Do Vineyard Canada pastors officiate same sex marriage ceremonies?
No, we do not allow Vineyard pastors to marry same sex couples.
Are queer people released to pastor in Vineyard churches?
Individuals with same-sex attraction who are gifted for pastoral leadership are blessed to do so, as long as they are living celibate lives or have chosen a heterosexual marriage. Further, such a person's orientation should not disqualify them from any participation in the life of their local church community, including pastoral ministry.
What is your perspective toward those with a different theology regarding minority sexuality?
One of our longstanding catch phrases in the Vineyard is "love the whole church." The Church has always had a wide array of liturgical expressions, doctrinal stances and practice. Vineyard Canada does not feel the need to "police" the Church, or society, in any way. We hold a posture of open handedness, realizing that we do not have all the answers nor are we in a competition to be "the best" expression of Christianity out there. We recognize that there are expressions of our faith who embrace same sex marriage and would call themselves "fully affirming" or "fully inclusive." That is their discernment and the descriptors they have chosen. It is simply not our theological perspective nor practice. We want to be faithful to what we have discerned Jesus is asking us to be and do. We only have one small part in a very grand story that God Himself in unfolding. There is room for disagreement and a way of love in which we can, and should, honour each other.
What are your ongoing efforts to understand and not perpetuate further harm to the queer community?
There is extensive history both in society and in the Christian Church, of which Vineyard Canada is a part, where the queer community has been mistreated, at times to the extreme. We believe queer people must be treated with dignity and respect. There is no room for bigotry or acts of hatred and violence towards queer people. We acknowledge serious harms have been done, and people have been wounded, including by words spoken at Vineyard events in the past. We are committed to growing in our awareness and understanding in order to not further perpetuate damage to queer people.
