England Church issues 'Nine Commandments' for social media postings by clergy

The Church of England has reportedly issued a list of nine social media commandments that tells clergy and staff how to behave in the virtual world.

The rules, issued by the Bath and Wells diocese, want tweeters to ask themselves, 'Would I want God or my mother to read this', or 'Would I want this on the front page of a newspaper?'

According to Sky News, the guidelines explains the staff that responding quickly doesn't mean doing so without due consideration, and advises them not to hide behind anonymous profiles and to always reveal their identity.

Online users are told to communicate messages to groups, rather than individuals or share them publicly, in order to maintain a professional distance.

Other commandments state that users must not overshare personal information, must keep confidential church matters private and be aware of the legal framework relating to sharing their thoughts with friends and followers.

Despite appreciating the church's move to embrace the digital world to engage more with the younger generation, theologian and blogger Vicky Beeching, has expressed reservations for what she calls, 'constrictive social media commandments'.

She said that these rules could create an air of micro-managing, which potentially robs social media of its creative freedom and throws the baby out with the bath water.

Beeching further said that the commandment 'Don't rush in' could potentially curb the passion and energy behind many great tweets, the report added.