The Importance of Vineyard's Core Values
Bert Waggoner. National Director and President of Vineyard USA
I was shocked one day when a very sincere Vineyard friend told me that in order for a church to truly be a classic Vineyard, the people had to dress casually. I know that John Wimber wore Hawaiian shirts and tennis shoes, but I didn't realize that the style of dress had been raised to that level of importance. From time to time, I have heard other people refer to a certain style of music and worship as "Vineyard worship" - as if one particular style had been raised to the level of an absolute and that a true Vineyard church would express only that style.
The problem with each of these two ideas is that they show a confusion concerning the difference between what is a primary value and what is secondary. Primary values, or core values, are what is ultimate: they are the reason for an institution's existence. Secondary values are instrumental values that serve the core values. For example, we have a core value of being a reconciling community. In our present context, casual dress can facilitate and nurture community because formality tends to create emotional distance. As long as it serves this purpose, we should encourage casual dress. But if and when it does not serve this higher value, it should no longer be considered important.
Over the past year, and especially over the last three months, Vineyard's National Board of Directors has been working on refining our core values. It has been known for a while that we listed way too many values in our Theological and Philosophical Statements and that our list confused core values with secondary values. So the board set aside time to reflect on who we have been historically and who we are now. The purpose of our reflection was not to come up with a new set of values. Rather, we wanted to refine our understanding of who we are and, thus, what our "core values" are. I won't explain in depth here the process that we went through to arrive at the final list of five values other than to say that it involved five different working groups. The important thing is that after the process was over, we came together to develop a final list and--to our delight and surprise--everyone involved was in complete agreement about the Vineyard's core values (which are further clarified in an article by Ken Wilson ). The five core values are
- The Theology and Practice of the Kingdom of God
- Experiencing God
- Reconciling Community
- Compassionate Ministry
- Culturally Relevant Mission
What difference do these core values make to the life of the Vineyard? They don't make us different. They simply refine our understanding of who we have always been and bring to the surface what really is distinctive about the Vineyard--what is at the center of our centered-set movement. They are not new values; they have always been who we are. We must nurture these core values so that they continue to be evident in every Vineyard church. These values give us the reason for our existence. They will not change. As we have defined them, they apply to all our churches in all their diversity and will endure as the Vineyard grows. We will unwrap these core values--what it means to be a Vineyard--much more over the next few months on this website.
Comments
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Thanks for the helpful post.
KimkasJKK
Paul said that he preached Christ crucified, and if anybody taught a different gospel than this that he should be cursed. I agree that we must focus on Jesus' words - such as when he told us to remember him through the bread, (his broken body), and the wine, (his blood poured out for us). But Jesus said that we should not only listen to him, and obey him - He said we are to remember his sacrifice.
I agree with having separate primary and secondary values. the most important thing is that you believe in God, and want to worship him.
Pat.R
Bert,
Thank you for simplifying the values of the Vineyard. There were way too many of them to remember, teach and hold.
In regards to the comment "I think the cross of Jesus Christ has to be more central as a value". Please note that a proper understand of The Theology and Practice of the Kingdom of God (value #1) includes the cross, ministry, resurrection, ascension, etc. The cross has not been removed - it is just understood within the context of the story of God.
Blessings and Peace,
Ardell
Interesting. Let me get personal with core and secondary values.
I started in the Vineyard over 25 years ago and have moved around quite a bit, not always being able to fellowship in a Vineyard. This has shaped me differently, not in the core values as stated but for sure in the secondary values. I am now in a place very far from home and a part of a magnificent Vineyard church. I am part of that church because of the core values. I love were I am at, but it is the secondary values that can trip me up. There is a very strong culture in the Vineyard and a great effort for people to be "Vineyardized."
Now, please understand I am being a bit tongue in cheek, but regarding the casual dress, this is totally an unspoken secondary value. I gave up my ty dye and berks when I graduated from grad school and got a job. As a woman, sometimes I feel out of place because I don't always choose a more earthy look. Sometimes I go to church and feel awkward because I didn't wear my pajamas to worship. There is somehow a feeling like you are not as spiritually in touch with God if your not in your yoga clothes
A bit more seriously and more of a prickly issue for me is that I am worship leader, but don't really feel comfortable bringing my gift forward because of the very specific approach to music the Vineyard takes. I understand that many of these secondary values are intentional and could be interpreted as supporting core values. However, once again, it is the unspoken ones that can really effect the flow of things. For example, I could see a man bringing forth a musical change of direction, but don't feel quite that a woman could. The music culture is still very patriarchal. Unfortunately, I will participate, and I will adapt without instruction, because I understand the Vineyard formula. I know what to do in order to be "accepted" or worse, "promoted." I will do what is expected and I will do it well. But, there is definitely something that dies in the creative process and well as in the soul.
