive of every aspect of social

media in your organization but rather to be used as a general

program that can be implemented in whole or part. Also, these are

not specific to each state and, instead, are based upon global

information obtained through the legal representation of religious

organizations and review of current policies used by other groups.

Please add your own practices or changes according to your faith

and beliefs, facility, and state laws.

As you read through the sample Guidelines and Social and

Digital Media Code of Conduct documents, please amend this

program to fit your needs. In the places where we have placed the

word RELORG, you may place your own organization's name.

Also, we encourage you to hire counsel in your own state and

review your own and other religious organizations' guidelines in

your community in your process of implementing this program.

Once complete, the program is more effective when it is

reviewed and discussed regularly with those involved in the use of

social media in your ministry.

Guidelines

Questions and issues to consider before drafting a Social and Digital Media Code of Conduct for

your organization.

Social media has been defined in many ways. It includes electronic communications and online

activities, such as text messages; email; wikis; and social networking like Facebook, Twitter, and

the like; and posting comments, such as on blogs. Because of the blur between personal and

professional communications, your Code of Conduct should help explain what is recommended

and expected.

1. First, determine the current use of internet communication at your organization, if any. For

instance, who uses the computers owned by the organization, and do you allow internet

access? Do your employees use email for work and private communication, and do people

have email addresses that include your organization's name?

2. Are there any ethical standards you want your employees and volunteers to follow? Do you

have a designated technology resource/person for questions? Who will approve this Code of

Conduct or deviations from it?

3. Organization leadership should determine how to allow its supervisors and managers to keep

a personal presence on the social networking sites. One example is keeping both a public and

private account for persons who lead the ministry.

4. Select one or a few people to maintain and monitor your organization's official social media

channels. These should be the only individuals allowed to post and respond to other users in

an official capacity on your channels.

5. Consider implementing a policy that use of the organization's name or brand must be

approved by the organization prior to making a statement on the organization's behalf. Once

that permission is granted, also state the permission can be revoked for violation of policy.

6. Once you have finalized your Code of Conduct and had it reviewed by a local attorney, go

over it with all current and future employees or volunteers and have them each sign a copy.

Keep the signed copies in your personnel files.

FM: S947 (04-2013) HSB -1-

Social and Digital Media Code of Conduct

Adopted by RELORG on MONTH/DAY/YEAR

Social media has been defined in many ways. It includes electronic communications and online

activities, such as text messages; email; wikis; and social networking like Facebook, Twitter, and

the like; and posting comments, such as on blogs. Because of the blur between personal and

professional communications, this Code of Conduct helps explain what is recommended and

expected.

1. Remember all internet postings are permanent — able to be duplicated and may go viral.

2. Use your common sense. If you wonder whether or not to communicate or post, don't do it

until you consult with RELORG leadership.

3. For your protection and the protection of RELORG, you are prohibited from using internal

or external social media channels to discuss confidential items, legal matters, litigation, or

the organization's financial performance. Confidential information includes anything

labeled as such or information not available to the public. When asked by others to discuss

any of these matters, you should relay that "Our social media policy only allows authorized

individuals to discuss these types of matters. I can refer you to an authorized individual if

you'd like to ask them," and then refer the question to the APPROPRIATE TEAM OR

INDIVIDUAL.

4. Be open and honest about who you are when you communicate. RELORG trusts and

expects you to exercise personal responsibility whenever you use social media, which

includes respecting the trust of those with whom you are engaging. However, these policies

are not meant to interfere with your legal rights to bargain collectively or engage in

concerted or protected activities.

5. Respect your privacy, your coworkers' privacy, and the organization's privacy by not

providing personal or confidential information without permission. Also,

employees/volunteers are prohibited from sharing anything via social media channels that

could violate another employee/volunteer's right to personal privacy.

6. Only those officially designated may use social media to speak on behalf of the

organization in an official capacity, though employees/volunteers may use social media to

speak for themselves individually. If and when designated persons use social media to

communicate on behalf of the organization, they should clearly identify themselves as an

employee/volunteer.

