For some time now, I have been considering going to seminary. In all reality, I have felt the call to be a pastor since the summer before 6th grade. I have been on that track the whole time, I just haven't always realized it. I went to Wartburg College to pursue a Religion major with a seminary prep emphasis. It was at this Lutheran college that I fell out of love with my Lutheran denomination. I was also during this time that I was introduced to something called "the Vineyard."
The concept of the Vineyard remained elusive, despite all of my attempts to understand it. This was, in part, because the denomination itself was newly formed and didn't have a strong central leader to cast a vision after the death of John Wimber in the early to mid 1990's. The other reason the "Vineyard" was so elusive is that it was never intended to be a denomination. John Wimber's original goal was to create a movement which would impact the larger Church and bring together classic Evangelical theology with biblical Pentacostal experience. This movement also emphasized low-key worship, intimacy with God and contemporary music.
Wimber's death in 1993 galvanized the movement into a denomination in order to maintain some sort of control over the name "Vineyard." In all fairness, the man who assumed responsibility of the Vineyard after John Wimber's death, Todd Hunter, explored many ways of keeping the movement alive without resorting to denominationalism. It is one of those ideas I wish to explore today.
A man by the name of Wayne Grudem counseled Todd Hunter to adopt a style of organization called "apostolic networks." The following definition of Apostolic Networks is taken from Bill Jackson's book, The Quest for the Radical Middle, "this new area of research recognizes that we are entering into a postdenominational era where apostolic men are rising up in America's free market religious economy to gather around them clusters of churches, either through church planting or adoption."
In other words, we are entering a time in Church history where denominational boundaries are blurring or falling away altogether. Arising from these ashes of Christendom is an ancient and modern mode of governance - the apostolic bishop or overseer. These men are appointed by God, and accepted by men, to oversee various clusters of churches. As esoteric as this may sound, it is already happening in post-modern America.
For instance, think of how Mark Driscoll, John Piper, Rick Warren and Bill Hybels influence churches throughout the nation. How many millions read their books and apply them to their churches? How many churches pipe in their sermons via webstream? How many churches now have multiple campuses, but remain under one larger church's covering?
Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is all a good thing. I am, and always will be, a diehard proponent for the small local church and a pastor who ministers to the immediate needs of the people. But there is something about Apostolic Networks that grips me. I haven't yet thought through all of the ramifications and implications of such a move, but we, collectively, as well as me individually need to start doing so because it is happening around us.
A few parting thoughts that are of a more personal nature. I mentioned earlier that I have been interested in pursuing seminary. The main issue I have been struggling with is, which one? Since I work in a Vineyard church and have been actively involved in the Vineyard for some time, it seems natural that I would choose their seminary program. But I found myself asking, what is unique about the Vineyard that is worth saving, that is worth advancing by becoming a pastor in it? That is what has lead me to start researching the movement more thoroughly and to start asking questions of the regional leadership. But then I got to thinking, what is unique about any denomination that is worth saving and advancing? All of the good movements that became denominations were successful because they brought something to the larger church.
Contemporary worship is not a Vineyard thing, it is a Church thing. Prophetic ministry and the laying on of hands is not a Vineyard or a House of Prayer thing, it is a Church thing. Salvation by grace through faith is not a Lutheran thing, it is a Church thing. The gifts of the Spirit are not a Pentecostal thing, the belong to the Church.
And so I find myself continuing to stew, dwelling on the idea of a postdenominational Church and what that means for me. But the larger question, the one that supercedes all is, "God, what are You up to?"
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