This document is written for pastors and lay leaders, with several goals:
• To help us understand and articulate our values.
• To provide a grid for evaluating the goals and effectiveness of our areas of ministry
• To encourage us in pursuing ministries that conform to our values.
Values tend to cluster into several categories that determine our approach to and motivation for our priorities. Our values are best expressed by the following:
Pursuers of God
The depth of God’s relationship with us is inexhaustible (Ps. 41:1; 1 Cor. 2:6ff; Phil. 3:8-10). Therefore, we seek him and wait expectantly for his presence in all that we do (John 4:34; 5:19-20).
The Bible
The Bible is our final authority over opinions, dreams, revelations, visions, and any other authoritative source that we may look to for direction. At our core we are evangelical Christians. Our approach to life and ministry should be shaped by the counsel Scripture gives us (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Unity
Our brothers and sisters are not our enemies. Therefore, we relate to one another honorably, seeking to preserve the bond of peace. We will love what Jesus loves: the whole church. This means we will love those in our local congregation, those in the Association of Vineyard Churches, and Christians across denominational lines (Eph. 4:3-6).
Compassion and Mercy
We desire to accept into our fellowship any sincere believer who is attempting to walk in obedience to God, is repentant of his or her sins, and is in submission to the authority of the church. God’s mercy always triumphs over judgment (James 2:13; John 8:1-11).
Equipping
God calls and enables believers to express the talents, gifts, and ministries that he has set aside for them. The orientation of all ministry is toward the integration of biblical truth into everyday living that impacts our community and beyond -, not limited to individual improvement or self-fulfillment (Eph. 4:11-13).
Relationship
Caring for people is our highest priority after submission to God, because the purpose of the cross was the redemption of men and women. To the best of our ability we will treat each person with respect, dignity, and loving patience - always seeking what is best for his or her life and growth (Rom. 12:9-13; 1 Cor. 13:4-9; Col. 3:12-14).
Family
We deeply value the building up of families and believe in the priority of children, while at the same time embracing and valuing all adult believers who identify with our church family (Matt. 18:1-10; Col. 3:12-15).
Generosity
We are stewards of God’s gifts and resources (Matt. 10: 8, 39; 13:45-46). This means that when God directs, we will be willing to give away what we have, to risk the security of current success in order to advance the kingdom on earth in greater ways. We do not own our ministries, so they are not ours to keep. We "give to get to give."
Simplicity
We want to be "naturally supernatural," avoiding behavior that draws attention away from God and to ourselves. Simplicity affects our worship style, how we pray for the sick and minister to the poor, carry out discipleship, teach the Bible, and so on (1 Cor. 2:2-5; James 3:13; 1 Thess. 4:11-12).
Risk-taking
We are willing to let people make mistakes as they grow in their gifting. We know that gifting develops in an environment of trial-and-error, so we are willing to be patient with people’s weaknesses and failures while they learn (John 21: 15-19; Gal. 5: 22-23).
• To help us understand and articulate our values.
• To provide a grid for evaluating the goals and effectiveness of our areas of ministry
• To encourage us in pursuing ministries that conform to our values.
Values tend to cluster into several categories that determine our approach to and motivation for our priorities. Our values are best expressed by the following:
Pursuers of God
The depth of God’s relationship with us is inexhaustible (Ps. 41:1; 1 Cor. 2:6ff; Phil. 3:8-10). Therefore, we seek him and wait expectantly for his presence in all that we do (John 4:34; 5:19-20).
The Bible
The Bible is our final authority over opinions, dreams, revelations, visions, and any other authoritative source that we may look to for direction. At our core we are evangelical Christians. Our approach to life and ministry should be shaped by the counsel Scripture gives us (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Unity
Our brothers and sisters are not our enemies. Therefore, we relate to one another honorably, seeking to preserve the bond of peace. We will love what Jesus loves: the whole church. This means we will love those in our local congregation, those in the Association of Vineyard Churches, and Christians across denominational lines (Eph. 4:3-6).
Compassion and Mercy
We desire to accept into our fellowship any sincere believer who is attempting to walk in obedience to God, is repentant of his or her sins, and is in submission to the authority of the church. God’s mercy always triumphs over judgment (James 2:13; John 8:1-11).
Equipping
God calls and enables believers to express the talents, gifts, and ministries that he has set aside for them. The orientation of all ministry is toward the integration of biblical truth into everyday living that impacts our community and beyond -, not limited to individual improvement or self-fulfillment (Eph. 4:11-13).
Relationship
Caring for people is our highest priority after submission to God, because the purpose of the cross was the redemption of men and women. To the best of our ability we will treat each person with respect, dignity, and loving patience - always seeking what is best for his or her life and growth (Rom. 12:9-13; 1 Cor. 13:4-9; Col. 3:12-14).
Family
We deeply value the building up of families and believe in the priority of children, while at the same time embracing and valuing all adult believers who identify with our church family (Matt. 18:1-10; Col. 3:12-15).
Generosity
We are stewards of God’s gifts and resources (Matt. 10: 8, 39; 13:45-46). This means that when God directs, we will be willing to give away what we have, to risk the security of current success in order to advance the kingdom on earth in greater ways. We do not own our ministries, so they are not ours to keep. We "give to get to give."
Simplicity
We want to be "naturally supernatural," avoiding behavior that draws attention away from God and to ourselves. Simplicity affects our worship style, how we pray for the sick and minister to the poor, carry out discipleship, teach the Bible, and so on (1 Cor. 2:2-5; James 3:13; 1 Thess. 4:11-12).
Risk-taking
We are willing to let people make mistakes as they grow in their gifting. We know that gifting develops in an environment of trial-and-error, so we are willing to be patient with people’s weaknesses and failures while they learn (John 21: 15-19; Gal. 5: 22-23).
