Leadership Within Vineyard Canada
The question of leadership and oversight has always been somewhat of a bone of contention within the Vineyard over its short history; not so much in the values that shape our understanding of kingdom leadership, but more in its implementation and practice.
Some of the initial impetus of the Vineyard Movement was the result of a desire to cultivate a leadership paradigm that was serving centric and relationally focused, not afraid of brokenness – even weakness (hence the phrase “don’t trust a leader who doesn’t walk with a limp”) and courageously walking in, and with, authority, without needing to leverage power and position.
Known as a part of the “third wave” which emerged in the church world in the mid 1980’s and into the 1990’s – the Vineyard carried a hunger for the Spirit of God to be present and active, particularly in the engagement of the “words and works” of Jesus without the classic pentecostal/charismatic understanding of the “power” gifts, while breaking free of the constraints of fundamentalist and conservative approaches to church leadership and governance. Our lean was always to that sweet spot where leaders are “free” to lead while tethered to our theology, values and resulting leadership instincts.
We have captured it this way in Vineyard Canada’s “Why Vineyard?” material:
“We are suspect of hierarchy, yet are not afraid of catalytic leadership that never graduates from servanthood and equipping others in order to open a generous space where “everyone gets to play.” “
This has us landing on a “best practices” approach to church governance in the work we have put our hands to regarding healthy evaluation, assessments, safeguarding and accountability within our leadership structures.
Andy Crouch, in his book “Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing”, captures our Vineyard understanding quite well. He says this: “Flourishing comes from being both strong and weak,” requiring us to “embrace both authority and vulnerability, both capacity and frailty –, at least in this broken world, both life and death.”
Our desire here is to offer you some wisdom and insight as to flourishing within your congregations as you continue to establish healthy policies, practices and procedures that allow for vibrant growth, creativity and diversity, in all we do together.
Health begets health. Order begets flourishing. Serving relationships are the antidote to the paralysis of bureaucracy.
As you work through these practices and discover what their implementation looks like in your particular context, there is one further thought we would like to share. Look at it as the Vineyard Operating System which provides the environment in which all these applications run.
The Way of the Shepherd.
Just as sheep are the most common metaphor for God’s people, the most used motif for leader, whether it be prophet, priest or king, is that of shepherd. In fact this idea appears 118 times in the Scripture. Let’s be clear, this is not an enneagram number, nor a personality trait. In fact, shepherd and pastor are not conflated terms, and it is not until significantly later in Church history that shepherd is used as an established title. It was not understood as a unique role, but as the way of leadership. The Operating System if you will.
“I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
“When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—
God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.” –1 Peter 5:1-13, The Message