Carriers of the Cross exists to provide a fun, safe Christian community for World of Warcraft players that glorifies Christ. Everyone is welcome here, Christian or not, but everyone who joins our community is expected to respect its Christian identity and follow these standards.
1. Keep It Clean & Family-Friendly
CotC is a place where families should be comfortable playing together.
Keep language and conversation roughly PG-rated. Avoid profanity, sexual or explicit content, crude humor, and other conversation that would be inappropriate around children.
As a Christian community, we also ask members not to use God's name casually or in vain. This includes expressions such as "OMG," whether written as the acronym or said aloud.
We're not interested in maintaining a giant list of forbidden words or policing every questionable expression. Use good judgment and respect the environment we're trying to create.
2. Treat Others With Respect
Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
No harassment, bullying, personal attacks, name-calling, discrimination, or deliberately inflammatory behavior. Friendly teasing and joking are part of being friends; tearing someone down isn't.
Disagreements are fine. Disrespect isn't.
3. Respect the Christian Nature of CotC
Carriers of the Cross is explicitly a Christian community.
Conversations about God, Scripture, church, prayer, theology, and what we're learning are welcome and encouraged. Members should never feel that they need to hide their faith here because it might offend someone.
You do not have to be a Christian to participate in CotC. Questions and respectful disagreement are welcome. Mocking Christianity, disrupting Christian conversations, or demanding that members keep their faith to themselves is not.
4. Sexuality, Relationships & Biblical Convictions
Carriers of the Cross welcomes people from many different backgrounds, including people whose beliefs, relationships, identities, or lives do not align with everything we believe. You do not have to have your life figured out—or agree with us on every issue—to be welcomed, treated with dignity, and cared for here.
At the same time, CotC is a Christian community, and we hold to the historic Christian understanding that sexual intimacy belongs within marriage between a man and a woman. We believe Scripture gives these boundaries for our good, and our community standards will reflect that conviction.
Because CotC is also intended to be a family-friendly gaming community rather than a forum for sexual or cultural debates, we ask members not to promote, celebrate, or advocate sexual relationships or practices outside those boundaries within guild spaces. This includes pornography and sexually explicit material, as well as advocacy surrounding sexual orientation or gender identity. The same standard applies to heterosexual sexual behavior outside of marriage.
This is not permission to mistreat people who disagree with us. Mockery, insults, harassment, or treating someone as less worthy of dignity because of their sexuality, identity, relationships, or beliefs is contrary to the kind of community we are trying to build.
People are welcome here. Not every idea or behavior has to be affirmed in order for a person to be loved and treated with respect.
Questions about what CotC believes are welcome in an appropriate setting, but extended debates over these standards should not take over guild chat or other community spaces.
5. Keep Theological Discussions Gracious
Christians disagree about plenty of secondary issues. That's okay.
Our core beliefs are defined in our Statement of Faith. Beyond those beliefs, members are welcome to discuss and disagree about theology without treating their personal denomination, tradition, or theological system as the official position of CotC.
When a theological conversation becomes lengthy or turns into a debate, please move it to the #faith-and-bible channel in Discord rather than continuing it in-game or taking over general guild conversation.
Discuss ideas vigorously if you'd like. Treat the person on the other side as a brother, sister, or neighbor.
6. Keep Guild Chat Welcoming
Guild chat exists primarily for fellowship and enjoying the game together.
Christian conversation is welcome everywhere, but extended debates—religious, political, or otherwise—should move to an appropriate Discord channel or private conversation.
Remember that when you're speaking in guild chat, you're helping establish the atmosphere of CotC for everyone who's online.
7. Represent CotC Well
When you wear the <Carriers of the Cross> name, other players will associate your behavior with our guild—and, fairly or unfairly, with the Christian faith we publicly represent.
Don't troll, grief, cheat, scam, harass other players, intentionally disrupt groups, or behave in ways that bring dishonor to the guild or to Christ.
Be the kind of player people are glad to encounter.
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
— Matthew 5:16
8. Respect Privacy
What someone shares in confidence—particularly prayer requests, personal struggles, or private conversations—should be treated with discretion.
Don't repost private conversations, screenshots, prayer requests, or personal information outside the community without permission.
9. Listen to Guild Leadership
Officers are responsible for protecting the community and its culture. If an Officer asks you to stop a conversation, move it elsewhere, or change your behavior, please respect that request.
We aren't looking for reasons to punish people. Mistakes happen, misunderstandings happen, and context matters. Leadership will use discretion when addressing problems.
At the same time, serious misconduct or an ongoing unwillingness to respect the community may result in removal from Carriers of the Cross.
The heart behind all of these rules is pretty simple:
Love God. Love people. Have fun. Represent Christ well.
"Let all that you do be done in love."
— 1 Corinthians 16:14