FM: S947 (04-2013) HSB -2-

7. If you are communicating with youth through any digital or social media, act as you would

if you were communicating in person. Specifically, communicate with minors using

transparency and in a group, or do not communicate at all. If it is necessary to send an

individual message outside of a public area to a minor, copy another adult or a parent. Do

not initiate a one-on-one relationship (such as friending from a personal profile) with a

minor.

8. Do not violate copyright and fair use laws and do not plagiarize another's work. Obtain

permission if you wish to use material created by someone else.

9. Do not use RELORG's email address or social media channels for personal use.

10. Harassment, threats, intimidation, ethnic slurs, personal insults, pornography, obscenity,

racial or religious intolerance, abuse, and any other form of behavior prohibited by law is

also prohibited via social media channels. Do not engage in any such behavior and do not

make or comment on any such behavior, comments, or remarks.

11. If you are not officially authorized to speak on behalf of RELORG, use a disclaimer

saying that what you communicate is your personal opinion and not that of the organization

when you are engaging in conversation on RELORG's social media channels. Two sample

social media disclaimers include: (1) "I work for RELORG, and this is my personal

opinion."; and (2) "I am not an official spokesperson, but my personal opinion is . . . ." This

requirement is not meant to interfere with your rights to bargain collectively or engage in

concerted or protected activities but rather to ensure that others can easily distinguish the

official position of the organization or the organization's leadership from those of our

employees/volunteers.

12. Users should use their best judgment when engaging in social media activities and should

be on guard against actions and discussions that could harm the interests of our community,

faith, or other persons.

13. Before posting photographs of any person, obtain his/her permission.

14. If you see a violation of this Code of Conduct, report it to

PASTOR/PRINCIPAL/DIRECTOR/ADMINISTRATOR/OTHER at RELORG. If you

have questions about the Code of Conduct, please contact DESIGNATED PERSON.

15. All of the RELORG's other policies apply to the use of digital and social media. All

communication by employees or volunteers should take into account the organization's

values, reputation, and workplace policies.

FM: S947 (04-2013) HSB -3-

16. Any violations of RELORG's Code of Conduct may result in discipline and/or termination

of employment or volunteer opportunities.

I have received a copy of RELORG's Social and Digital Media Code of Conduct. I understand it

is my responsibility to become familiar with and adhere to the information contained herein. I

understand that these policies are the property of RELORG.

______________________________________

Print Name

______________________________________

Signature

______________________________________

Date

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL BATAVIA, ILLINOIS

Social Media Guidelines

These guidelines have been developed to help protect the reputation of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL’S SOCIAL MEDIA OBJECTIVE IS: To make a significant cultural impact in our community and all areas that our message reaches through the effective use of social media. In order to accomplish this objective, as an Immanuel Lutheran Church and School employee I will:

FEEL FREE TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS AN EMPLOYEE OF ILCS, Acts 1:8 It is perfectly acceptable to identify yourself as an employee of ILCS, but remember that whether or not you do so intentionally, there are others who know of your employment status. Employees of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School must remember that everything they post reflects not only on themselves, but also on the character and reputation of ILCS. It is imperative that posts specifically about the church and/or school be done in a positive manner. Refrain from complaining about the church and school, your employment therein, and do not initiate or share any post that could be construed as gossip. POLITICAL OPINIONS, Matt. 22:20-22 As a non-profit organization that enjoys tax free status, Immanuel Lutheran Church and School is prohibited from making political statements or publically supporting candidates for public office. If you choose to make a politi-cal statement, clearly identify the posts as your personal opinions, which in no way represent ILCS. SAFEGUARD PRIVATE DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS, 1 Peter 5:2-4 It is acceptable to talk about the church and school and to have a dialog with our audience, but it is not ac-ceptable to publish confidential information. Confidential information includes unpublished details about future ministry plans, information about counseling situations, financial information, and personal information or photo-graphs we do not have permission to release. We must respect the wishes of our members and school families regarding their privacy. Staff, members, school families, and guests should not be cited or obviously referenced without their approval. Pictures, video, or texts may not be cited or referenced without written permission from the individual or the parent/guardian in the case of minors. DEMONSTRATE IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL’S VALUES, Ephesians 4:29 Do not say anything contradictory or in conflict with the Confessions and core beliefs of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This includes not only the obvious (no ethnic slurs, offensive comments, defamatory comments, personal insults, obscenities), but also proper consideration of privacy and topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory; Dishonorable content such as racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, and physical disability slurs are not tolerated. COMPLY WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS, Exodus 20;15 It is imperative that all laws governing copyright and usage of copyrighted materials (photos, fonts, research pa-pers, etc.) are obeyed. This also includes any materials copyrighted by Immanuel Lutheran Church and School and its employees or agents.

