MX Content Guidelines - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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Microsoft Word - MX Content Guidelines 050712.doc InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
Ministry Exchange Content Guidelines
revised July 12, 2005
The Ministry Exchange (MX) is a highly participatory website: it's users who
create the content and upload it. But that raises the question: what sort of
content belongs in the MX? This document offers some guidelines for answering
that question.
The threshold is intentionally low for new uploads to display in the MX -- but
that doesn't mean there are no criteria. Here are four simple questions to help
you evaluate whether an item is suitable for the MX:
1 . Could this item be useful for Christian ministry?
This is the first and most important question to ask. The MX might look a
lot like general file-sharing, but it's file-sharing with a purpose. So we want to
make sure that every item in the MX relates somehow to Christian ministry.
But of course, that's a pretty broad criterion!
For instance, if you have a flyer for your neighborhood rummage sale, that
probably doesn't belong. But if you have a flyer for a rummage sale held by
your church or InterVarsity chapter as a benefit, that would be perfect. More
obvious things like Bible-study questions, articles about spiritual growth, or
pictures of your church's elder board are certainly OK, too.
2 . Is the item of acceptable quality?
The MX is not restricted to only exceptionally fantastic content -- but we
do want to make sure (quite frankly) that content doesn't stink. So you
might ask yourself whether this item is the sort of thing someone could be
pleased to hand in for a class assignment or to pass around to their circle of
friends. We don't want to be super-picky, but all MX items should represent
a good-faith effort by the creator to offer solid work to the community.
Preliminary drafts or sketch-quality items are OK, too, but it would be best if
they indicate that they're "works in progress."
But above all, we hope potential uploaders won't be shy! We want to see
what you've got.
MX Content Guidelines · page 1

3 . Is there potentially offensive, sensitive, or controversial content
included in this item?
If the answer to this question is "yes," it certainly doesn't automatically mean
the item is unsuitable -- but just that extra caution is required.
We want to avoid giving offense to people, when we can, so items that come
even close to risking this should do so only with compelling reason. The kinds
of thing we have in mind here include (but are not limited to): strong
language; treatment of violence or sexual issues; and derogatory terms or
descriptions of any individuals, groups, or religions.
As for controversial subjects (including theological or political material that
may be under dispute), we insist that all MX items treat such issues with
appropriate maturity, fairness, and wisdom.
We hope you'll ask yourself whether you'd be comfortable sharing any given
item with a diverse group of people that might include your pastor, your
elderly aunt, and the neighborhood kids -- because that's precisely who will
have access to it via the MX.
InterVarsity staff should note that it is possible for them to specify that a
given upload be accessible only to other InterVarsity staff. This may be a
good way to handle material that may not be suitable for a universal
audience.
4 . Do you, the uploader, have the legal right to publish this item?
The answer to this question must be "yes" -- because it's you who are
responsible for the intellectual-property rights of items you share. (You
affirm this every time you upload an item.) If you didn't create the content
of the item yourself, you must make sure either that it's in the public domain
or that you have the explicit permission of the rights holder to publish their
material.
That's it! When in doubt, we hope that uploaders will go ahead and submit their
items. We know that moderators will use their best judgment in helping MX
users fulfill these Content Guidelines.
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