This is not the final draft, but simply a way for me to copypasta. If you want to read ahead, you can look over the whole thing we're improving on. Specifically, we want to trim it down (remove duplications) and organize it. (Move stuff around so that we address one topic thoroughly, instead of revisiting it repeatedly) Wanna help with that? Please post your suggestions here! The other ToS thread will be used as already outlined, working on one section at a time.
TERMS OF SERVICE
(ToS)
ChristianForums.net aspires to provide a place where Christians can come together in fellowship for encouragement, inspiration, and strength to help build each other up and grow in our walk of faith through honest and open discussion, study, reflection, and prayer.
The CF staff team uses the ToS as a basis for how this community is run. Our aim is to treat members fairly and, in the event of difficulty or dispute, to give them the best chance to remain members before any action is required. Your cooperation is appreciated. Here are key things to remember, which will be much more effective than any rules we can make up:
John 13:35 (All references use NKJV)
“By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Luke 6:31
“And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.”
Philippians 2:3
“in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
1 Corinthians 6:7
“it is already an utter failure that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?"
If all else fails, this is the action that will be taken:
Matthew 18:15 - 17
“Moreover if your Brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
That means PM (private message) a member to settle an issue rather than publicly feuding. If that doesn’t work, start a new PM that invites both the other member AND staff. After all that, do we still need rules? Maybe so. Here are some basics:
- Members must be at least 13 years of age. Users who are found to be under the age of 13 will have their account disabled until they meet this criteria. ChristianForums.net does not maintain permission records from parents.
- English is the acceptable language since most persons in other countries speak English.
- As a member of ChristianForums.net, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, and you stipulate that you understand the disciplinary process in response to violations of the ToS
- To contact a member of the staff:
Click on their name
Click on Start a Conversation
BEHAVIOR
- Give other members the respect you would have them give to you:
1.1 Address issues/ideas, not the person. Do not insult, post derogatory opinions, belittle, discredit, or create a hostile environment. Do not make inflammatory remarks, do not make remarks to affect others negatively.
1.2 Do not misquote or misrepresent another member. Do not disrupt the flow of the conversation, respect all members as to where they are in their spiritual walk.
1.3 Do not post your opinion of another members standing in the Christian faith. Judging someone’s soul is not Christ like; only they and God know their relationship with God. This includes collective beliefs and groups in general.
1.4 Do not discuss other members by name, with whom you have a disagreement, in a thread in which they are not participating, thus putting them in a position of having to defend themselves in a discussion is which they have no desire in which to participate. This item may be waived by the staff if it is deemed to be in good-natured fun.
1.5 Always tag a member that you mention in any thread.
1.6 Foul language, pornographic, sexually offensive or explicit material is prohibited. Violent material is prohibited unless it relates to a news story.
This includes words purposefully misspelled or alternate use of characters. Staff will determine acceptability at its discretion.
1.7 No trolling. This is defined as posting simply to get other people to "dance for you;" to elicit a reaction for no good reason.
DISCUSSION OF SUBJECTS
2.Some subjects are limited or banned.
2.1 Discussion of homosexuality, or LGBT, is limited and will be allowed only in Christian Talk and Advice, and in the Bible Study Forum.
2.2 We understand the need to discuss LGBT issues and to provide support for those struggling with these issues; however, Godly discussion must be adhered to and a sinful life style must not be promoted in any form. We welcome sincere biblical discussion and requests for support and prayer.
2.3 Active promotion of other faiths is not allowed. Atheism, for our purposes, is considered a belief. This includes posting images, links, messages or photos that promote a religion other than biblical and historical Christianity. Other faiths include: Full Preterism, Universal Reconciliation, Universal Salvation, Serpent Seed, Dual Seed or Two-Seedline Doctrine. These discussions are limited to and only allowed in the 1 on 1 Debate Forum since this is a Christian Forum.
If you are not sure about a site or its content, please direct your question to a
Moderator assigned to the forum you wish to use, or to any of the staff.
2.4 Non-Christians will not create threads inviting members to ask them about their belief system. For example: Ask the Atheist or Ask the Agnostic. This will be considered a promotion of another faith.
2.5 The New World Translation and Book of Mormon are not considered Christian bibles and verses cannot be posted on this site.
2.6 Discussion of other questionable sources, documents, writings,etc. Is acceptable but cannot be used as a basis of support within a discussion or debate.
2.7 Discussion of conspiracy theories often lead to hostile debate and are prohibited on this site.
2.8 Discussion of Catholic Doctrine is limited. It will be allowed in the 1 on 1 Debate Forum and End Times Forum. Content in the End Times Forum should relate only to the Catholic Doctrinal beliefs regarding this subject matter. Do not sway existing threads toward a discussion that may be viewed as Catholic in nature.
2.9 Anti-Christian content will be considered a hostile act.
This is a Christian site. Any attempt to degrade Christianity or declare it false, including the basic tenets of our faith, is against the basic purpose of this site.
Links to anti-Christian websites will be removed.
Please read: Statement of Faith
https://christianforums.net/Fellowship/index.php?pages/statement-of-faith/
2.10 We consider Paul’s writings to be part of the inspired Word of God. Any
posts intended to purposefully distort or discredit Paul’s writings will not be accepted.
GENERAL RULES
3. Advertising/Links are restricted.
3.1 We have a "20 post rule;" 20 posts must be accumulated before you can post links, even for links within signatures. Business Advertising: Please use the Business Discussion and Plugs Forum.
Advertising links in Signatures are limited to member content such as home church, personal web site, email addresses, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
3.2 No spamming, No solicitations. Please do not flood the board with ads, excessive posts, meaningless or long texts, or otherwise useless material. Our boards are not for the selling of goods or services.
3.3 Business Forum Exception: Approved businesses and sites may advertise
here according to the 20 post rule. No advertising for pyramid or related
schemes will be allowed. The staff reserves the right to determine what
may be advertised on this site.
3.4 Administrators and Moderators will make every effort to remove or edit any objectionable material as quickly as possible; since it may be impossible to view every post, you acknowledge, by using this site, that all posts express the views of the author and not the Staff Team, and agree that Staff and Site Owner will be held harmless for such views expressed by others.