I understand and will comply with Immanuel Lutheran Church and School’s Employee Social Media Guidelines as stated above. Printed name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature _________________________________________________________________________ Date _____________________________

1

First Presbyterian Church Communication Policy

WHY WE COMMUNICATE

First Presbyterian Church’s Communications Committee has adopted a purpose statement which is the foundation of the church’s communications efforts. It reads: “To serve God by providing a comprehensive communications ministry using all available methods that will tell the story of the church to inspire and inform members and invite the greater community into the FPC family.” No matter whether the communication is from a committee or an individual, internal or external, far-reaching or targeted, all communications originating here should be based on the simple ideas of inspiring, informing and inviting.

WHO ARE OUR AUDIENCES? First Presbyterian has a multitude of audiences for our communications, both internal and external. It is important to consider the audience which is best suited to receive our messages prior to deciding how to share those messages. Efficiency in efforts by identifying a specific audience which is most likely to respond to the information being shared saves time and money in the long run and makes it easier to craft the proper communications materials.

Internal audiences include staff, members and groups. External audiences include potential members, media and other churches in and out of the denomination.

KEY COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION EFFORTS

1) Know Your Budget: Knowing how much you have to spend will include or eliminate communication vehicles based solely on cost.

2) Consistency of Message and Style: All communications produced by the church should have a similar tone and style. Their messages should also reflect the purpose statement above. The church’s Graphic Standards Manual and Style Guide is a good resource to ensure proper usage of terms, logos and other items (available from the Director of Communications).

3) Ease of Implementation: Communications efforts should consist of vehicles which can be implemented by any member of the staff or group originating the message. Specialized efforts have their place, but may become unwieldy if those without proper training or knowledge are asked to implement them.

4) Integrate Multiple Vehicles: Use several communications vehicles to deliver the same message to different audiences. For example, a print piece can provide a Web address for more information.

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ROLES OF KEY PLAYERS Director of Communications: Responsible for the church’s comprehensive communications strategy, which advances the mission and goals of First Presbyterian Church. The Director of Communications will create and coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the strategy, including the creation of all communication and marketing materials used by the church. The Director of Communications will have significant interaction with the staff, lay leaders as well as the life of the congregation and will attend and participate in events and programs as necessary.

Pastoral Staff: Identify church activities needing publicity; identify “big picture” events or stories; identify events to be publicized; identify people to be profiled; assist in identifying areas which need publicity or communications attention. Program Staff: Identify events to be publicized; identify people to be profiled; assist in identifying areas which need publicity or communications attention; act as liaisons between director of communications and committees and groups; assume primary responsibility for programmatic content on website, including ensuring that content is current, correct and appropriate.

Support Staff: With program staff, act as liaisons between director of communications and committees and groups; assist program staff in updating content on website.

Communications Committee: Act as liaisons between the church and its members on issues of communication; provide support to the Director of Communications through use of talents; assist in identifying areas of concern or opportunity in terms of the church’s communications efforts.

Committee Chairs and Members: Work with the Director of Communications to implement needs, using the church’s communications vehicles to give and receive information including reporting newsworthy activities and/or providing story ideas.

