our Core Values And beliefs
Our Core Values & Beliefs booklet is an attempt to provide a brief summary of who the Vineyard is and what we believe. Our Statement of Purpose is a concise affirmation of why we exist. Our Core Values give meaning to all that we do. They also drive our purpose, define what is central to us, position the Vineyard in the larger body of Christ, and remove ambiguity in mission. You can learn much more about our Core Values if you visit www.vineyardusa.org. Our Statement of Faith provides the foundation for all that we are. The Statement of Faith is based on the Bible. The Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. However, since the Bible is a diverse collection of narrative stories, poetry, law, and letters, it is helpful to summarize its teaching in a concise form that can be comprehended by both those deeply rooted in the church and those who have little exposure to the Bible. This is the historical function that the ancient universal church creeds played in the first four hundred years of Christ-centered faith. It is also important for each community of faith to express these ancient truths in its own language, and not merely adopt the language of another age and culture. Every community of faith has two major obligations in regards to its faith, namely absolute faithfulness to the Word of God, and sensitivity to the world in which that community lives. This means that the Vineyard movement must express the historical, biblical, orthodox Christian beliefs that we hold in common with all Christians, and the particular doctrines that are our distinctive voice, in terms that are relevant to 21st century Christians. Our Statement of Faith is based on the conviction that the kingdom of God is the central theological motif that gives definition to all that we believe. It is a kingdom of God centered theology. This statement is our best current understanding of the Bible from that kingdom perspective. Our prayer is that God will bless our sincere attempt to be humble ambassadors of His rule and reign, and to be a people that practice the presence of God and proclaim His Gospel, so that His will may be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
Our current core value and belief booklet can be found here online:
https://vineyardusa.org/about/core-values-beliefs/