What I do know is that the core values would never promote the above situations, however, the secondary values really dictate the social culture and the social boundaries that exist in the Vineyard. Many of them are good and work, I am just mentioning two that bug me. And the Spirit of God, as He works all things for His purpose, will probably use these two issues to change me and challenge me as to where I need to conform, where I need to withdraw and where I need to just step out in faith and just see what happens.
Blessings
As a disciple of Jesus who has led in the Vineyard for 10 years now, I can honestly say that I am more excited, energized, and motivated by the direction of this community of churches than I have been for the entirety of my service here! I have read the values, studied them, and read the commentary papers by other Vineyard leaders, and I say that this list does an excellent job of solidifying the foundational identity of our churches and our people as individuals. As Bert said in this article, this is not new stuff, but it is a new arrangement of what we already hold as a people that clearly articulates who we are and where God is taking us.
As far as the comments on the lack of the Cross as central, the lack of priority on biblical authority, and worship being missing from the list, I think Dan did a great job pointing out how worship flows in and around the whole list. I would comment that the power of the Word of God as well as the centrality of the Cross are also woven throughout the values. Those three, the Cross, the Bible, and our response in Worship are "givens" for us as a movement. They make up the backdrop, the foundation, and the horizon for all of our values and our mission as a people. They weren't ignored, but celebrated.
Thank you, Bert, and the board for your excellent and faithful leadership.
I respectfully disagree with this statement "But unless the Cross of Christ is publically central the church is not a house of God."
Jesus brought to us a truth that man had not understood enmass before that time.and that truth was that "the kingdom of God is inside of each of us."
The cross itself or even his impending death was not at all central to his ministry while he was on this earth.
I personally have no difficulties loving and serving my God with my focus being on the words that Jesus spoke and not on the cross. I believe that the cross became more central in value at a later date in Christianities history and I also believe that it has done more harm than good when it becomes the main focus in worship.
We are to become Christlike and for this to happen we need to focus more on the words of Jesus, he even tells his followers to believe in him and his ministry and his ministry was about how we are to treat one another and to remember his fathers commnandments. He never once said to focus or even to worship the cross he was to hang on.
We value simplicity. We aim to have the church's energies and activities reflect a simple, balanced approach to community life.
I thank and praise the Lord for the Vineyard I have just visited.
I have downloaded Vineyard's statement of Faith and theTheological sattements, gone through a first reading and hope to do a thorough study asap.
I think I have found just what have been looking for, a statement of faith in very simple terms and ways of living that faith in real and simple ways.
Let the Lord's kingdom come and keep growing.
GF
I am still reading and re-reading these five core values. I do appreciate the good work involved to keep the Vineyard focused on our center set, while leaving room for growth within these core values.
There is a glaring omission from all of this, the Genetic Code, we still need to keep that in front of us, and these five values and their related articles don't do thew Code justice. Please bring them back to the website and to the table of this new focus.
John
As one of the earlier comments stated:
"I think the cross of Jesus Christ has to be more central as a value. Paul says he boasts in nothing but the cross. I think the Vineyard needs to be more cross-centered as a shout out to mankind's brokenness... in our songs, our preaching, our creed, and our values."
I've found nothing on this here. Not sure that is the sort of church I want to be involved in. Community relevant? Sure. Contemporary and exciting worship? Love it. But unless the Cross of Christ is publically central the church is not a house of God.
I think this is a good way to articulate our distinctiveness. But I'm wondering how we communicate that we are a movement committed to biblical authority. Does that become a secondary value? The fact that we embrace the theology and practice of the Kingdom of God presumes that we have a biblically-based paradigm for ministry. In that case, it becomes a core value and the KOG a secondary one. I know that our commitment to biblical authority does not make us unique. But if it is pushed to the side as a secondary value, does that make us vulnerable, not just to criticism, but to losing a very important anchor that keeps us orthodox? I don't know the answer.
