For 7-week BTB groups & the alumni community (Slack, Zoom, group chats, Marco Polo, retreats)

Purpose of this Covenant:

To keep BTB a safe, focused, Christ-centered environment for all men.

Our Beliefs:

1. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Through Him we receive forgiveness and salvation.

2. The Bible is God’s inspired, authoritative word.

3.  Sex is designed by God for one biological man and one biological woman within marriage. Sexual activity outside this, in thought or action, is sin.

4. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, but you want to learn more about him and the Bible, you are welcome to join us. You’re agreeing to not offer alternative recovery strategies for non-religious guys or express disagreements about Jesus, sin, or the Bible in your group. Pastor Noah or your group leader can be available for a 1-on-1 conversation about things you disagree with or are struggling with regarding Christian faith, but the purpose of the group time and relationships is to seek the way of Jesus for our healing from sexual sin. It is okay to keep silent on questions where you have a disagreement. Our groups are for broken men whose own ways haven’t worked, are open to exploring the way of Jesus, and who know they are joining a group of men committed to the way of Jesus. (Fight The New Drug is a great non-religious resource against pornography, with Relay as their recovery groups for non-religious guys, and may be a better fit for you if you can’t abide by this covenant.)

Who We Are:

BTB is not a local church. We are an ecumenical brotherhood committed to:

-Freedom from sexual sin
-The freedom Jesus empowers us to live in

Unity & Boundaries:

1. No debating divisive church issues (e.g., women in leadership, spiritual gifts, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, etc.).

2. No political talk or mentions of politicians. Avoid political assumptions regarding other BTB men.

3. No sales pitches of your business or ministry (if monetized).

4. No asking BTB group members or staff for financial gifts or loans.

On Sexuality & Gender: (Read our full statement on gay / SSA BTB men here)

1. All men in BTB agree with God’s design for sex and marriage as outlined above.

2. Not all BTB men are straight, and all are to be treated with respect as they seek a safe place to find help, community, and freedom from unwanted sexual behavior in Jesus, just as straight men are.

3. No jokes, sarcasm, or commentary about LGBTQ+ topics or identities. This creates an unsafe space for those struggling in these areas.

4. No shirtless male photos in any BTB chats, even if it’s just a joke.

5. BTB is for biological men. If you are a biological woman who has transitioned or identifies as male, we lovingly refer you to https://www.centerforfaith.com/contact for support better suited to your journey.

Confidentiality & Sharing:

1. Maintain confidentiality (You as a group member agreeing to this BTB Covenant are agreeing to keep confidentiality, as all group members have agreed to. Your leader has also agreed to confidentiality, but may share certain things with Pastor Noah Filipiak for consultation and guidance. NOTE: Clergy are mandated reporters for abuse or exploitation of children and vulnerable adults, which includes child pornography. You also may have fellow group members who are mandated reporters based on their occupation. Please keep this in mind in how much detail you choose to share with the group in these areas.

2. Don’t share unnecessary or graphic details that may trigger another guy. This includes not sharing specifics like names of websites or TV shows where material was accessed, loopholes discovered in monitoring software, being overly descriptive about how someone looked (where a mental picture is involuntarily formed), and showing discretion about not presenting struggles in a way that may be appealing to someone else.

3. Do not share BTB guys’ phone numbers with anyone outside of BTB. Do not share numbers within BTB without permission. Do not start group texts without permission. Do not mix BTB guys with other guys (from your church, other men’s groups, etc.) on group texts.

Commitments for the 7-Week Group:

1. Use the provided 30-day free trials of Victory Shield (by Covenant Eyes) and Accountable2You

2. Complete readings and accountability cards weekly

3. Attend all 7 sessions

4. Log in 15 minutes early on Week 1

5. Confirm your time zone vs. Eastern Standard Time (USA)

6. No refunds, but fees may transfer to a future group if needed