About the Society of Vineyard Scholars

Mission

The mission of the Society of Vineyard Scholars is to develop and nurture a community of theological discourse among the scholars, graduate students, seminarians, and all others who like to think theologically in the Vineyard movement.

We will facilitate:

• deep, collaborative theological reflection on crucial issues through the lens of the Kingdom of God
• sound, mature publications that critically engage matters of importance to the life and thought of the Vineyard movement
• relationships of inclusion and constructive dialogue for all scholars, seminarians, and graduate students who want to participate in the growing theological discourse of the Vineyard movement

We are gathering the thinkers and scholars of our movement to “think theologically” in community—both in order to address the critical questions of the moment and to put down theological and intellectual roots for the long haul. Our expectation is that doing this well involves building a diverse, interconnected community of scholars, pastors, and scholar-pastors within our movement.

Ultimately, our desire is both to deepen our theological reflection and to broaden our cultural engagement. Towards these ends, we will hold conferences and other events to provide forums for collaborating and sharing intellectual work as well as pursuing other ways of facilitating connections among current Vineyard seminarians, graduate students, and scholars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is eligible to join the SVS?

Membership in the SVS is open to all.

Do I have to be in the Vineyard to join the SVS?

No, you do not. However, the SVS exists to foster intellectual community among scholars and graduate students in the Vineyard. This means that there is likely to be a lot of talk at the SVS about matters concerning the Vineyard in particular, as well as general topics like the Kingdom of God, scripture, church history, etc.

The SVS is an initiative of VineyardUSA. Are international scholars welcome?

By all means! International scholars, particularly those from other Vineyard churches, are encouraged to join the SVS. VineyardUSA has initiated the formation of the SVS, but we very much hope to develop a global conversation. In fact, some international scholars have already joined the SVS.

What events does SVS currently run?

Currently, we have established an annual conference. However, in the near future, we expect to have breakout meetings at regional conferences, as well as some special events for seminarians in the Vineyard. Join the SVS; we will keep you posted on these developments.

What are the academic credentials required to present a paper at the SVS?

All who have earned or are working towards a graduate degree (M.A, M.Div., M.S., M.T.S., PhD, ThD, D.Min, etc.) are eligible to submit a paper to be considered for presentation at the SVS annual meeting. There is no requirement that that degree be in any of the traditional theological disciplines, but the goal of the SVS is to develop and nurture an intellectual community of theological discourse among the scholars and graduate students of the Vineyard movement. As such, all of the talks, papers, and projects presented at the SVS will be primarily oriented around theological questions.

Do I have to be a member of the SVS to attend the conference? To present a paper?

Yes. At this time, the conference registration fee is rolled into the cost of SVS membership. You may submit a paper for consideration without being a member of the SVS, but all who present papers (as well as all who attend) must become members of the SVS. You will become a member automatically when you register for the Annual Meeting. You may also become a member in person at the Annual Meeting. Finally, even if you cannot attend the annual meeting, please consider becoming a member of SVS. Your participation and support is valuable and desired.

Are there any scholarships available for the Annual Meeting?

At this time, we regret that there are no scholarships available for travel or conference expenses. However, we have worked to keep our conference expenses to a minimum.

Contact the SVS

Thank you for your interest in the Society of Vineyard Scholars. If you have any further questions that are not answered on these pages, please contact the Society of Vineyard Scholars by email at societyofvineyardscholars@gmail.com.

We hope that we will see you in February at the Annual Conference!