{"id":90,"date":"2026-01-20T16:01:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.ministrycentral-europe.org\/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&#038;p=90"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:01:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:01:36","slug":"documentation-contribution-guide","status":"publish","type":"epkb_post_type_1","link":"https:\/\/help.ministrycentral-europe.org\/?epkb_post_type_1=documentation-contribution-guide","title":{"rendered":"Documentation Contribution Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>MinistryCentral Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>1. Purpose of This Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This guide explains <strong>how to contribute documentation safely and effectively<\/strong> to MinistryCentral Europe.<\/p>\n<p>It is written for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>General Contributors<\/li>\n<li>Subject-matter contributors<\/li>\n<li>Content Editors (as a refresher)<\/li>\n<li>Occasional helpers and reviewers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is <strong>not<\/strong> a technical or governance manual.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, it answers one core question:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHow can I help without breaking anything?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>2. How Documentation Is Structured (Quick Orientation)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>MinistryCentral Europe documentation exists across <strong>three layers<\/strong>, each with a specific role:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Idea &amp; Draft Layer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>(Word, Notion, email, notes)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Where ideas are formed<\/li>\n<li>Where drafts are created<\/li>\n<li>Safe place to write freely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>2. Review &amp; Preparation Layer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>(Notion)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Content is refined<\/li>\n<li>Structure and clarity are improved<\/li>\n<li>Nothing here is authoritative yet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>3. Canonical Publication Layer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>(Echo Knowledge Base \u2014 <a href=\"http:\/\/help.ministrycentral-europe.org\">help.ministrycentral-europe.org<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Single source of truth<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Official, approved documentation<\/li>\n<li>Referenced by the organization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p>\u2757 Publishing in Echo KB creates<\/p>\n<p><strong>canonical authority<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Notion alone does <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">not<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>3. Where Contributions Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Most contributions begin in one of these ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A Word document or Google Doc<\/li>\n<li>A Notion page or comment<\/li>\n<li>An email with content or ideas<\/li>\n<li>Notes from meetings or conversations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these are valid starting points.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You are not expected to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Publish directly to Echo KB<\/li>\n<li>Modify canonical documents<\/li>\n<li>Edit platform structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>4. What You May Change \u2014 and What You Must Not<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>You MAY:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Draft new content<\/li>\n<li>Improve clarity or wording in drafts<\/li>\n<li>Suggest corrections or additions<\/li>\n<li>Comment on existing documentation<\/li>\n<li>Propose new articles or sections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>You MUST NOT:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Edit canonical KB articles directly (unless authorized)<\/li>\n<li>Change structure, titles, or categories in Echo KB<\/li>\n<li>\u201cQuick-fix\u201d documentation without review<\/li>\n<li>Assume approval based on good intentions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p>Golden rule:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>If you\u2019re unsure whether you should change something \u2014\u00a0<strong>don\u2019t<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Escalate instead.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>5. Understanding Status: Draft \u2192 Canonical<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>All documentation follows a defined lifecycle:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Idea<\/strong> \u2013 suggestion or concept<\/li>\n<li><strong>Draft<\/strong> \u2013 written but not authoritative<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review<\/strong> \u2013 evaluated by editors or leads<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approved<\/strong> \u2013 cleared for publication<\/li>\n<li><strong>Canonical<\/strong> \u2013 officially published in Echo KB<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintenance<\/strong> \u2013 updates follow the same process<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Only <strong>Canonical<\/strong> documents are considered authoritative.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>6. What Happens After You Submit Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When you submit a contribution:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A Content Editor reviews it<\/li>\n<li>Feedback may be requested<\/li>\n<li>Approved content is prepared for KB<\/li>\n<li>Canonical publication occurs in Echo KB<\/li>\n<li>Updates are tracked for future maintenance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You may or may not see your wording used verbatim \u2014 clarity and consistency take priority.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>7. Common Mistakes to Avoid<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\u274c Editing \u201cjust a small thing\u201d in the KB<\/li>\n<li>\u274c Assuming Notion equals publication<\/li>\n<li>\u274c Making structural changes without review<\/li>\n<li>\u274c Skipping the status lifecycle<\/li>\n<li>\u274c Bypassing editors to \u201csave time\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These mistakes create <strong>silent inconsistency<\/strong>, which is far more costly than delay.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>8. When to Escalate<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Please escalate rather than act directly if your contribution involves:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Governance or authority statements<\/li>\n<li>Structural changes to documentation<\/li>\n<li>Platform or tool instructions<\/li>\n<li>Canonical definitions<\/li>\n<li>Policies or official positions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Escalation is a <strong>feature<\/strong>, not a failure.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>9. Acknowledgement &amp; Completion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Once you have read and understood this guide:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 Please acknowledge completion using the link provided in your onboarding checklist.<\/p>\n<p>This helps ensure shared understanding and protects the integrity of the system.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Final Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>MinistryCentral Europe values <strong>helpful contribution<\/strong>, but it values <strong>clarity and consistency<\/strong> even more.<\/p>\n<p>This guide exists so that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contributors feel safe helping<\/li>\n<li>Editors can move quickly<\/li>\n<li>Canonical documentation remains trustworthy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thank you for contributing thoughtfully.<\/p>\n<p><!-- notionvc: fef1ce53-6e62-486b-9cff-c73d79d9e092 --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MinistryCentral Europe 1. Purpose of This Guide This guide explains how to contribute documentation safely and effectively to MinistryCentral Europe. 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