Words of Plainness is a space where seekers and saints find common ground. That means people arrive here from very different places—different faith traditions, different levels of conviction, different wounds, different questions. Some are lifelong disciples. Some are skeptics trying to be honest with themselves. Most are somewhere in between.
What makes this community work is not agreement. It is the commitment to treat every person with the dignity that is theirs as a child of God—regardless of where they are in their journey.
These guidelines apply everywhere we gather: on this website, in our Discord server, and in any community space associated with this ministry. They are not aspirational suggestions. They are the terms of participation.
“Where Seekers and Saints Find Common Ground”—that is our tagline and our commitment. Common ground requires that everyone be safe on it.
The Theological Foundation of This Community
This community exists because Christ’s reach is boundless. The writer of Hebrews declared that He is “able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” — to the uttermost — which leaves no room for the assumption that any honest seeker is beyond His grace or outside the scope of this ministry (Hebrews 7:25). Paul confirmed the same truth in language that crossed every boundary of his world: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NIV). And God said it plainly to Peter: “God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34–35).
These are not aspirational statements. They are the doctrinal ground on which every decision in this community is made — including the decision to remove someone from it.
The corollary is equally plain. If Christ receives all who come to Him, then any person who appoints themselves a guardian of His grace — who excludes, condemns, or intimidates another seeker — has set themselves against the very purpose of this ministry. The Spirit of Christ does not coexist with the spirit of contention: “He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention” (3 Nephi 11:29). “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (2 Timothy 2:24).
When someone persists in divisive behavior after clear correction, scripture is equally direct: “A man that is an heretic — factious, divisive — after the first and second admonition reject. Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself” (Titus 3:10–11).
This is not a punitive policy. It is a pastoral one. The community cannot be a safe place for the seeker if it is also a platform for those determined to drive seekers away. The guidelines below are the practical expression of these convictions. They are enforced with that foundation in view — not to protect the institution, but to protect the people inside it.
The Guidelines
1. Respectful Dialogue
You may disagree with an idea. You may not hold a person in contempt for holding it. Critique arguments. Ask hard questions. Challenge assumptions. Do not mock, demean, or dismiss the person making them.
This applies equally to theological disagreement, personal testimony, doubt, and questions that are still being worked out. Honesty and respect are not opposites—they are what good conversation requires of both.
2. Honest Questions Are Welcome
Doubt is not disqualifying. Seeking is not a sign of weakness. If you are not sure what you believe, you are in the right place. Ask your real questions. You do not need to perform certainty you do not have.
At the same time, honesty runs in both directions. If you are here to argue in bad faith—to score points rather than to understand—this is not the space for that.
3. No Harassment, Threats, or Personal Attacks
This is an absolute line. There are no circumstances under which harassment, threats, intimidation, or sustained personal attacks are acceptable—toward any person, for any reason. This includes:
- Targeted harassment of individuals in any channel or thread
- Threats of any kind—explicit or implied
- Coordinated pressure campaigns against a member
- Content designed to humiliate rather than engage
Violations of this guideline are handled immediately.
4. No Harmful Content
The following content is never permitted in any community space:
- Sexual content of any kind
- Hate speech targeting any group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin
- Content that exploits, demeans, or endangers vulnerable people—including any content involving minors in an inappropriate context
- Graphic violence or content intended to disturb or frighten
- Spam, scams, or unsolicited promotion
5. Protect Privacy
Do not share another person's private information without their explicit consent. This includes contact details, personal disclosures shared in confidence, or identifying information about someone who has not chosen to identify themselves.
If someone shares something vulnerable in this community, treat it with the care it deserves. It was offered in trust.
6. Stay on Topic in Chapter Channels
Each chapter of Words of Plainness has its own dedicated discussion channel in Discord. Keep conversation in those channels focused on the chapter—the ideas, the scriptures, the questions it raises. General conversation belongs in #general. Questions for Brother Aaron belong in #ask-brother-aaron.
How Moderation Works
All community content—witness submissions on the website, shared reflections, and Discord messages—is subject to review. Here is how that works, plainly:
What Gets Reviewed
Content submitted for public display on the website (such as community witness entries) passes through a moderation review before becoming visible. It is evaluated for content safety, theological alignment with the ministry's commitments, and pastoral sensitivity. Content that does not meet those criteria is declined; the author is notified using plain, respectful language.
What Happens When You Report Something
When a concern is reported—whether on the website or in Discord—the following happens:
- The reported content is immediately hidden from public view pending review.
- Your report is reviewed by Brother Aaron personally. Serious concerns are treated as urgent and addressed without delay.
- Your identity as a reporter is never disclosed to the person you reported. This is a hard policy with no exceptions.
- You receive an acknowledgment of your report. For urgent matters, that acknowledgment comes quickly.
Crisis Situations
If a report involves immediate danger—to the person reporting, to a third party, or to anyone mentioned in the content—it is treated as a critical-priority matter and escalated immediately. If you are in crisis right now, please reach out to appropriate emergency or crisis resources. This community cares about you, but it is not a substitute for professional crisis support.
Consequences
Violations of these guidelines are handled with proportionality and clarity. The progression below reflects the biblical standard of first and second admonition before rejection (Titus 3:10–11):
- First offense: Direct correction from Brother Aaron with plain explanation of the violation.
- Second offense: Final admonition. The person is informed that further violation results in removal.
- Persistent or severe violation: Removal from all community spaces. Re-entry is not automatic. Reinstatement requires a direct appeal to Brother Aaron demonstrating a genuine shift in posture and a commitment to the standard of conduct this community upholds.
Decisions involving permanent removal are made by Brother Aaron. There is no appeal beyond that.
How to Report a Concern
If you encounter something on the website or in our Discord server that violates these guidelines, or if you are concerned about someone's safety, please report it. You are never bothering anyone by reporting. This is exactly what the reporting system is for.
On the Website
Every piece of community content on the website includes a Report a Concern link. You can also use the Safety & Support page at any time.
Go to Safety & Support →In Discord
Use the #report-a-concern channel in the Discord server, or send a direct message to Brother Aaron. You can also use the website's Safety & Support page to report Discord-related concerns.
Go to Discord →You may also contact Brother Aaron directly for any concern you would prefer to raise privately.
A Word from Brother Aaron
I am a shepherd, not a gatekeeper. My goal is not to police this community but to protect it—so that the people who most need a safe space to ask their honest questions can find one here.
These guidelines exist because I take seriously the responsibility of opening this door. Everyone who walks through it deserves to be treated with dignity. That includes the lifelong saint, the recent convert, the skeptic, the wounded, the questioning, and the person who is not sure why they came but felt something pull them here. The theological foundation of this community is not decoration. It is the reason these rules exist and the authority by which they are enforced.
If you ever have a question about these guidelines, or want to raise something you are not sure how to categorize, my contact form is always open.
Community Safety & Moderation Protocol v1.1 — Aaron Powner Publishing — March 2026. These guidelines are reviewed quarterly and updated as the community grows.