Erwin's Announcement: On July 7, 2007, Dr. Erwin Loh, Owner of Christian Forums, announced that a great new era in the site was about to begin. We, the Membership of Christian Forums, are now responsible for the development and implementation of all rules both for the entire site and in each sub category. It is critical that all members participate in the process to insure that the needs of all members are met.
-Link to Original Announcement: http://www.christianforums.com/t5657...ld-vision.html
-Summary of Changes:
The Wikis are used to formulate rules by first creating a new article in one of the Wiki sub-forums. At the bottom right of the article, buttons may be found which let you read the discussion on the Wiki topic, edit the Wiki article, or look at the history of the article. Wiki discussions may be subscribed to in the same manner as any regular thread.
Again any member of CF may create or edit a Wiki article; you do not need to join a team or fill out an application to get permission. However, there are some basic guidelines it is considered polite to follow when editing an article. Just try to keep in mind that there are many other people also working on the article, and that actions such as deleting everything and replacing it with what you want isn't the best way to go about this. The goal is for everyone affected by a set of rules to have a voice in setting them up, if they so desire. To that end, it is generally considered best to use the Wiki discussion to try and reach an agreement about any changes. It can be a slow process, but reaching a compromise people can live with before changing the Wiki can save a lot of frustration later on.
-What is a wiki? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
-In this sub-forum, all of the Wikis applying to the entire site may be found.
-The first discussion of the core site rules may be found here. This discussion was automatically locked when it reached 1,000 replies; here is where the current discussion may be found. The Wiki article where the core rules may be edited became separated from the discussion when the first one was locked; the article is currently found here.
-The Wiki sub-forums affecting only their areas may be found at these links:
Ecumenical Wiki
Theology Wiki
Ministry Wiki
Friendship Wiki
Recovery Wiki
Outreach Wiki
Debate Wiki
-Sub-forums that fall under these categories, such as the individual congregational sub-forums, may also have their own Wiki, if they wish. If a sub-forum you post in wants additional rules which will apply to your area and you don't yet have a Wiki, please do start one! As well, any faith group with significant representation may apply for their own congregational sub-forum, if they wish.
-Besides the core site rules, there are some side discussions going on about various issues such as
-Links to staff forums and report forums:
Staff Conference Room - Posting here is limited to staff only; the forum is intended for staff from all teams to discuss CF issues.
Support Team Discussion
Ecumenical Team Discussion
Theology Team Discussion
Ministry Team Discussion
Friendship Team Discussion
Recovery Team Discussion - Note that not all information on what happens in Recovery is public, to protect people dealing with sensitive issues.
Outreach Team Discussion
Debate Team Discussion
Support Reports
Ecumenical Reports
Theology Reports
Ministry Reports
Friendship Reports
Recovery Reports - are private, and thus not linked.
Outreach Reports
Debate Reports
Voting on Moderators:
After a member applies to become a moderator, their application may be found in the Moderator Applications sub-forum of the Team they applied for. The application becomes the first post in a new thread, where members may vote in a poll on their application, or ask the applicant questions.
You should only vote if the applicant becoming a moderator would actually affect you; for example, if someone applied for the Ecumenical Team and stated in their application that it was for the Non-denominational sub-forum only, you would only vote on the application if you were a regular poster there.
Support Applications
Ecumenical Applications
Theology Applications
Ministry Applications
Friendship Applications
Recovery Applications
Outreach Applications
Debate Applications
If you wish to apply for a moderation position yourself, you may do so by going here and filling out an application.
Please note that with the process for determining CF rules being what it is, the information provided may not remain accurate. We recommend you regularly check the CF rules link at the bottom of CF pages, and the Wikis for any subforums you regularly post in.
Contributors: Glass*Soul, sparklecat, RedTulipMoon, Lisa0315,
This wiki can be found in CF Support Christian Forums - General Wiki and is located at this url.
-Link to Original Announcement: http://www.christianforums.com/t5657...ld-vision.html
-Summary of Changes:
- Rules Are Decided by the Community. The Wikis are used to this end: possible rules are discussed, and added to an article that anyone may edit. The intent is that rather than the rules being decided by a few people, everyone will have a say. Core rules will apply across the entire site, while sub forums can choose to create additional rules that will apply only to their area. Sub-forums are still bound by the core rules, however.
- Moderators are Selected by Vote. Moderators are voted in for a 12 month period. Membership may nominate someone, but a current staff member must sponsor the applicant. The nominee will fill out an application that is then forwarded and published in the appropriate forum by the appropriate staff team. Members are then able to interview the applicant and vote Yes, No, or Apply Later.
- Non-Christians may be on staff if they are elected by membership.
- Current Staff will be automatically be up for re-election at the end of 2007.
- No more Warnings or Infractions. Warnings and infractions will no longer be given.
- Moderators will still be able to moderate. Posts may still be deleted, and forum-specific and/or entire site bans used.