AVAILABLE COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLES First Presbyterian has a multitude of ways to communicate with its various audiences, grouped in four main areas: online, print, video and other. This list will be fluid as some items become outdated or other new ideas are introduced.

1) Online: Focus on meaningful content that will pull people in and keep them coming back for more.

a. Streaming audio of sermons b. The Penn Street Online c. Social Media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest) d. Podcasts (other than sermons) e. Webinars/online classes f. Coming events information with details and where to get more information

2) Print: Print pieces should follow the graphic standards and include contact information of URLs for people to follow for more information or to sign up.

a. The Penn Street Letter b. Worship bulletins c. Bulletin inserts (should be interactive: sign-up sheet or similar) d. Postcards/mailings e. Special newsletters (e.g. stewardship)

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f. Program brochures (mission, ministry, welcome, etc.) g. Penn Street Arts Concert Series materials h. Early Education Center collateral i. Fliers/posters j. Alternate insert for Sunday mornings with event information for specific groups k. Newspapers, magazines, flyers at local businesses, billboards and radio spots

3) Video: Video can be used in new member packets, posted online or used to enhance other communications efforts.

a. Stewardship b. Welcome/recruitment c. Message from the Pastor

4) Other: a. Bulletin boards b. Hallway TV screens c. Screens in the Great Hall d. Parking lot banners e. Pastor’s e-letter f. Coming events e-letter g. Other topical e-mail

THE PROCESS

1) Define Objectives and Goals, Including Measurements: Before you start, you need to know your

desired results. Do you want to inform people of something that happened? Do you want to have high attendance at an event? Having a good handle on what you want to happen because of your message will help in creation and distribution of that message.

2) Contact Director of Communications: Before beginning a project, contact Director of Communications or a member of the Communications Committee, if desired, for assistance in developing communications plans, print pieces, etc. Committee members can proof materials. Any print piece that is to go outside the church must be reviewed by the Director of Communications.

3) Identify Your Target Audience: Know to whom you’re speaking. If your event is for a specific age group or type of person, don’t spend time and other resources distributing your message to people who won’t come or aren’t welcome. Tailoring your message to the correct audience helps in achieving the desired objective.

4) Choose Your Communications Method(s): If your target audience doesn’t read The Penn Street Letter, don’t use it. If letters and postcards are the best way to reach people, send them. Don’t forget that you can use multiple methods and tie them together if it’s appropriate to do so.

5) Create a Timeline and Identify Your Resources: Give yourself and those who’ll help you enough time to effectively publicize your event. While some events will be OK without publicizing until the week prior, most need a longer timeframe. Also, know your budget and who’s available to help you hang posters or stuff envelopes. If you don’t have the resources for a complicated plan, scale back and focus on something you can do that will be effective.

6) Submit Your Plan to the Director of Communications: The director of communications is available to assist in any publicity efforts, from writing to design of brochures and posters. Any internal and external communications should be submitted prior to use to ensure that logos and text are in line with the church’s approved graphic standards, style and social media or other communications policies.

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7) Implement the Plan: Using the identified communications methods, put the plan in motion. 8) Measure the Effectiveness of Your Efforts: Although often overlooked, measuring the effectiveness

of your efforts is an important part of any communications plan because it allows you (and others) to see what worked and what didn’t. Measurement can be in quantitative, such as attendance, an uptick in gifts received or media coverage, or qualitative, such as comments made by attendees.

9) Process: This is a suggested process; if there are any questions, please call the Director of Communications or a member of the committee.

Questions?

Please contact:

John E. Stevenson, Communications Committee Chair

Teresa Tysinger, FPC Director of Communications

Revised May 2016

FPC Communications Committee | Revised May 2016

Social Media Policy

Blogs, Facebook and Twitter are popular and powerful social media tools. “Social media” refers to social networking services, short-message services, message boards, wikis, podcasts, image- and video-sharing sites, and other methods of real-time information sharing among users. As a constantly evolving area, this policy applies to all current and future social media platforms – whether or not they are mentioned below. Like most tools, they can be helpful if used correctly or problematic if used inappropriately. FPC currently uses these social media accounts:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstpresfw Twitter: www.twitter.com/fpcfw Instagram: www.instgram.com/firstpres_fw YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FPCFortWorth PLUS, Constant Contact email campaigns, church server generated emails, etc.

