Associate Vow

Urban Sanctuary Associates will:

1. Go on a personal retreat each year for at least 5 days (either 2 two and a half day retreats or one 5 day retreat, or any similar combination of two retreats adding up to 5 days).
2. Attend one weekend retreat with The Urban Sanctuary Team (for the purpose of spiritual enrichment, affirming the Associate Vow, team building and planning for the coming year.)
3. Choose one day to spend in prayer for The Urban Sanctuary when his or her turn comes. If there are 10 associates on the team then the associate will take a turn once every 10 weeks. The associate will report on the things God revealed during the day of prayer at the next time of Sanctuary Worship.
4. Attend monthly Information/Contemplative worship times at The Urban Sanctuary. (A short check-in time, simple meal, and a time of reflective worship.) Each team associate (or group) will take a turn in leading this time. Associates who have engaged in a day of prayer will report on the things God revealed to them during that time. The worship time/day will be determined by the Team each year.
5. Participate in at least two fun events each year designed for team building.
6. Meet with a spiritual director at least bi-monthly (once every 2 months) and follow an acceptable rule of life.
7. Participate in the work of the team in Urban Sanctuary events on a regular basis. (The minimum involvement will be to volunteer at the Annual Conference and significant involvement in some other area -- spiritual direction, Urban Institute, cleaning, hosting, providing retreats, etc.)
8. Keep short accounts with other associates of the team so that no conflict will be unaddressed longer than 14 days.

The Sanctuary will:

1. Provide personal retreat space at no charge for the team to fulfill their retreat requirements. Any staff member of the Urban Sanctuary will be given paid time to retreat for one week of the year.  The amount of payment will be equal to their average weekly hours.
2. Provide names of spiritual directors that an associate can resource for their personal spiritual direction.
3. Provide various team building fun events each year.
4. Provide information/worship opportunities at the Sanctuary on a regular basis.
5. Provide conflict management if needed so that the team will be able to work in harmony.

Discipline of Associates by the Leadership Team:

1. Any complaint between individuals will be exhorted to follow Matt 5 and Matt 18 procedures to quickly sort out issues.
2. Issues that cannot be sorted out in a face to face meeting will be passed to another team associate to mediate.
3. If the issue is not able to be sorted out then the Leadership Team will be asked to become involved.
4. If the Leadership is unable to resolve issues then the whole Team will be asked to come together to take action.