- Christian Only Sections are now open to all membership. However, sub-forums may elect to restrict everyone outside of a set group from posting in threads not displaying the [OPEN] tag. They may also enforce limits on the content of posts, for instance congregational sub-forums may vote to limit debate from Non-Congregational participants. Also, the Christian Teens' section will have both Christians-only areas and open areas. This exception is to insure protection of the younger membership.
- Icons are no longer controlled by the site. Faith and Marriage Icons are controlled by the user and are not challengeable by this site. Christian Forums will no longer judge whether or not someone is a Christian, as that is between an individual and God.
- Appeals will be simpler and made public. Community input is allowed in all cases. Note that no guidelines on this have been written as of yet.
- Moderator discussion forums and report forums are now public. Recovery reports will remain private, as the people posting in Recovery are often dealing with private issues. The forum to request administrator assistance in such matters as IP checks will also remain private.
- The aim and guiding principle of these reforms is to unite all Christians, rather than just some.
- Technological changes will be made as well. Expect error messages along the way!
The Wikis are used to formulate rules by first creating a new article in one of the Wiki sub-forums. At the bottom right of the article, buttons may be found which let you read the discussion on the Wiki topic, edit the Wiki article, or look at the history of the article. Wiki discussions may be subscribed to in the same manner as any regular thread.
Again any member of CF may create or edit a Wiki article; you do not need to join a team or fill out an application to get permission. However, there are some basic guidelines it is considered polite to follow when editing an article. Just try to keep in mind that there are many other people also working on the article, and that actions such as deleting everything and replacing it with what you want isn't the best way to go about this. The goal is for everyone affected by a set of rules to have a voice in setting them up, if they so desire. To that end, it is generally considered best to use the Wiki discussion to try and reach an agreement about any changes. It can be a slow process, but reaching a compromise people can live with before changing the Wiki can save a lot of frustration later on.
-What is a wiki? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
-In this sub-forum, all of the Wikis applying to the entire site may be found.
-The first discussion of the core site rules may be found here. This discussion was automatically locked when it reached 1,000 replies; here is where the current discussion may be found. The Wiki article where the core rules may be edited became separated from the discussion when the first one was locked; the article is currently found here.
-The Wiki sub-forums affecting only their areas may be found at these links:
Ecumenical Wiki
Theology Wiki
Ministry Wiki
Friendship Wiki
Recovery Wiki
Outreach Wiki
Debate Wiki
-Sub-forums that fall under these categories, such as the individual congregational sub-forums, may also have their own Wiki, if they wish. If a sub-forum you post in wants additional rules which will apply to your area and you don't yet have a Wiki, please do start one! As well, any faith group with significant representation may apply for their own congregational sub-forum, if they wish.
-Besides the core site rules, there are some side discussions going on about various issues such as
- What standards will there be for staff conduct outside of the forum, if any?
- How will controversial subjects such as homosexuality and abortion be handled in regards to avatars and signatures? http://www.christianforums.com/t5686...d-avatars.html
- How will the forums be arranged, including what groups will have congregational forums within the CHURCH section?
- How will the voting for staff should be handled? Should everyone have one vote or should it be weighted? Should there be some official way to restrict who can vote in each election, how should application threads be handled?
-Links to staff forums and report forums:
Staff Conference Room - Posting here is limited to staff only; the forum is intended for staff from all teams to discuss CF issues.
Support Team Discussion
Ecumenical Team Discussion
Theology Team Discussion
Ministry Team Discussion
Friendship Team Discussion
Recovery Team Discussion - Note that not all information on what happens in Recovery is public, to protect people dealing with sensitive issues.
Outreach Team Discussion
Debate Team Discussion
Support Reports
Ecumenical Reports
Theology Reports
Ministry Reports
Friendship Reports
Recovery Reports - are private, and thus not linked.
Outreach Reports
Debate Reports
Voting on Moderators:
After a member applies to become a moderator, their application may be found in the Moderator Applications sub-forum of the Team they applied for. The application becomes the first post in a new thread, where members may vote in a poll on their application, or ask the applicant questions.
You should only vote if the applicant becoming a moderator would actually affect you; for example, if someone applied for the Ecumenical Team and stated in their application that it was for the Non-denominational sub-forum only, you would only vote on the application if you were a regular poster there.
Support Applications
Ecumenical Applications
Theology Applications
Ministry Applications
Friendship Applications
Recovery Applications
Outreach Applications
Debate Applications
If you wish to apply for a moderation position yourself, you may do so by going here and filling out an application.
Please note that with the process for determining CF rules being what it is, the information provided may not remain accurate. We recommend you regularly check the CF rules link at the bottom of CF pages, and the Wikis for any subforums you regularly post in.
Contributors: Glass*Soul, sparklecat, RedTulipMoon, Lisa0315,
This wiki can be found in CF Support Christian Forums - General Wiki and is located at this url.
