Vineyard Distinctives

Course Summary

This unit provides students with an opportunity to critically explore the history, theology, and polity of the Vineyard movement as a contemporary Christian denomination. It examines the historical development of the Vineyard movement, including the formative influence of John Wimber and early Vineyard leadership; the theological foundations of Vineyard identity, especially Kingdom theology (“now and not yet”); key ecclesiological distinctives, including the “radical middle” and Third Wave identity; Vineyard pneumatology and the role of the Holy Spirit in shaping authority, leadership, and ministry practice; and core ministry expressions — worship, equipping, compassion, and power ministry — as embodiments of Vineyard polity.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Critically analyse the historical and theological roots of the Vineyard movement, including major formative events, documents and significant people.
2. Articulate the key beliefs and features (including polity) of the Vineyard movement clearly and coherently for both theologically trained and non-theologically trained audiences.
3. Evaluate contemporary church practices (including governance) in light of Vineyard history, theology and current cultural context.
4. Theorise about possible future developments in the beliefs, practices and polity of the Vineyard movement.

Course Content

1. John Wimber — Life and Legacy
2. History of the Vineyard
3. Theology — A Now But Not Yet Kingdom
4. Ecclesiology — A Middle Way
5. Pneumatology — Signs and Wonders
6. Vineyard Values
7. Worship — Intimacy and Honour
8. Equipping — Everyone Gets to Play
9. Compassion — Remember the Poor
10. Power Ministry — Come, Holy Spirit
11. Looking to the Future