ARC Community Life

ARC Community Covenant | Application

The ARC Retreat community is an ecumenical resident group of 5-6 people who are committed to offering hospitality to the guests who come on retreat. The resident community seeks to strike a balance between work in the retreat ministry, personal time and time together in a varied yet disciplined lifestyle. Daily worship, meals, physical work, regular community meetings and celebrations are among the activities shared. Regular participation in all of these, and especially worship, have been found to essential to the health of the community and the individual's life within it. Monthly community days focus on issues that arise, such as conflict resolution and community spiritual development, as well as issues outside of ourselves. In the past, we have explored global concerns, feminism, community supported agriculture, and issues of peace and justice. We also take time occasionally to see local sights, watch and discuss a movie, and celebrate turning points in community members' lives.

The community is Christian-centered, striving to live out and nurture in others Christ's presence in the world.  Based on our understanding of Christ's teachings, this involves belief in the full equality of all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and physical ability, with the knowledge that our own freedom is dependent on the freedom of others. We manifest our faith through a spirit of ecumenism, simple living, the use of inclusive language, care for all creation, involvement in justice concerns, and a commitment to nonviolence. Worship together uses a variety of inclusive resources, and frequently is simply silent centering prayer done together - a very different experience than praying alone.

Life together is challenging, rewarding, and essential to the retreat ministry. It calls forth our gifts and strengths, and it magnifies personal agendas and dependencies. Life in community depends on each person's ability to be fully present, engaged and aware of their own and others' personal needs and limitations. At ARC we have learned that community is not something one expects to receive, but rather a process in which one actively takes part. Community grows and develops from the combined involvement and the shared gifts of each person within it. Shared work, prayer, and joy are essential.

The ARC community seeks to manifest a healthy, cooperative, and peace-giving lifestyle.  As a result, we seek individuals with emotional maturity, spiritual awareness and good relational skills. They must recognize that personal growth is on-going, and entails recognition of one's own issues; this may include therapy or spiritual direction outside of ARC. Individuals must feel confident and good about themselves, ask for what they need, and not often feel victimized by others. They must be flexible and able to compromise; they must be willing to experience ARC before trying to institute changes. Work at ARC is non-hierarchical, and so it is important that members value all work equally.

ARC seeks a variety of persons: volunteers who commit to a stay of less than three months and as little as one day, as well as persons who can make a one-year commitment. Specifically, we need persons with skills in kitchen management, general maintenance, housekeeping and office procedures. All community members participate in the on-going work of maintaining the retreat center and offering hospitality. These responsibilities include washing dishes, setting tables, cleaning, doing laundry, office work, and cooking. Other responsibilities may include gardening, library upkeep, computer work, indoor or outdoor maintenance, graphic design, volunteer coordinating, etc. All of these tasks are equally important to the ministry of ARC. Who is responsible for the various work areas is agreed upon mutually and according to individual interests and gifts.

All volunteers (up to three months) and community members (commitment of three months to a year or more) receive a private living space, board, laundry, phone and internet access, and a negotiated salary/stipend based on need and the available budgeted funds. The first three months of a new community member's stay are understood to be a trial period. Continued participation in the community is agreed upon if all people concerned feel a mutual sense of rightness. If a covenant for a longer commitment is agreed upon, health insurance will also be provided. Community members and volunteers meet monthly or quarterly with the Director to determine job satisfaction and evaluate integration into the community. An annual work performance review conducted by the Director helps community members find appropriate use and development of their gifts, so that they also further the ARC ministry.

At the end of an extended period at ARC, individuals can expect to have learned the ins and outs of retreat ministry. They will have shared in community life, with its struggles and joys, and experienced what it means to live, work, pray and play together. If individuals invest the effort, they can expect to have shared and developed their personal gifts, both in community life and in ministry.