The Vineyard Genome: Essential Chromosomes in the Vineyard DNA
By Steve Igarta, a Church Planting Coordinator, and pastor of the
Vineyard in Red Bluff, California. Email - Vineyard@snowcrest.net
Introduction: Every living organism contains within each of it's basic life structures a genome system. This systemic construct contains numerous chromosomes that provide descriptors, uniqueness, and tendencies that define appearance, behavior, and design.
The church is the most dynamic organism that exists in our world because it is empowered by the life of Christ. It is equally obvious that churches share the common life of Christ in their organic life of their individual and corporate community. However it is equally obvious both through appearance and expression that the church, the body of Christ is diverse as well. Such diversity provides for unique and distinct chromosome patterns though sharing common biological essentials to also have distinctively different expressions. Here is a review the Vineyard Genetic Code.
This Genetic Code is not something we expect every church to have fully developed and in place, but we would expect these seven values to be represented in all Vineyard churches in some form. The following are excepts from the installation Service for a National Director, November 2000
http://www.vineyardusa.org/about/beliefs/beliefs_index/genetic_code.htmThat installation talk was based on the the ten areas of ministry that John Wimber called the Vineyard Genetic Code at the 1992 Vineyard pastors Conference.
http://www.vineyardusa.org/about/history/genetic_code.htmAlso see the Appendix on the Genetic Code in the book "Doing Church" by Vineyard pastor Alexander Venter
http://www.vineyardusa.org/resources/vineyard_writers.htm
The Word of God
We want to hear the Word of God taught in a practical, inspiring way, in conjunction with His current prophetic word. We aim to hear and obey God's word to us, and to be "doers of the Word" who are being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Worshipping of God
We desire to worship God with our whole being, and want Jesus at the center as our Lord. We are hungry to know God's presence, hear His voice and follow hard after Him. We desire Spirit-enabled worship in a style that is intimate, dynamic, culture-current, and life-changing.
Caring for the poor
We believe that God's heart goes out to the weak, helpless, impoverished, oppressed, and needy; and that He has commissioned His church to care for them.
Equipping the saints
We believe that all Christians should be trained to "do all the works of Christ." We are committed to the "show and tell" model of on-the-job training in which trainees are introduced to doing ministry functions with trainers an then are taught during and after the training experience. We aim to provide training for all aspects of responsible Christian life and ministry.
Practicing Christian unity
We are convinced that all who belong to Christ are one in His Body, the Church. We aim to maintain unity by honoring all who call on Jesus' name and by seeking reconciliation with all parts of the Church.
Ministering in renewal to other churches
We desire to serve the Body of Christ around us through renewal, equipping and other helpful means.
Begetting other local churches
We believe that the best way to expand the Kingdom of God is through the planting of local churches. It is our desire to plant churches with a vision for planting other churches, with the same vision, in their Jerusalem, in their Judea and Samaria, and to the furthers recesses of the world.
These genome markers must be evident in the purpose and practice of churches life and ministry. Each should be stated and programmed into the inner life of both individuals and corporate components of the specific organism of the local church. If in fact the chromosomes are the essential inner structures of each local church it will obviously follow that these values will determine the intention and action that demonstrates itself.
1. A Brief Historical Timeline. A history of John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard Movement. A historical timeline of the Vineyard Movements development.
http://www.vineyardusa.org/about/history/history.htm
http://www.vineyardusa.org/about/history/timeline.htm
2. A clear understanding of the kingdom theology that is the apex to some much of why and how the Vineyard functions and expresses it's DNA. This theology is expressed on our Statement of Faith
http://www.vineyardusa.org/about/beliefs/beliefs_index/statement_faith.htm*The purpose of the Vineyard is to be a body of believers that pursues authentic Christian life and endeavors to develop mature, reproducible, Spirit-filled, Christian disciples that will:
1. Receive ministry from the Lord - His saving grace, forgiveness, healing and unconditional love - through the revelation of His Bible and by the Holy Spirit
2. Minister to the Lord - be uninhibited in worship, devoted in prayer, generous in giving and in service.
3. Minister with the Lord - proclaiming His words and doing His works.