Perhaps these 5 things are Distinctive Values. We have other values that we share with much of the church. Perhaps these should be listed as "Normative" Values.
Worship would fit as a Normative Value. But the Distinctive Value of Experiencing God in our worship is what makes us different.
Hey Anonymous...good points...but I think a better question to ask is "what is worship?" The Biblical idea of worship, of course, is "much more than a song." But if it's the singing you speak of for us in the Vineyard it has always been more than the 30 to 45 minutes of praise music during the Sunday service. Our worship leaders have always called us to sing to God (and not just about God.) Worship for us has always meant intimacy with God, being genuine before Him and pouring out heartfelt praise that ministers to Him. That being said, it seems to me that these aspects of what we have referred to as "Vineyard Worship" can fall under the "Experiencing God" value.
Bert,
I agree with you and I'm glad you were shocked! The nice thing about Vineyard is that there are very few 'have tos'.
'Have tos' are dangerous because there is an expectation that people will be expected to respect them. Whether that is in worship, dress, appearance or otherwise it does not really matter. We must be aware of is that when we entertain these 'have tos' we tempt people to judge others.
I do not believe we are in that business. We are in the business of accepting everyone and ministering to them. The only 'have tos' in the Vineyard are the biblical ones that we are commanded to keep and even then we keep them (for ourselves) rather than even attempt to measure how others are doing. Its not our business.
I replied to this comment above - it seems to have been misplaced in the lineup - here it is again:
"This is an excellent, and vibrant articulation of our values. In response to the previous few messages, the broader biblical understanding of worship moves and weaves through every one of these values.
This is the gift we bring as the Vineyard to the world - and embodying of central Kingdom values in the media of music and art.
Worship is the air that surrounds the body of these values."
Where's worship?
This train is bound for glory...
I am so thankful to be a part of this flexible yet focused movement. Refining our core values is like straightening and honing the rails we are riding on. It serves to make the journey smoother and the destination clearer. These five core values help me appreciate all the more the privilege of being a part of God's kingdom and riding in this passenger-car called the Vineyard. Refining our values can also keep our purpose fresh and clear, regardless of how we serve in our local churches.
Even as I read these three articles I was reminded again of Mother Teresa of Calcutta's words:
"There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible."
What happened to the Vineyard Genetic Code? I can't find it on the site. Are these values meant to replace it? What role will it have in the future of the movement?
This is an excellent, and vibrant articulation of our values. In response to the previous few messages, the broader biblical understanding of worship moves and weaves through every one of these values.
This is the gift we bring as the Vineyard to the world - and embodying of central Kingdom values in the media of music and art.
Worship is the air that surrounds the body of these values.
How awesome is this! I am so encouraged with Vineyard leadership and its willingness to maintain the flexability of a movement, encourage the application of our core values through examination and re-evaluation with a heart to keep it simple and effective. NO STAGNATION HERE!
Personally, I believe this is all worship, expressed through the melody of the lives we are living as a Kingdom-centric people who truley value the life of Jesus as expressed through the church.
I prefer the term Grace Ministry.
Compassion is a close cousin to Grace,
but compassionate is a different feeling.
I love what the Board has said and done concerning the core values. Thank you for your hard work. This is very exciting and refreshing!
I think I would agree that our value of worship has to be more pronounced and explicit. It cannot be assumed to be understood as a response to experiencing God. I would argue that worship leads us to a greater experience of God, but even more that it is a practice we give ourselves to in response to the understanding of mercy and love offered to broken humanity (Romans 12:1-2).
Second, I think the cross of Jesus Christ has to be more central as a value. Paul says he boasts in nothing but the cross. I think the Vineyard needs to be more cross-centered as a shout out to mankind's brokenness... in our songs, our preaching, our creed, and our values.
I appreciate the leadership of the Vineyard exploring what our values are. I think there could be a better process for that happening at the grass roots level, and in communicating any changes or re-focus.
In response to the previous message: I think that worship falls under "Experiencing God." Our ultimate response to an experience with God is....Worship.
Where is worship? If worship is one of our primary gracelets, I don't believe it can fall underneath any other broader statement. How are we representing worship in this new group of 5 values?