Relief Society Facebook page

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!

EmilyRathke wrote: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."

EmilyRathke wrote: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.

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.

drepouille wrote: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.

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.

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>

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.

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.

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

It does if you expect everyone to show up at the same time/place to watch it. Show up too late and there may not be any ice cream left.

russellhltn wrote:upcoming Women's Conference

Side note – I assume you're referring to the General Women’s Meeting broadcast from Salt Lake City.

For anyone who may be reading, please be clear as you announce the name of the event, especially if you live in Utah or the surrounding area. Our stake has been announcing it as Women's Conference. We live close to BYU, and every year in April/May BYU hosts a major Women's Conference similar to BYU Education Week.

One is paid, one is free; one is sponsored by a church university, the other is sponsored directly by the church. I'm sure confusion wasn't intended; I'm just trying to avoid something that has been perpetuating recently since they got rid of the separate General Young Women's and General Relief Society Meetings.

Instructions for changing the name of a Facebook group are here:
https://www.facebook.com/help/312721188838183/

Note that this ability is limited to groups with less than 250 members.

If anyone has a question about the useage of any part.name.framework of the lds church talk to your bishop and or your stake president. From any lds library in it should be a book on functioning of the units of the lds church. Your bishop knows about this book .it is called the policies of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.

hendricksonpenniejane1 wrote:From any lds library in it should be a book on functioning of the units of the lds church. Your bishop knows about this book .it is called the policies of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.

I think you're referring to Handbooks for Church Leaders, usually just called Handbook. Handbook 2: 21.1.22 covers the use of Internet.