Beliefs
We believe God is present and at work in the world today.
What We Believe
The Vineyard stands firmly in the center of orthodox Christian teaching. Out of loyalty to Christ and the gospel, we hold a number of convictions rooted in the clear teaching of the Bible. At the same time, our statement of faith avoids matters that can be legitimately debated among orthodox Christians. While we do have boundaries, these boundaries are intentionally broad and inclusive. On the spectrum of Christian churches:
- We are orthodox.
- We are evangelical.
- We are empowered evangelicals.
- I confess my affirmation of the Apostle's, Nicene, and Chalcedonian Creeds, which I believe to reflect Christian orthodoxy and
the clear teaching of Holy Scripture. In addition, as a partner of the Vineyard Church, I make the following confession of faith my own: - I believe in one living and true God, the Creator and Lord of the heavens and the earth. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, equal in power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
- I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, yet one Messiah, the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. I believe that Jesus Christ came down from heaven, was incarnated by the
Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father, and was crucified for my sins. He suffered, died, and was buried, and He rose bodily from the dead on the third day. As the God-man, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His people. At His first coming, Jesus inaugurated the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. - I believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry every believer in Jesus Christ. He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide.
- I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit.
- I believe that I, along with all men and women, am a sinner by nature and choice and was under condemnation. I am now accounted righteous before God only by the merit of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through faith in Him alone, and not by my own works or deserving.
- I believe that I have been born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit now lives in me, producing faith, holiness, love and power.
- I believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both the Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety, without error, in all that they affirm, and as the only infallible rule for my faith and practice.
- I believe that the church is intended by God to be a worshiping community of believers, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His law, exercising the gifts, privileges and discipline invested in the church by His Word and His Holy Spirit, and seeking to extend the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
- I believe Christ committed two ordinances to the church: water baptism and the Lord's Supper. I believe water baptism is available to all Christian believers following a clear profession of Christian faith.
- I believe that the Lord's Supper is open to all believers. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord's Supper nourishes my soul. It brings to my remembrance the sacrifice of Christ for my sins, my communion with Christ and the church and my obligation to persevere in faith and holiness to the end of my life.
- I believe in the personal, visible, appearing of Christ to earth and the consummation of His Kingdom - in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Our mission at the Vineyard is to love like Jesus—both in the way He loves God and the way He loves people. For us, this is a lifelong journey that includes the renewal of our minds, the transformation of our hearts, and a way of life that is lived out in vulnerable community.
We believe that everything Jesus does flows from love: the compassion He shows, the grace He extends, the forgiveness He offers, and the sacrifice He made. His love is also expressed through His calls to repentance, His rebuke of the Pharisees, His teachings on the Kingdom of God (the Sermon on the Mount, parables, and more), and His command to “go and sin no more.”
Like Jesus, we seek to love people while also holding clear boundaries around our values and practices—boundaries that are rooted in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit. We’d love for you to join us on this journey.
We often describe ourselves as People of the Word and the Spirit. This phrase reflects our desire to live fully rooted in Scripture while remaining deeply responsive to the Holy Spirit.
We don’t choose one over the other. Instead, we hold them together. The Word gives us truth and direction, while the Spirit brings life, power, and intimacy. Together, Word and Spirit form a balanced, Jesus-centered faith — thoughtful and expectant, grounded and alive. We believe God is still speaking and still at work today, inviting us to encounter His love, grow in faith, and be transformed together.
At Vineyard, worship is not about performance — it’s an invitation. We don’t just sing about God; we sing to God. Our worship flows out of a desire to encounter Him with an open heart, not just know about Him with our minds. We value authenticity, openness, and the freedom to linger in His Presence.
Our worship team leads with simplicity to create space that invites connection with God. We often use repetition to create room for the Holy Spirit. When we return to familiar phrases and melodies, our hearts settle, senses quiet, and we invite God’s Presence more deeply into our midst.
“Come Holy Spirit” is a prayer deeply valued within the Vineyard and used by Christian churches for at least 1,000 years. It is rooted in Jesus’ words to His disciples to “receive the Holy Spirit.”
The Spirit of God is a person of the Trinity, present with us everywhere at all times, yet often experienced in a special or tangible way—much like we see throughout the New Testament. At times, we may hear His voice, sense His prompting, or even feel His presence in our bodies.
When God feels near, we invite Him to fill us with more of His Spirit!
The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. In Jesus’ words, it is seen when God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. The gospel—or good news—points us to the life, death, resurrection, and kingship of Jesus.
We see the Kingdom come when we live at peace with one another, the sick are healed, the lonely find friendship, and justice rolls like a river. Most importantly, the Kingdom is revealed when our sins are forgiven and we recognize Jesus as King.
In the Vineyard Movement, we believe that women are equally gifted and called by God, and that they can hold the same authority as men.
We hold this conviction with a high view of Scripture. In other words, we believe the entire Bible is inspired by God and carries authority. At the same time, we seek to avoid two common pitfalls: ignoring historical and literary context by reading passages only “on the surface,” or dismissing parts of Scripture simply because we find them difficult or uncomfortable. At times, this means holding seemingly contradictory truths in tension. Often, however, what appear to be contradictions arise from misinterpretation or a lack of nuance.
We believe the biblical vision for men and women is to be a kingdom of prophets, priests, and kings—established in the Garden of Eden, distorted by the Fall, promised throughout the Old Testament, and fulfilled in the New Testament.
The Leadership Commitment is a way for us to acknowledge influence and authority held, and to clarify the “higher standard” to which leaders are called. Signing this commitment acknowledges a desire and respect for the responsibilities of a leader.
You can belong and serve at the Vineyard without leading.
Leaders commit to living a life above reproach (1 Timothy 3), specifically:
Regarding social media: I will refrain from posting slanderous, “mean-spirited,” or objectionable content. I will be wise when posting sarcastic or politically/theologically charged content. I will be gracious and respectful when entering into dialogue.
Regarding sexuality: I will submit my sexuality to the Lordship of Jesus, acknowledging that his design for sexual identity and activity is good. Specifically, I will strive for sexual integrity, as the Bible defines it. This means refraining from from pre-marital sex, extramarital sex,
homosexual practice, pornography addiction, and embracing a transgendered identity (Matthew 5:27-30; 15:18-19; 19:4-6, Romans 1:24-28, 1 Corinthians 5-7).
We hold in tension the radical welcome of Jesus and the new life he calls every person toward. We apply these tensions by allowing anyone to participate in the life of our church in a centered set model where your involvement is defined by a center (Jesus) and movement toward that center. Our partnership commitment helps define what it means to be moving toward Jesus together. It is our best attempt at simplifying Jesus’ teaching and way of life, specifically as it intersects with a local church. Everyone is invited to worship, communion, baptism, participation in groups, and care for the poor.