Effective June 6, 2025

Welcome to the Black Christian Influencers (BCI) Community – a space built on kingdom excellence where faith-driven professionals connect, learn, and lift each other up. These guidelines explain how we expect our members to interact in this community, which functions with friendliness and professionalism. Our tone is forward-thinking, spiritually-minded, and empowering – with a sprinkle of light humor – all while reflecting integrity, excellence, and respect in every interaction. We invite you to bring your best self here (we call that kingdom excellence: bringing our best for God and each other as we grow together in skill and spiritual maturity.

Community Intent and Purpose

Why We’re Here: The BCI Community exists to serve Black Christian content creators, leaders, and professionals by providing a supportive network for networking, professional development, and genuine community building. It’s a place to grow & connect in both skill and spiritual maturity. Think of this as your virtual fellowship hall mixed with a professional conference – a hub where you can swap ideas on content creation, discuss industry challenges, celebrate wins, and collaborate on kingdom-minded projects.

Kingdom Excellence and Purpose-Driven Networking: Our driving ethos is kingdom excellence, meaning we strive to do everything in a way that honors God and uplifts each other. “Good enough” isn’t our style – we bring our best to this community, just as we would in service or ministry. Every post, comment, and interaction should align with our purpose: to empower one another through faith and professionalism. Whether you’re here to find mentorship, partner on projects, or just be inspired, remember that edification is the goal. We want this community to be an incubator for growth – both personally (in character and faith) and professionally (in your craft and influence).

A Diverse, Faith-Conscious Professional Network: Our members come from different backgrounds, denominations, and industries, united by a common identity as Black Christians (and our allies) making a positive impact. We cherish this diversity. Be open-minded and welcoming to those with different ideas or experience levels. If your seasoned in the game, help the newcomers; newcomers, don’t be afraid to ask questions. We’re all here to learn from each other. In short, this community is intentionally designed to be a safe, uplifting, and productive environment for trailblazing believers to thrive together.

Respectful Conduct and Harassment Policy

Love Thy Neighbor – Online: Every member of BCI’s community is expected to treat others with respect, courtesy, and the love we’re called to show our neighbors (in a professional tone, of course). In practice, that means zero tolerance for insults, hate, or harassment. We know disagreements happen – and that’s okay – but keep it constructive and kind. Critique content or ideas if you must, never the person. Christlike character isn’t just for Sunday; it’s for our online interactions too.

  • No Harassment or Bullying: Bullying, personal attacks, or intimidation tactics are not welcome here. Hate, discrimination, racism, harassment (including unwanted romantic advances) or bullying have no place in this community. This applies to content you post and how you communicate in comments or messages.
  • No Hate Speech or Discrimination: Content that promotes hate or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability is strictly prohibited. As Black Christian Influencers, many of us know the sting of discrimination; we absolutely will not tolerate prejudiced language or bigotry of any kind. This includes slurs, stereotypes, or any derogatory remarks. Uplift and affirm one another. Diversity is our strength here.
  • Be Courteous and Constructive: Always aim to engage in respectful, courteous communication. No name-calling, no belittling. If someone asks for feedback on a video or idea, respond with helpful suggestions, not harsh criticism. Constructive criticism is welcome (we grow by refinement), but it must be offered with kindness and an aim to help, not hurt.
  • No Trolling, Flaming, or Excessive Debating: This community is not the place for endless arguments, trolling comments, or gotcha-style debate. Healthy discussion = yes. Personal flame wars = no. If a conversation becomes heated, keep calm, and keep it Christlike. Sometimes the best response is to disengage or agree to disagree.

Privacy and Content Ownership

Safe Space & Privacy: This community should be a safe space for professionals to share ideas, struggles, and victories. Respect the privacy of others. Do not share someone else’s personal information (testimonies, contact info, sensitive stories, etc.) without their consent. What’s shared in the community stays in the community, unless you’ve been given permission to share it elsewhere.

  • Your Personal Data: Protect your own privacy too. Don’t post phone numbers, home addresses, financial info, or other highly sensitive personal data in public posts. If you need to exchange contact info for a collaboration, do it cautiously (perhaps via private message or a moderated process). Be aware that while this platform is for members only, it’s still online – so use wisdom in what you share about yourself.
  • Content Ownership: You own the content you create and share here, but by posting it in the community you’re giving permission for it to be viewed by other members (that’s the point, after all!). We do not claim ownership of your ideas, and if we ever highlight a member post (say, in a newsletter or “member spotlight”), we’ll credit you. Likewise, don’t steal or plagiarize others’ content. If someone shares a great tip or a graphic they designed, that doesn’t mean it’s free for you to repost publicly without permission. When sharing information or content from other sources, always credit the original source.
  • No Unauthorized Sharing: Do not take screenshots of community discussions and blast them on social media. Members should feel confident that what they post here (questions, struggles, early ideas) won’t end up public without context. If you want to celebrate something you learned from the community publicly, ask the original poster if it’s okay first. In short, honor confidentiality and the trust we’re building with one another.
  • Legal Compliance: We also require that you adhere to privacy, copyright, and other applicable laws when sharing content. Don’t upload materials you have no right to use (e.g., someone else’s paid course videos or music you don’t have rights to). Respect all applicable laws as you would in any professional setting. If it’s illegal outside, it’s illegal here too.

