Thank you for your interest in the story of God in our community.

Since its beginning, Vineyard Anaheim has been a community seeking to keep in step with the Spirit. We view ourselves as ‘change in God’s pocket’ to spend however and wherever He chooses. As a local church, God generously spent us as a founding church within the Vineyard movement. It has been our honor to champion and cheerlead the Vineyard both in the US and across the world. It’s truly been a remarkable kingdom journey filled with agony and ecstasy, pain and privilege, suffering and great joy.

Over the past number of decades, while the Vineyard movement continued to flourish, the Anaheim Vineyard had difficult years and experienced significant decline. As a local community of believers, we had one prayer: "Lord, do it again. Visit us again. Renew us again as a local church. Pour out your Spirit.” And God answered with grace and has breathed upon us in renewal. In recent years the church has grown, and new connections with our city have formed. We are watching with joy as each week salvation is breaking out, the sick are being healed, the poor are being fed and clothed with dignity, and the city is discovering that God not only sees her, but is ready to move on her behalf.

As you may know, the AVC (now VUSA) is an association of Vineyard churches. Our founder John Wimber established it with the vision that each autonomous local church be self-financing and self-governing. Although the churches are independent, they are held together by a relational connection and a shared direction. Like most churches, COVID changed things for us. As we regathered, we reflected upon our structures and relationships (including our relationship with the Vineyard movement) and began to consider our next steps. We sensed and could see that God was doing something new among us, so we leaned in to hear Him speak.

And God has been speaking to us.

As we have waited and weighed, we have heard the invitation and direction of the Spirit (through scripture, counsel, prophecy, evidence of grace, and circumstance) to do what we have always done: take another step of faith and risk. We do so with the word of our founding pastor ringing in our ears…

“The economy of God’s kingdom is quite simple. Each new step will cost us everything we have gained to date… a disciple is always willing to take that next step.”

It is clear to us that this new step lies outside the Vineyard movement. We wish to clarify that this is not a rejection of Vineyard values, theology or praxis, but our best effort to respond to the distinct calling on our church at this time, and a desire to say yes to the Spirit.

We recognize it may seem unusual for churches to withdraw from their association, but it’s not unprecedented, nor is it unique in our history. God has called Vineyard Anaheim to follow beyond denominational lines before and each time we have done so, He has met us in ways that have contributed to the blessing of the wider body of Christ.

It’s understandable that because of our legacy and our history, there are questions and interest around this decision in the wider Church.

We did not take this decision to withdraw from the Association of Vineyard Churches quickly or lightly, but reverently in the fear of the Lord. We have waited before the Lord and sought His counsel and direction in scripture, prayer, and the counsel of others. We have also weighed it carefully and prayerfully with the godly people on our board.

With regard to our board, it may help you to know some of the background. It is not unusual for new senior pastors to request that all board members resign when they are installed as leaders. But Alan and Kathryn felt the previous board had done a great job and asked each of them to stay until the end of their tenure. That time came at the end of 2020, which is when we began looking for board members who could navigate the new post-pandemic terrain.

As we began to emerge from COVID, we invited a board of notable and respected national church leaders to help us. Not all of our board are “Vineyard” but they are all kingdom leaders who are people of outstanding character and exemplify biblical leadership standards in every way. In short, the kind of board that is fitting for the mission of this church. Our trajectory has been to move towards a more inclusive and robust board that helps Vineyard Anaheim become all that God is calling her to become.

Even with godly people leading, we understand the decision to withdraw from the Association of Vineyard churches is painful. It has implications beyond the local church. There is no way to do significant transition without stirring strong emotions, and it can be tempting when emotion is high to bridge the gap with suspicion. Some have suggested this decision is rooted in some kind of grievance. This is not the case. Naturally, in every healthy family there are differences and distinctives. There are challenges and tensions. But we wish to clarify that neither Vineyard Anaheim nor any of its leaders have any grievance with the Vineyard or its leaders. We love the Vineyard movement and although our association has ended, our affection remains undiminished.

This decision is simply about guidance and obedience. It is about a local church and its leaders doing what they have always done: trying to discern what God is actively and presently doing among us and responding wholeheartedly even when our “yes” is costly.

We have been clear in our decision but less so in our communication:

When we communicated our decision to withdraw to VUSA, the movement was understandably upset and pointed out the sudden nature of the communication. While we had waited and prayed for some time (and from our perspective, our decision was a slow response to vision, calling, and the invitation of the Spirit), we recognized that there were mis-steps in our communication. We sought to address these and move relationally, by 1) publicly confessing our error 2) seeking to host a further conversation.

We had hoped for a relational conversation with VUSA where we could share more of our heart, the story of God moving among us, and how the Spirit of God has spoken to us and is guiding and leading Vineyard Anaheim at this time. Sadly, this hasn’t been possible.

We are and will be forever grateful for the Vineyard movement—for its strengths and health and for the gift that it is to the whole Church. God is present and blazingly active within it. It continues to bring life and renewal all across the earth. We pray and have every confidence that it will continue to grow and flourish.

Yet, while we honor and treasure our foundations, we must also honor and welcome the work of the Holy Spirit among us now and in our future. We have growing distinctives in our philosophy, in our mandate, in our leadership, and in our expression as a local church. These have crystalized further during recent weeks. We feel it would be dishonoring and disobedient to the Holy Spirit to downplay them.

Our story is one of saying “yes” to the Spirit. It has been our historic strength. And we believe it will be the source of our future.

VA Board