BTB Covenant for In-Person Retreats

Brotherhood • Freedom • Christ-Centered

 

Purpose

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

 

Our Beliefs

  • Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Through Him, we receive forgiveness and salvation.
  • The Bible is God’s inspired, authoritative Word.
  • 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.
  • If you are not yet a follower of Jesus but are open to Him and the Bible, you are welcome to join us—as long as you respect and do not openly oppose BTB’s core beliefs.

 
 

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

To protect unity, we ask all participants to agree to the following:

  • No debating divisive church issues (e.g., women in leadership, spiritual gifts, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, etc.)
  • No political talk or mentions of politicians. Avoid political assumptions about other BTB men.
  • No sales pitches for your business or monetized ministry.
  • Be respectful of all men, including those who are gay or same-sex attracted (SSA). No jokes about homosexuality or gender. No nudity. [Click here to read our full statement on gay/SSA BTB men.]

 

 

Retreat Commitments:

 

Confidentiality & Sharing

By agreeing to this covenant, you’re agreeing to keep things confidential—just as every other participant and facilitator has agreed to do.

 Important Note: Clergy are mandated reporters for abuse or exploitation of children and vulnerable adults, which includes child pornography. Some group members may also be mandated reporters based on their jobs. Keep that in mind when deciding what level of detail to share in those areas.


Don’t share unnecessary or graphic details that may trigger another guy. This includes not sharing specifics like websites or TV shows where material was accessed or 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.

 

Retreat Expectations

  • Arrive at the designated start time and stay until the designated end time.
  • Be present and engaged with the guys at the retreat. Limit phone or computer use. Try to do any work before or after the retreat.
  • Participate in all group programming sessions. 
  • Participation in organized group activities like hiking or hanging out at the beach is expected unless you have medical/physical ailments or disabilities that would prevent your ability to participate. Please let us know in advance about any medical needs so we can plan group activities that work for you. 

  • Free time can be used for rest, one-on-one or small group conversations, or a quick check-in with loved ones. You must stay on-site unless you’re going out with other retreat attendees (i.e. on a needed errand or approved group activity). Solo trips to see local sites or friends must be done before or after the designated start and end time of the retreat. 
  • Respect the property and grounds. In many cases, the retreat space is a temporary rental—or even the personal home of a BTB alum. Please follow any rules of the property.

 

Personal Conduct

  • Do not overconsume alcohol. Some retreats allow alcohol, some don’t—this is based on the intake survey of attendees. Be respectful and supportive if you’re on a non-alcohol retreat.
  • Do not use swear words or use the Lord’s name in vain.
  • If you use tobacco, be mindful of the other participants.
  • No illicit or illegal drugs.
  • Be respectful of others. Follow social cues and make sure your behavior is making space for everyone to feel safe and included.

 

Refund Policy

No refunds. If you are unable to attend, your registration fee will go toward our retreat scholarship fund.