Professional and Ethical Standards

As a community of professionals and believers, we hold ourselves to high standards. In other words, we strive to be above reproach in all we do. Here’s how that plays out in our community:

  • Integrity and Honesty: Be truthful in your posts and interactions. Use your real identity and accurate information in your profile – no catfishing or impostor syndrome here! Present who you are and what you do honestly. If you say you have experience in something, it should be true. We do not allow fake profiles or misinformation. Authenticity builds trust; deception destroys it. Also, keep your promises: if you commit to help someone or join a project, follow through as best you can, or communicate if plans change. Our yes should mean yes.
  • Follow the Law (and Moral Ethics): This network isn’t a lawless corner of the internet. Do not use the community to engage in or promote illegal activities. This includes seemingly obvious things (no illicit drug deals or fraud schemes, please!) and content piracy. For example, no sharing of pirated software, cracked e-books, or asking for answers to someone else’s paid course (that’s equivalent to piracy and theft, and it’s not ethical or legal). Also, no incitement of violence or any criminal behavior. We’re pretty sure this won’t ever be an issue with this group, but it has to be said. Bottom line: keep it legal, keep it ethical.
  • No Profanity or Obscenity: We’re adults and professionals, and we’re also representing Christ. Avoid profanity and crude language – it just doesn’t align with our tone of kingdom excellence. We’re not saying you have to sound like a choirboy or church mother at all times, but do choose words that uplift. Similarly, no explicit sexual content, pornography, or NSFW material is allowed here. Content that is overly graphic or violent is also inappropriate. If it wouldn’t be shown in a Sunday service or a corporate meeting, it probably doesn’t belong in our community feed either. Keep the content clean, edifying, and professional.
  • Be Professional and On-Topic: This community focuses on faith-driven professional development, networking, and encouragement. Please keep your content relevant to those areas. We love humor and personal stories, but ensure they tie back to our purpose. Content should remain professionally relevant and on topic – like sharing expertise, seeking career advice, discussing faith-in-action in your field – and not veer into the explicit, shocking, or purely inflammatory. In short, post things that add value to others in the community or spark worthwhile discussions.
  • Excellence and Accountability: In all your postings and dealings here, strive for excellence. That might mean double-checking your facts before sharing advice, proofreading your post for clarity, or making sure what you share reflects positively on you. Also, be accountable – if you mess up or say something that doesn’t land well, be quick to apologize and make it right. We’re all growing.

Appropriate Self-Promotion and Collaboration

We understand many of you are here to network and promote your work or ministry – that’s great! This community is about amplifying each other’s voices. But there’s a right and a not-so-right way to self-promote. We want to see you shine and keep the community valuable for everyone.

DO: Share your wins, projects, and offerings when relevant and valuable. We love to celebrate with you! Post about your new book, podcast episode, blog, or event in a way that invites others in. For example, you might share a quick lesson you learned while creating your content, ask a question to engage others, or explain how your resource can help fellow members. Feel free to ask for support or feedback – e.g., “I just launched my YouTube channel on gospel music tips; I’d appreciate any feedback or support from this community!” That’s welcome because it’s genuine and relational.

DON’T: Spam the feed with constant ads or excessive self-promotion. If every post you make is “Me, me, me” or “Buy my product now!”, people will tune you out – and moderators may remove the posts. No one likes a nonstop commercial. A good guideline: for every self-promotional post, aim to engage with or uplift others in several non-promotional posts. (Some call it the 80/20 rule – about 80% giving value and interacting, 20% or less showcasing your own stuff.) This shows you’re here for the community, not just free advertising space.