Setting Up New Accounts & Posting for FPC All social media accounts should be created by contacting the Director of Communications. This allows FPC to maintain proprietorship/administrator access to all accounts and monitor activity for response/effectiveness. However, staff members may also be given full administrative access to these accounts. In some cases, there may be the need or desire for a church member to have access to post on behalf of the church; in such cases, the staff liaison for such groups, along with the Director of Communications, is asked to monitor postings.

Things to Keep in Mind When Posting to Social Media To protect both yourself and the church please include a disclaimer on all personal blogs. Here’s a sample: This is my personal blog and does not necessarily represent the views of First Presbyterian Church or any groups mentioned here. Additionally, such content should be created on your own time and on your own equipment. A personal copyright notice on your blog will also further separate your content from FPC. As a public forum, writing something on the Internet is the same as speaking it from a stage. Even if you delete a blog post, RSS feeds will still contain your post. Once something is published, it’s impossible to take it back. You are responsible for what you write. Here are a few additional guidelines to keep in mind:

Be nice and be positive. Like it or not, people will equate what you say with FPC.

Think before your write. Not sure? Let someone else read it before you post it. For example, it’s not good to complain about your boss on Twitter. There’s a good chance he or she might read it or hear about it.

Alert the Director of Communications to sensitive situations before you respond. She can help you craft an appropriate response or pass along to a more appropriate staff member to do so.

Don’t discuss private matters in a public forum, which the Internet certainly is.

Respect the privacy of others. Before posting pictures, prayer requests, etc. make sure you have permission of those involved, especially and always when minors are included.

Follow copyright rules. If you give information that did not originate with you, be sure to give credit. Cite and link when appropriate.

It’s perfectly okay to talk about work and church related issues/experiences, but don’t talk about sensitive things. Private conversations, finances, future plans, hospitalizations, deaths/births, etc. should not be discussed openly.

Don’t set up personal social media accounts using your First Presbyterian Church email address.

Use of the FPC logo and other branding is prohibited from use in private communications.

Please be mindful of linking to outside websites, vendors, companies, etc., which may suggest an endorsement by FPC. Linking to organizations with which FPC is involved (Presbyterian Night Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Mo Ranch, etc.) is acceptable.

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

Graphic Standards and Style Guide

Updated January 2015

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

About This GuideAs the Communications Committee, we’ve given a lot of thought to the brand of First Presbyterian Church. That might be a strange concept to some - “branding” the church - but it simply means being paying attention to some small details so materials that are produced by and for FPC are consistent and recognizeable.

This guide is meant to be just that, a guide of suggested good practices when creating materials for the church. We won’t track you down for using red to highlight a deadline in a letter! But we do hope you’ll find these guidelines helpful when creating communications with church members, visitors and the community.

As always, if you have questions about something mentioned here or need advice about other church communication matters, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Teresa Tysinger Director of Communications

817.335.1231 ext. 225 ttysinger@fpcfw.org

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FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

Table of Contents

Logos 3

Pre-Printed Materials 5

Colors 5

Typography 6

Writing for FPC 7

Newsletter Guidelines 8

Letter Standards 9 Email Standards 10

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FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

Use of LogoFirst Presbyterian Church’s logo is a stylized representation of the church’s steeple with the words “1st Presbyterian Church Fort Worth.” The mission statement (Inspiring Disciples...Engaging the World) appears below as shown.

The logo is available in both a vertical and horizontal version, as shown.

You can find these logos in the FPC LOGOS folder on the S: drive.

You can use these logos in color, reverse (white) or grayscale/black and white.

