the church adoption process for the great lakes region, by ken wilson (january 2006)

 

This process is for existing, viable, churches who are not affiliated with The Vineyard, a Community of Churches, and wish to explore affiliation. 

 

The Discernment Process

 

The adoption process is essentially a  discernment process: Is the church considering adoption into Vineyard being grafted in by the Spirit of Christ?

 

The adoption process has three aspects corresponding to spiritual and sociological reality of the Vineyard. The discernment process is concerned with each of these dimensions.

 

1.  Organizational.  Having to do with the structure and policies of Vineyard.

2. Relational.  Having to do with the relationships that constitute community in Vineyard.

3.  Fellowship of the Spirit. Having to do with the work of the Spirit in joining people within the larger body of Christ.

 

 

Adoption Process Steps & Timeline

 

The adoption process is overseen by the local Area Pastoral Care Leader (APCL), a senior pastor of a Vineyard church who oversees one area (usually about 10 churches) within the Great Lakes Region.  Adoptions must be approved by the APCL as well as the Great Lakes Regional Overseer.   The APCL will assign each church that is in the adoption process an adoption coach, which is typically another senior pastor within the APCL's area.  The adopting church relates to the Vineyard primarily through its senior pastor.  

 

Adoption into the Vineyard is a lengthy process.  Vineyard is highly relational; time is important in discerning relationships.  Adoption typically takes 18-24 months or longer.  

 

1. Adoption candidate expresses interest in adoption.

 

2. Exploratory conversation with Area Pastor Care Leader. The senior pastor of the church interested in adoption has an initial conversation with the Area Pastoral Care Leader in his/her geographic area to determine whether adoption is appropriate to pursue or not. 

 

3. Invitation to attend area pastor meetings/conferences, etc. Attendance at area pastor meetings & conferences is essential to building relationship with other Vineyard pastors, and learning more about the Vineyard.     

 

4. Assignmen of an adoption coach and formal application application process. For those ready to move forward (having connected in steps 1-3), a coaching relationship with another Vineyard pastor is arranged by mutual consent.  Ideally, the church interested in adoption can develop a relationship with the coaching pastors church through regular visits.  At this point, the church interested in adoption makes formal application by filling out the adoption application papers.

 

5.  Active coaching process. During this time (mininum of one year), the coach works with the senior pastor of adopting church to discern and help the church adopt the beliefs, values, and structure of a Vineyard Church.  These issues are spelled out in the adoption application documents, but they also include areas like worship, small group ministry, healing ministry, ministry to the poor, missions, outreach, leadership structure (including any changes needed to the constitution or by-laws of the adoption candidate church to make it consistent with Vineyard belief and polity), and a review of the responsibilities of Vineyard churches to The Vineyard, a Community of Churches (e.g. financial contributions).   The goal is to engage in an "inside-out" process by which the adoption candidate church becomes a Vineyard church from the inside-out. 

 

6. Adoption approvals. When this process is complete, the adoption coach's APCL decides when to recommend the adoption candidate church for formal adoption (to be received as a Vineyard church). This recommendation is made to the Regional Overseer.  If the Overseer approves the recommendation, the Adoption Release form is signed and sent to the national office for the approval of the National Director.  Once this process is complete, the church is received into The Vineyard, a Community of Churches.