  • No Dumping Links without Context: Don’t drop a link and say “check this out” with no explanation. If you share a link, provide context or a question for discussion. Make it clear why you think it’s worth everyone’s time. A post should not be just an advertisement; it should contribute something (knowledge, inspiration, opportunity) to the group.
  • Frequency & Timing: Be mindful of how often you’re self-promoting. It’s fine to be excited about your work, but posting about your business five times a day is too much. If you have multiple things to share, pace yourself. Quality over quantity. Members who primarily post self-promotion without engaging otherwise may find those posts moderated or removed – remember, excessive promotional spam is prohibited. On the other hand, if you’re an active, helpful member of the community, a little leeway is given for you to occasionally toot your own horn, because people know you’ve earned their trust. (In other words, bring value to get value.)
  • Self-Promo with Integrity: Only promote things you genuinely stand behind. Don’t hawk products or services of questionable integrity. Scams, get-rich-quick schemes, or misleading affiliate links are not allowed. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable mentioning it from the church pulpit or at a professional conference, don’t push it here. Also, be transparent: if you’re sharing something that financially benefits you (like an affiliate link or your own product), it’s good etiquette to mention that. Honesty builds credibility.
  • Collaboration and Solicitation: We encourage collaboration! Looking for a partner on a project? Need a guest speaker or want to be one? Go ahead and post such opportunities – just ensure it’s collaborative, not purely self-serving. Don’t cold-message every member begging for follows or business. Unsolicited DMs that come off as sales pitches or recruitment for MLMs will be frowned upon (and if reported, could be considered spam). Build relationships first. If you want to approach someone for a collab, consider engaging with their content publicly before sliding into the DMs. And respect a “no” if you get one – no pressure tactics.
  • Designated Promo Opportunities: We may introduce specific threads or times for promotion (for example, a monthly “Share Your Project” post). If and when those exist, please use them! They help keep the main feed balanced. Outside those, you can still share, just follow the guidelines above. Moderators might gently remind or redirect posts to a promo thread if needed. This is all about keeping the feed useful and not turning into an ad bulletin board.

Posting Etiquette and Moderation

Posting Etiquette: To keep our community feed valuable and enjoyable, please follow these etiquette tips when creating posts or comments:

  • Stay On-Topic & Add Value: Ensure your posts and discussions are relevant to the community’s purpose. Before you post, ask: “Does this help someone here? Does it spark a worthwhile conversation related to faith, influence, or professional growth?” If not, reconsider or tweak your post. Off-topic posts may be removed. Likewise, one-word or one-emoji posts that don’t contribute meaningfully might get little engagement or be moderated. Aim to educate, encourage, or engage with each post. Sharing a personal story or asking a thoughtful question is a great way to engage others. Posting a random meme with no context… not so much.
  • Tone and Formatting: Write in a clear, respectful tone. It’s fine to be casual and warm (we’re not writing academic papers here), but remember this is a professional community. Avoid SHOUTING IN ALL CAPS (nobody likes being yelled at). Humor is welcome – even a little clever wit – just keep it clean and in good taste. Sarcasm can be easily misunderstood online, so use it carefully. And obviously, no profanity or vulgar expressions, as mentioned earlier. If you’re discussing a potentially sensitive topic (e.g., racial issues, denominational differences, etc.), do so with extra tact and love, focusing on solutions or understanding rather than venting.
  • No Flooding/Frequent Reposts: Give others a chance to post and be heard. Don’t flood the community with multiple posts in a row on the same day, especially if they’re not time-sensitive. It’s better to have one well-thought-out post than five quick ones. Duplicate posts (accidentally double-posting or purposely posting the same content in multiple groups) will be removed. Also, if you already posted something and it didn’t get a response, don’t immediately post it again. Patience, grasshopper!
  • Use Appropriate Channels: If our community platform has categories, groups, or topics, try to post in the right place. For instance, if there’s a dedicated forum or group for “Tech Questions” or “Prayer Requests,” use that rather than the general feed. This helps keep content organized and reachable to those interested. If unsure, tag a mod or just post in general and we’ll help guide it.
  • Visuals and Media: We love seeing your photos, graphics, or videos – it makes the community vibrant. Just ensure any media you share follows all the content rules (no NSFW, hateful, or plagiarized content). Also, if you post a video, consider adding a quick description or timestamp for context. For long text posts, feel free to use formatting (headings, bullet points, etc.) to make it easier to read – just like we’re doing here.

Moderation & Reporting: Our aim is to cultivate a healthy community, not to police unnecessarily. However, we do have a moderation team (including BCI staff and/or trained volunteers) to ensure these guidelines are upheld. Here’s what to know:

  • Community Moderators: Moderators have the authority to remove content or comments that violate these guidelines, and to address behavior issues.
  • Reporting Problems: Every member plays a part in moderation by reporting any content or behavior that violates the community guidelines.
  • Conflict Resolution: If there’s a conflict between members (say, a heated argument), moderators might intervene by freezing comments on a thread, mediating behind the scenes, or in some cases, temporarily muting those involved to cool off. We will try to give gentle reminders to follow the guidelines, but if those are ignored, we’ll escalate our response.
  • No Public Shaming: To maintain a positive atmosphere, we don’t allow public shaming or call-outs for guideline violations. If you see something wrong, report it rather than publicly scolding the person. Likewise, if a post disappears or a member is removed, please avoid gossip or speculation. Trust that the moderation team is handling it.

Let’s all commit to keeping this community safe, trusted, and professional. Our vision is that every member feels empowered to share, knowing they will be treated with respect and their contributions valued. By following these guidelines, you’re helping build a thriving network that truly embodies “kingdom excellence” – shining brightly in both our faith and our work.

Thank you for being a part of Black Christian Influencers Community. We can’t wait to see the amazing connections, growth, and collaborations that come out of this space. Now, let’s engage, empower, and excel – together!