The reversed logo is for use on solid colors or backgrounds with graphics or patterns. The horizontal logo has a web-only version that is in color with white letters.

1stPresbyterian

CHURCH FORT WORTH

Reversed(box not part

of logo)

Grayscale Logo (steeple set

to 60% black)

PRIMARY (vertical)

ALTERNATIVE (horizontal)

3

1stPresbyterian

CHURCH FORT WORTH

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

1stPresbyterian

CHURCH FORT WORTH

Clear zone

A clear zone the width of twice the height of the words “CHURCH FORT WORTH” within the logo should be maintained around the logo at all times. No text or graphics should infringe upon the clear zone.

Please don’t alter the logo. This includes using colors other than the approved blue, white or black, changing the font, removing aspects of the logo or adding effects such as glows, shadows, etc. (without approval from Director of Communications. Please don’t tilt, stretch or animate the logo.

Creation of logos is discouraged unless done with assistance from the Director of Communications to ensure brand consistency.

Promotional items using the logo (banners, welcome stickers, etc.) should be requested through the Director of Communications.

Use of other logos, such as the Presbyterian Church (USA) or Presbyterian Women is permissible as long as those organizations’ usage rules are followed. These logos and all their versions may be downloaded from the PCUSA website.

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FPCStyle GuideJanuary 20155

ColorsPRINT - Spot Color/Pantone 279U 877C

PRINT - Process/CMYK C 69 C 0 M 35 M 0 Y 0 Y 0 K 0 K 65

SCREEN - RGB R 72 R 119 G 145 G 120 B 220 B 123

WEB - Hex 4891dc 808285

Pre-Printed MaterialsFPC uses standard pre-printed materials that incorporate the church logo, most of which are available through the Business Office. If you need items in addition to those listed below, please contact the Business Office.

Letterhead (for letter standards, see page 9)Business cardsNotecardsEnvelopes

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 20156

TypographyFPC has adopted several fonts for use on church materials. These fonts, as well as alternative secondary options for when the primary fonts are not available, are listed below. All of these fonts can be loaded on to your computer; the font files are located on the church’s shared drive in the Finalized Guidelines folder.

Garamond ITC Book Condensed (headlines) ZapfHumanst (body copy)

THESE FONTS ARE ALSO APPROVED FOR USE: Calibri (emails, including Constant Contact, web)Myriad Pro (web)Garamond Bold (alternative headlines) Arial (alterantive body copy)Garamond (alternative body copy)Times New Roman (alternative body copy)

Please Note: The use of novelty/script fonts is discouraged in most instances. If you’re unsure if a font you’d like to use is appropriate, feel free to contact the Director of Communications before using it.

Design StandardsWhen designing flyers, postcards, etc. for the church, please always include the church website and phone number. Photos and clipart used on such materials should be clear (not fuzzy or pixilated) and free of copyright restrictions (or include proper credit). Use colors that are easily readable. For design help and/or proofing, contact the Director of Communications.

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015

Writing for FPCWhen you are writing content for church materials (letters, postcards, newsletter articles, etc.) keep a few things in mind to help keep the “voice” of FPC consistent.

• Format for dates: April 1, 2013

• Format for times: 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. (please don’t include :00)

• Format for phone numbers: 817.335.1231, ext. 222

• Format for scripture references: John 3.16 (not John 3:16)

• When quoting scripture, please use the New Revised Standard Version.

• Please be mindful to use language that is expansive when speaking of God, and language that is inclusive when speaking of humanity. Expansive language for God represents the diversity of scriptural reference to God, which includes, but is not limited to masculine pronouns (he, him, his, etc.). Inclusive language for humanity avoids a default to gender specific pronouns when referencing all (mankind, for example).

• Pronouns for God should be lowercased; proper names such as God, Jesus, etc. should remain capitalized.

