Subject: COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND TECHNOLOGY

Date Adopted: May 2006

Revised:

Policy: To better serve our members and attendees and provide our employees and officers with
the best tools to do their jobs, REPC makes available to our staff access to one or more
forms of electronic media and services, including computers, e-mail, online services,
network resources, Internet and the World Wide Web.

REPC encourages the use of these media and associated services because they can make
communication more efficient and effective and because they are valuable sources of
information about members and attendees, vendors, technology, and new products and
services. However, all employees and everyone connected with the organization should
remember that electronic media and services provided by the church are church property
and their purpose is to facilitate and support church ministry/business. All computer users
have the responsibility to use these resources in a professional, ethical, and lawful
manner.

To ensure that all users of these services are responsible, the following guidelines have
been established. No policy can lay down rules to cover every possible situation. Instead,
it is designed to set forth general principles when using electronic media and services.

Guidelines:

AUTHORIZED USERS OF REPC COMPUTER AND NETWORK SYSTEMS

Due to the sensitive material contained on the church network, only staff members of REPC are permitted
to use computers owned by or connected to the network of REPC. No one else is permitted to gain access
to a computer or the network of REPC in any way unless specific permission is granted by the church
business administrator. This policy also applies to laptops and other portable computers owned by REPC
being used inside or outside of the church facilities.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES

Users are responsible for adhering to the following guidelines:

1. Inappropriate Activities: Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any computer
system. This includes logging onto the system through another user’s account or accessing anyone
else’s files. Users will not intentionally attempt to disrupt or destroy data by spreading computer
viruses or by any other means. Electronic media cannot be used for knowingly transmitting,
retrieving, or storing any communication that is: discriminatory or harassing; derogatory to any
individual or group; obscene, sexually explicit or pornographic; defamatory or threatening; or
engaged in for any purpose that is illegal or contrary to REPC’s policy or ministry/business
interests. These restrictions apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on
web pages.

2. System Security: Users will take all reasonable measures and precautions to prevent others from
using their accounts. Users will not disclose their passwords. Users should inform the church
business administrator of any possible security violations. Users will follow computer virus
protection procedures and Windows Update procedures when prompted.

3. Respect for Privacy: Users will not forward messages sent that are private or confidential without
the permission of the author.
 4. Respect for Resource Limits: Unused or unwanted files should be deleted on a regular basis. Such
files include those located on the network server, e-mail, and individual hard drives.

5. Electronic Communications: Use of any electronic communication, including but not limited to
email, instant messaging, and mailing lists, will be professional and appropriate. Staff members
are responsible for church information sent by email and should check their email daily. Electronic
media and services should not be used in a manner that is likely to cause network congestion or
significantly hamper the ability of other people to access and use the system. Users should
remember that any messages or information sent on church-provided facilities to one or more
individuals via an electronic network—for example, e-mail, online message boards, and other
online services—are statements identifiable and attributable to Rivermont Evangelical
Presbyterian Church.

6. Personal Use: The computers, electronic media, and services provided by REPC are primarily for
ministry/business use to assist employees in the performance of their jobs. Limited, occasional, or
incidental use of electronic media (sending or receiving) for personal, non-business / non-ministry
purposes is understandable and acceptable, and all such use should be done in a manner that does
not negatively affect the systems' use for their ministry/business purposes. However, employees
are expected to demonstrate a sense of responsibility and not abuse this privilege.

7. Software: Only software registered through the church business administrator may be downloaded
or installed. Unauthorized downloading or installing of any unauthorized software to church
computers or servers is strictly prohibited, primarily to prevent computer viruses from being
transmitted through the church's computer system.

Employees should install automatic Windows updates to their PCs when prompted by the PC. Not
installing these updates can cause problems from using outdated software. However, employees
should not personally update their virus protection software; this updating is done periodically by
the system administrator to the entire network. Employees should contact the church business
administrator if they have any questions about software.

ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS

Generally, electronic information created and/or communicated by an employee using e-mail, word
processing, utility programs, spreadsheets, Internet and message board system access, and similar
electronic media is not reviewed by the church. However, REPC reserves the right, at its discretion, to
review any user's electronic files and messages stored on or sent from church computers and servers to the
extent necessary to ensure electronic media and services are being used in compliance with the law, this
policy, and other church policies. Employees must respect the confidentiality of other individuals'
electronic communications.

ACCESS TO PORTABLE TECHNOLOGY

Those wishing to use portable technology (video projectors, laptops, etc.) should contact the ministry
assistant to check out such equipment. Specific guidelines for each piece of equipment can be found in the
case of the particular machine. First time users will be instructed in how the machine works and should
review all applicable operating procedures before using the machine.