CRL Commission

The Vineyard Movement in South Africa is at its core a family of churches who subscribe to a set of values, priorities and practices. A core belief is that churches, at a local level, have autonomy within the confines of the Vineyard Statement of Faith and Code of Conduct. Therefore, the position of VSA on the CRL commission is one that gives room for the local church to decide their position on the matter.

VSA firmly believes in the Freedom of Religion that is enshrined in our constitution and also believes that the Governments must operate in the best interest of it’s citizens, without the abuse of power and corruption that so often steals headlines in South African on a daily basis.

We place high value in the role that The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA) plays in South Africa, and in particular we are grateful for the work they are doing at the “coal face” of the CRL commission. Equally, we value the important role that Freedom of Religion South Africa (FORSA) plays in keeping the government accountable by ensuring that freedom of religion remains an invaluable part of South African life. While we are wary of political over reach into the local church, we are also aware that taking part in civic discourse about government policy and participating in a democratic process is paramount in keeping the government accountable to Jesus centred values.

We lament that matters of such importance often lead Christians to having to take sides rather than finding a common cause in the radical middle and we pray that unity can be found on this divisive topic.

Therefore the official position on the CRL commission is to encourage local Vineyard churches to do their own due diligence on this important matter and make their own decision on who to support.

Let Vineyard become a movement that fiercely protects freedom of religion in public, while just as fiercely protecting the vulnerable—through concrete, transparent structures of accountability shaped by the gospel of the Kingdom.