• Follow these rules regarding capitalization: DO capitalize locations around the church (i.e. Sanctuary, Room 304) DO capitalize Bible DO NOT capitalize sacraments, such as baptism, communion, etc.; however, DO capitalize proper liturgical phrases like Sacrament of Holy Communion and Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper DO NOT capitalize “church” unless used in a proper name

• Avoid use of exclusive pronouns in reference to FPC (i.e. “we” or “us”). Don’t miss the next fellowship event coming up next month! instead of We hope you’ll join us for our upcoming fellowship event!

• Describe terms new members or visitors may not know. The Beacons, a ministry for adults 55 and over, meet in the Gym, located on the first floor across from the youth center. instead of The Beacons meet Monday in the Gym.

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FPCStyle GuideJanuary 20158

Newsletter GuidelinesFor the Penn Street Letter (PSL) church newsletter, submissions may include publicity/reports of church events, features on church members and their work with ministries, and calendar or other items that should be considered. Due to many members being involved in the community, we do not feature church members for their educational, civic or professional accomplishments.

The following outlines the Editorial Policy approved by the Communications Committee, to ensure the PSL is of a quality representative of FPC:

1. Deadline for submissions is 2 p.m. Wednesdays, one week prior to the following Friday publication date. Send to Teresa Tysinger, the Director of Communications, at ttysinger@fpcfw.org or deliver to her at the church office. Late submissions will be considered for the next issue.

2. Submissions should include complete information (date, time, location, contact information, etc.).

3. Submissions will run at the discretion of the Director of Communications and may be edited for content and length or held for future issues.

4. Event announcements generally will run once 3 weeks prior to the event and once the week of the event. (See the Director of Communications for additional methods for publicizing an event.)

5. Display advertisements will follow the same publication timeline as event announcements. Display advertisements will be created by PSL staff with the requesting party providing full details (time, date, location, contact information, etc.) of the event being advertised.

6. Event-specific art, such as a logo or a speaker’s head and shoulders photo, should be provided electronically when possible, or details about where it can be obtained should be included with the submission.

7. When possible, photos should be included with story submissions. Subjects in the photo should be identified for use in cutlines. Before using photos including children and youth, please ensure a signed release has been obtained from the Children’s/Youth ministry staff.

8. Content in The Penn Street Letter will generally follow the standards set forth in the Associated Press Stylebook.

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 20159

Letter StandardsPlease follow these guidelines when creating letters on church letterhead and/or for business purposes on behalf of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth.

A template of this letter form can befound on the shared S: drive in the

“Finalized Guidelines” folder.

If you have questions or would like your letter proofread, please see Director of Communications.

•Font should be set to one of the approved body copy fonts (see page 6); font size should be 12, 11 if necessary

•Margins – Top: 3”, Left/Right: 1”•Date should be left justified and use following format example: January

1, 2013•3 returns from date then left justify Title/Name, Address, City/State/Zip•1 return from Address then Salutation and comma•1 return then left justify paragraphs, separated by 1 return each•1 return after last paragraph, then left justify Closing and comma•3 returns after Closing then your Name•1 return after your Name, then your Title

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 201510

Email StandardsPlease follow these guidelines when sending emails from your professional email account behalf of FPC. Informal emails sent inner-office between co-workers do not need to follow these guidelines. If you have questions or would like help creating your custom signature as indicated below, please see Director of Communications, Teresa Tysinger.

•Font should be set to Calibri (body); font size set to 11, color black•Salutation and comma (either formal or informal is acceptable)•1 blank line then left justify paragraphs, separated by 1 blank line each•1 blank line after last paragraph, then left justify Closing and comma•Custom signature (see below)•Quotes following your signature are allowed as long as they are

appropriate and do not go against the theology and/or practices of the PC(USA)

•Emails should contain complete sentences and follow other writing guidelines (see page 7)

CUSTOM EMAIL SIGNATURE

Please set your email signature to appear as shown below. Logo shown can be found on S: drive in the “Finalized Guidelines” folder.

NameTitleFirst Presbyterian Church1000 Penn Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102 817.335.1231, ext. 000 (your extension)www.fpcfw.org

FPCStyle GuideJanuary 2015