Churches that communicate clearly and consistently build trust — those that don't, confuse the very people they're trying to reach. These guidelines give your creative team a shared standard so every piece of content reflects who you actually are.
**[CHURCH_NAME]** **Effective Date:** [EFFECTIVE_DATE] **Policy Owner:** [CONTENT_LEAD] **Review Date:** [REVIEW_DATE] ---
Every piece of content produced by [CHURCH_NAME] — whether a social media post, a sermon video, a printed flyer, or a written devotional — carries the identity and witness of our church. This document establishes the standards that ensure our content is consistent, trustworthy, theologically sound, and effectively serves our mission. These guidelines apply to all staff, volunteers, and contractors creating content on behalf of [CHURCH_NAME]. ---
### 2.1 Visual Identity All church-produced content must use the approved visual elements found in the [CHURCH_NAME] Brand Guide ([BRAND_GUIDE_LOCATION]): 1. **Logos:** Only approved logo files may be used. Do not stretch, recolour, or modify the logo. The approved logo files are available at [LOGO_FILE_LOCATION]. 2. **Colours:** Use only the approved colour palette. Primary colours: [PRIMARY_COLOURS]. Secondary colours: [SECONDARY_COLOURS]. 3. **Typography:** Approved fonts are [APPROVED_FONTS]. Do not use other typefaces on official materials. 4. **Imagery:** Photography and illustrations must reflect the actual diversity of our congregation and community. Stock imagery that feels generic or disconnected from our context should be avoided. 5. **Templates:** Pre-approved design templates for common content types are available at [TEMPLATES_LOCATION]. Use these before designing from scratch. ### 2.2 Tone of Voice The [CHURCH_NAME] content voice is: - **Warm and welcoming** — we write as hosts inviting people in, not gatekeepers keeping them out - **Clear and accessible** — avoid jargon; explain theological terms simply when they must be used - **Authentic and personal** — we tell real stories, not polished PR - **Hopeful and grounded** — always pointing toward Christ, even when addressing hard realities - **Never condescending or fear-based** All content should be accessible to someone with no church background while remaining meaningful to long-term members. ---
All content that contains theological claims, Bible teaching, or pastoral guidance must be reviewed for accuracy before publication. ### 3.1 Required Review The following content types require theological review: - Sermon notes, teaching outlines, or study guides - Devotional or blog content - Any written explanation of a doctrinal position - Social media captions interpreting Scripture - FAQs or informational content about the Christian faith ### 3.2 Who Reviews Theological review is the responsibility of [THEOLOGICAL_REVIEWER]. In their absence, [THEOLOGICAL_REVIEWER_BACKUP] may review. ### 3.3 Review Turnaround - Standard review: [STANDARD_REVIEW_DAYS] business days - Urgent review (documented exception): [URGENT_REVIEW_HOURS] hours minimum ---
Using copyrighted material without permission is illegal and inconsistent with our values of integrity. Staff and volunteers must adhere to the following: ### 4.1 Music - [CHURCH_NAME] holds the following music licences: [MUSIC_LICENCES] - These licences cover [LICENCE_COVERAGE_DETAILS] - Music not covered by these licences may not be used in any published content - All live music in recordings must be reported through the relevant licence as required - Worship teams should confirm song licensing before including a song in recordings intended for online distribution ### 4.2 Images and Photography - Only use images that are: a) Taken by church photographers and staff b) Licensed under Creative Commons (with correct attribution) c) Purchased from approved stock platforms: [STOCK_PLATFORMS] d) Explicitly granted to [CHURCH_NAME] by the copyright owner - Never use Google Image search results without verifying the licence - Maintain a record of image licences for all purchased assets at [IMAGE_LICENCE_LOG] ### 4.3 Written and Video Content - Quotations from published books or articles must be attributed correctly - Quotations exceeding [QUOTE_WORD_LIMIT] words from a single work require permission from the publisher - Do not reproduce sermon transcripts from other ministers without their permission - AI-generated content may be used as a starting point but must be edited and verified (see AI Tools Usage Policy) ### 4.4 Attribution When using or adapting content from others: - Always credit the original creator clearly - For sermons and teachings based heavily on another's material, acknowledge the source - Illustrations or stories shared by permission must include acknowledgment ---
### 5.1 Approval Matrix | Content Type | Creator | Reviewer | Final Approver | |-------------|---------|----------|----------------| | Social media post (routine) | [CONTENT_TEAM] | None required | [CONTENT_LEAD] | | Social media post (sensitive) | [CONTENT_TEAM] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | [SENIOR_APPROVER] | | Website page (new) | [CONTENT_TEAM] | [THEOLOGICAL_REVIEWER] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | | Printed materials | [DESIGN_TEAM] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | | Sermon/teaching content | Pastor/Teacher | [THEOLOGICAL_REVIEWER] | [SENIOR_APPROVER] | | Video production | [VIDEO_TEAM] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | [CONTENT_LEAD] | | Press release | [CONTENT_TEAM] | [SENIOR_APPROVER] | [SENIOR_APPROVER] | ### 5.2 Content Submission Submit content for review using [SUBMISSION_PROCESS]. Include: - Final draft of content - Intended platform and publishing date - Any relevant context or brief - Confirmation that copyright requirements have been met ---
### 6.1 What Must Be Archived The following must be saved to the church's content archive at [ARCHIVE_LOCATION]: 1. All published print materials (final PDF) 2. All published video files (master quality) 3. Sermon audio/video recordings 4. Significant photography collections 5. Major written documents ### 6.2 Archive Structure Files must be named using the convention: `[YEAR]-[MONTH]-[TYPE]-[DESCRIPTION]` (e.g., `2025-03-SERMON-John-3-Easter`) ### 6.3 Retention - Sermons and teaching recordings: Retained indefinitely - Event photography: Retained for [PHOTO_RETENTION_YEARS] years - Marketing materials: Retained for [MARKETING_RETENTION_YEARS] years - Routine social media assets: Retained for [SOCIAL_RETENTION_YEARS] year(s) ---
If published content contains an error: 1. Notify [CONTENT_LEAD] immediately 2. For factual or theological errors: retract and republish with correction within 24 hours where possible 3. For minor errors (typos, wrong dates): correct and note the change 4. For social media: do not silently delete and repost; acknowledge the correction where appropriate ---
For questions about these guidelines, contact [CONTENT_LEAD] at [CONTENT_LEAD_EMAIL]. --- *[CHURCH_NAME] — Content Creation Guidelines — Effective [EFFECTIVE_DATE]*