Everyone gets to Belong - Exploring Vinyard Distinctives

Costa Mitchell

Every Vineyard Church is, first and foremost, a part of the “One Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church”, as the Nicene Creed has it. Belonging to a Vineyard Church, or any other “Tribe” of churches for that matter, presumes that first, the individual has membership in this One Body of Christ. This happens by what Jesus called “The New Birth”. You enter the Church by entering the Kingdom of God. And you enter the Kingdom ONLY by being born “from above”. Keep this in mind as you read on…

Now let’s focus on the practical answers to the question of belonging to A church – the local, visible expression of the universal, invisible Church, and specifically, a Vineyard Church. When you read the word “belonging” in what follows, see it as synonymous with “membership”.

John Calvin taught that the local, visible Church has 5 distinctives: It is a group of Believers (Ekklesia) that gathers regularly, with a measure of mutual accountability:

1. For The Worship Of God

2. Committed to connection in fellowship

3. Under the preaching and teaching of the Word of God

4. Under proper, Biblical Discipline 

5. Under Biblically appointed Government by Pastors, Teachers and Elders

6. Observing the Sacraments (the two Protestant ones: Baptism and Communion).

If these things are true of a church, they should also be true of each member of that church. But how, if at all, is this recognized and formalized? Every Vineyard church will have its own approach to “Church Membership”. Some Pastors have insisted that they will never “formalise” membership on Biblical grounds (ie we all belong to the One Church by being born into it, and it’s not up to us to formalize or regulate). What I write below is from a mix of what we signed up for when planting the first Vineyard in SA, and my personal convictions as a pastor. Personally, as a pastor, I need to know who I am accountable to the Lord for, and who holds themselves accountable to me / the church I lead for their morality and followership of Jesus. For that reason, I publicly acknowledged and “prayed into fellowship” those who wanted in as “members”, and wanted, if they allowed us, to “pray them out” when they wanted to move on, for whatever reason. I would never insist that anyone else have this practice, but that was always mine.

With regard to the particular “marks” of a Vineyard Church, it’s important to know that, while Calvin’s marks are a good starting point, for us belonging is not based on theology, nor loyalty to a leader/leaders, nor even a code of morality or practice of ministry. These things are, in our view, outward expressions of our VALUES. Values are not creedal statements; they are internal, visceral non-negotiables of “The WHY and HOW for the WHAT”. They are spiritual/psychological / moral DNA. Which is why the first principle of belonging to anything, whether a Family, a Tribe or a Church, is that when a leader/father articulates the group’s Values, they will “resonate” on the inside. Those who “belong” will say, “This is ME! She’s singing MY SONG! This is where I BELONG!” If the Values are in place, behavior and practices will follow. But if they are not in you, they never will. If the Vineyard is not in you, you can’t join. And if the Vineyard IS in you, you can’t leave!

To make this Practical, behold the Centred Set!: According to the science of Sociology, all social groupings are arranged around specific principles and dynamics of association. Different churches approach “membership” in different ways, which will vary according to the requirement of conformity and control of members by leaders. In general, there are three models that operate in church life, based on their view of members and membership, leadership and the outside world: They are: The FUZZY SET; The BOUNDED SET; and The CENTRED SET.

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A. THE LAISSEZ-FAIRE OR "FUZZY SET" MODEL

This model reveals a situation of no control or intervention. There is no accountability, no leadership, no direction, no real definition, and therefore, no achievement in groups like this. It’s basically like a family or a group of friends just hanging out together. It’s easy come, easy go. No commitments, no requirements. Church-wise, this produces not a functioning Body, but a deceptive Phantom.

B. THE BOUNDED-SET MODEL

• Specific, detailed, well defined boundaries

• indoctrination process

• proselytising or remnant mentality

• exclusivistic attitude

• identity from being 'in'

• perspective on life in terms of rules, right and wrong

• tight structure, strong hold on the people (ideological)

• dominant leadership in a parental mode

• people seen and treated as collective group

Qualification for membership = Strict compliance. Main function of leadership = people keeping and control

C. CENTRED-SET MODEL

• centred around Jesus and the basic values of the Kingdom

• focus on the centre;  it draws people to it

• commitment to people, relationships and values

• team leadership by living out the values

• levels of integration based on movement towards the centre

• assessment based on direction, not destination

• relational environment, but on an adult basis

• the individual is freed to take responsibility for him/herself

• emphasis on loving and nurturing and not on indoctrination

• inclusive in nature, and identity comes from within the person based on acceptance and wholeness in God

Qualification for membership = Relationship based on shared values. Main function of leadership = people processing and empowering.

It goes without saying that in the Vineyard we hold to a CENTRED SET Model, where Membership is directional (heading toward the centre), then relational (shared DNA), and then functional (like the “members” of a living Body, which belong by functioning) and not doctrinal or behavioral. Our churches are Value-driven, not based on conformity to rules and doctrines.

One of those Values, for example, is a value for the DIGNITY of the INDIVIDUAL, which means that people are free to hear from God for themselves and choose, without being judged or having their history rewritten if they choose, for instance, to go to another church. We have a “wide-open front door and a wide-open back door”. For a Vineyard pastor, ministry is about serving the highest good of every person, from youngest to oldest, least to greatest, while they are part of the church you’re serving. We refuse control or manipulation, but invite people to respond to what God is prompting/motivating them to do. In this model, the job description of leaders/ministers is the equipping and mobilisation of every member (Eph. 4:12-16).

Thanks for reading!

Costa