The Association of Vineyard Churches (or Vineyard Movement) is a charismatic organization with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide. It has been associated with the “Signs and Wonders” movement, the Toronto blessing, the Kansas City Prophets, and it operates a publishing house called Vineyard International Publishing. More than any other church, Vineyard is responsible for the current trend toward a casual church atmosphere and contemporary worship. Its pastors tend to be laypeople who have proven to be faithful rather than seminary graduates as with conventional churches.
The movement started in Southern California following the Jesus movement of the late 60s/early 70s when Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa started evangelizing hippies and surfers. In 1974 a man named Ken Guliksen merged the bible studies of contemporary Christian music artists Larry Norman and Chuck Girard. One year later he was overseeing thirteen different groups meeting at the Beverly Hills Women’s club, and founded a church in Hollywood as a result. He called it the Vineyard, and through it he saw more bible studies, churches and fellowships added.
In 1977 an evangelical pastor and Fuller Theological Seminary church growth instructor named John Wimber founded a Calvary Chapel satellite church in Yorba Linda, California. An effective soulwinner and church planter, Wimber’s ministry proved very fruitful but his emphasis on healing and the ministry of the Holy Spirit led to a split with Calvary Chapel, and he became associated with Vineyard instead. Guliksen and Wimber became close friends, and in 1982 Guliksen turned over the churches under his oversight to Wimber and he became the leader of the movement until his death in 1997. Under his leadership Vineyard grew exponentially, and became a model for other churches and church organizations to this day.
After Wimber’s passing, the national coordinator Todd Hunter assumed control until his resignation in May 2000. Hunter was succeeded by Bert Waggoner (2000-2013) and Phil Stout (2013- ) Today the Vineyard has nearly 200,000 members around the world, due to its emphasis on church-planting.
Why I Respond to Criticism (John Wimber)
A Vineyard Pastor’s Response to Ken Wilson’s Book (Duke Tabor)