Lodging requests on Facebook Pages

I would like to know if there is a church policy in the handbook regarding members placing requests on ward and stake related Facebook pages for lodging in members’ homes? The lodging requests are temporary and sometimes permanent. Examples are: room rental, visiting family members or youth groups vacationing.

The only one I'm aware of is Handbook 2: 13.6.12 "Overnight Activities". But that would only affect the youth groups.

For the Facebook, I'd refer to Internet.lds.org. I'd look at the purpose: "Members should have a purpose and goal for the resource, such as community outreach, increased friendship between members, and so on, and the resource should be named accordingly." and "Prepare all online content with your audience in mind. Content that is appropriate for local news reporters may not meet the needs of the active members in your ward or branch. Focus on the content that is relevant for the intended audience."

You may need to determine if such requests are consistent with the purpose.

Thank you so much for your reply and the information you provided.

I think you would want to ask the administrator of the Facebook group you're posting to if it would be OK, especially if you're not a member of that ward. Different wards and stakes use their groups differently.

Thank you so much for your reply. The pages that exist are an "anything goes" place to request or announce ....items are put up for sale, requests for lodging, going away parties etc. Things that would definitely have been stopped in the olden days of the paper ward directory "for church use only" are allowed. There is no moderator and no apparent rules, though I am aware that some wards are vigilant with having a set of rules and a moderator who deletes what they deem inappropriate for the page. The lodging can lead to potential lawsuits, which my spurred my curiosity over a handbook policy. As social media gets more complex, the handbook policies will need to be more detailed.

An 'anything goes' site with no moderator would seem to be out of compliance with guidelines 7 and 8 of the policy at internet.lds.org. Although not absolute protection, if the site follows guidelines 3 and 4 as well it should at least reduce liability concerns for the church.

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate the added input.

Note that item 1 indicates that the bishop would have to approve creating the FB page. While not stated, I'd assume if the page has reached a point where it is failing to follow the guidelines, the bishop should either take steps to bring it into compliance or shut it down.

I'd also add that Handbook 2: 21.1.22 echoes many of the points found on internet.lds.org - for those who want a "Handbook cite".

Thank you, all of the information provided has been very helpful. The existing FB pages don’t comply with what direction is given in the handbook.