Broadcasting Still Permitted Considering Handbook 1?

Meeting broadcasts are now prohibited by Handbook of Instructions 1, yet the clerk policy webpage says they are still permitted. What should I tell my Stake President who feels constrained to shut down broadcasts to a terminally-ill sister because of the Handbook direction?

Thank you,
David Staheli

I'll have to wait for someone who has access to Handbook 1 to comment. Does it say "no" or just discourage it? Just taking a guess, did the broadcasts start prior to the new Handbook? This sounds like a problem that will resolve itself in time.

Another thought to for him to ask the area authorities for guidance on this particular situation.

dstaheli wrote:What should I tell my Stake President who feels constrained to shut down broadcasts to a terminally-ill sister because of the Handbook direction?

To be specific, I imagine you are referring to section 8.4.15 in Handbook 1, which talks about broadcasts from the chapel, and Meetinghouse Webcast policies and guidelines on the wiki.

dstaheli wrote:What should I tell my Stake President who feels constrained to shut down broadcasts to a terminally-ill sister because of the Handbook direction?

As long as he is aware of the Handbook provisions (he clearly is), then he's the one with the keys to receive inspiration on implementing the Handbook in his stake. Unless he consults with higher authorities to get a clarification as RussellHltn suggested and gets a different answer, I think you would just have to respect his decision.

HB1 states that the only broadcasts permitted from meetings held in the chapel are Stake Conference.

The following quotes explain the confusion and possible contradiction:

Handbook 1 - 8.4.15
·"Meetings and other events that are held in the chapel may not be broadcast over the Internet or by any other means..."

The Meetinghouse Webcast policy page:
·Meetinghouse Webcast should only be used for Church-sponsored meetings or events.
·In February 2009, the Presiding Bishop sent out a letter authorizing the use of webcast technology for broadcasting Church meetings and events.
·Stake and area leaders should use discretion when determining what meetings should be broadcast.
·Allowing others to view the webcasts…should be done…when unusual circumstances exist…

Also, the Meetinghouse Webcast software allows selection of all sorts of meeting types. The policy is unclear.

Picking at nits here, but as I read it they appear to be making a distinction between a Webcast and a broadcast. I would take that to mean that if I use the Church's Webcasting service I am within policy. If I use some other means that is more easily accessible to the general public--such as Youtube, livestream.com, ustream.tv, etc.--then I am out of compliance with policy.

However, that is just my opinion, and I am not in any position to interpret this policy.

So what you're saying is that it comes down to the definition of broadcast. We can certainly agree that public broadcasting would be prohibited. Unfortunately, much of the Wiki refers the Meetinghouse Webcasting as "broadcasting".

An interesting thought.

dstaheli wrote:Handbook 1 - 8.4.15
"Meetings and other events that are held in the chapel may not be broadcast over the Internet or by any other means..."

We don't normally allow quotes from Handbook 1 (or any other unpublished documents) to be posted on the Forum (see the Code of Conduct). But I would note that this exact sentence is also in Handbook 2 (see section 21.2.10).

aebrown wrote:But I would note that this exact sentence is also in Handbook 2 (see section 21.2.10).

Since I don't have access to Handbook 1, I find it interesting to note that the Handbook 2 reference states:

Taking photographs or making video recordings in chapels is not permitted. Meetings and other events that are held in the chapel may not be broadcast over the Internet or by any other means (see 18.3.1 for an exception).

And the exception referenced in 18.3.1 of Handbook 2 states:

If necessary, conference sessions may be broadcast to other locations in the stake.

For me, that sufficiently ends any ambiguity in this policy.

I find this whole thread interesting in light of the fact that BYU-TV (still) broadcasts sacrament meeting over cable and sattlelite TV at least once a week.

rpyne wrote:I find this whole thread interesting in light of the fact that BYU-TV (still) broadcasts sacrament meeting over cable and sattlelite TV at least once a week.

But, I'll bet it's done with permission "from above". IIRC from an article some years ago, it's not a "normal" meeting, but staged.

rpyne wrote:I find this whole thread interesting in light of the fact that BYU-TV (still) broadcasts sacrament meeting over cable and sattlelite TV at least once a week.

You will notice, though, that it is not a normal sacrament meeting. Many of the important elements you would normally see on Sunday at church are not broadcast.

I know this question was posted almost six months ago and has been addressed by different people, but it is one I've wrestled with myself and have recently come to some understanding about. I believe that the policy relates directly to the priesthood keys the stake president holds for his geographical jurisdiction. The term "broadcast", especially when dealing with the Internet, suggests making the meeting freely available to people outside of the boundaries of the stake. But I think this means more than just streaming a meeting using a commercial service such as uStream. For example, I recently received an e-mail from a friend, who received it from a friend, who received it from a friend, and so on, which was sent by a young single adult on the other side of the world inviting family and friends, also apparently from other parts of the world, to view a local stake fireside. While I'm sure the meeting was inspiring and good - as we hope all Church meetings are - the authority of the stake president to conduct a Church meeting for the spiritual benefit of others extends only to the borders of that stake. In this case the fireside was inappropriately "broadcast" by individuals within the stake e-mailing the webcast link to others outside the stake. On the other hand, appropriate use of webcast involves sharing the link only with trusted individuals with the express understanding that they are to use it at their meetinghouse or home within the stake and not share it unless authorised.

Having said all that, an interesting point to consider around this topic is that the term "broadcast" is used both in the prohibitive policy as well as the one that allows the use of Internet broadcast technology for stake conferences. Perhaps this could imply that under the stake president's direction an Internet broadcast of stake conference could be used to bless a wider audience of both members and non-members within the stake, such as members being encouraged to e-mail the link to family and friends within the stake. For example, it could give a non-member who is nervous about coming into a chapel a positive first glimpse at a local Church meeting and a unique opportunity to feel the Spirit at home, thus boosting their confidence and desire to attend the next local Church meeting. Stake conference is an obvious choice because it doesn't involve a priesthood ordinance that would be inappropriate to broadcast (i.e. the Sacrament) and the talks and musical items are generally of a predictably high standard. This may be an overly liberal interpretation of the policy, so I suggest any stake president who has concerns confer with the appropriate area leaders.