Ordination in the Vineyard
Ordination is a sacred act, a recognition of God’s call on a person’s life to serve as a pastor.
It begins in the local church, where leaders and communities discern and affirm a person’s character, calling, and readiness for ministry. Vineyard USA comes alongside that local discernment to offer national endorsement and support, helping ensure consistency, clarity, and care across our movement.
This process reflects the values we hold deeply: that pastors are formed over a lifetime of service that demonstrates spiritual maturity, relational integrity, theological grounding, and faithful commitment to Christ and his church. It’s not about earning a title – it’s about naming what God is already doing and walking together with clarity, shared values, and commitment.
If you’re beginning the ordination journey, or guiding someone who is, this page outlines the path ahead and how Vineyard USA will support you at every step.
Ordination Process
Start with a Conversation Locally
Ordination begins in the local church. Whether you’re sensing a call to pursue ordination or you’re a pastor discerning that someone in your congregation may be ready, the first step is a conversation.
This is where mutual discernment begins: naming a sense of calling, reflecting on character and ministry journey, and considering readiness for what lies ahead. The pastor who initiates or joins this conversation will typically become the Sponsoring Pastor: the person who walks alongside the candidate throughout the ordination journey, helping affirm their readiness at each stage.
In most cases, the Sponsoring Pastor will be the Lead Pastor or another senior-level leader in the candidate’s local Vineyard church. Vineyard USA relies on this kind of local discernment to guide and shape the ordination process. The Sponsoring Pastor, and by extension, the Sponsoring Church, plays an essential role from start to finish.
Every ordination candidate must have both a Sponsoring Pastor and a Sponsoring Vineyard Church. In exceptional cases, a Vineyard USA National Ministry may serve as the Sponsoring Church, but every candidate must have a Sponsoring Pastor who commits to walking with them through the process.
Phase 1: Call and Journey
Phase 1 Application includes:
- Basic information, sense of call, short answers, and two 3-5 page responses
- Sponsoring Pastor Confirmation Form
- Three Personal References
Once the application is submitted, the Sponsoring Pastor will automatically receive a brief verification form to confirm their role and support. Candidates should not begin the application until they have full support from both a Sponsoring Pastor and a Sponsoring Church (or, in rare cases, a Sponsoring Vineyard USA National Ministry).
This first phase centers on storytelling and shared discernment. Candidates reflect on how God has shaped their life, how their character and calling have matured, and how they sense the Spirit inviting them into pastoral ministry within the Vineyard. It offers a window into their sense of call and readiness to take the next steps.
Generally, candidates should complete this application in the earlier stages of discerning a lifelong call to pastoral ministry in the Vineyard. However, those already serving in pastoral roles or with significant ministry experience will also begin the formal process here. Candidates transferring their ordination from another movement or denomination likewise start their Vineyard ordination journey with this step.Â
You don’t need to hold a specific title or be in a full-time role to start. Vineyard pastors serve in diverse roles: on staff, co-vocational, or in other ministry or secular contexts. Ordination is about recognizing the shape of a call, not fitting a particular fixed mold.Â
Completed applications and references are reviewed by the candidate’s Sponsoring Pastor, as well as Vineyard USA and designated translocal leaders.Â
Most candidates will move forward to Phase 2 at this point; if not, a conversation between the candidate’s Sponsoring Pastor, designated translocal leadership, and Vineyard USA will help clarify the appropriate next steps to further develop readiness.
Phase 2: Experience and Competencies
The candidate’s Sponsoring Pastor will respond to a parallel assessment, providing feedback on the candidate’s formation and leadership.
Phase 2 also includes a background check and a psychological assessment. The psychological assessment is not about determining a candidate’s calling, but rather growing in understanding of health and readiness for long-term ministry. The psychological assessment, conducted by Campion Barrow & Associates or another third-party professional team, is designed to provide a practical snapshot of certain aspects of emotional, relational, and spiritual health. The assessment does not diagnose or treat mental health issues; it focuses on strengths and areas for growth, equipping the candidate and those walking with them to take the next steps with clarity and confidence.Â
Phase 2 Application includes:
- Candidate Self-Assessment: open-ended questions on pastoral competencies derived from the Be-Know-Do framework
- Sponsoring Pastor Assessment of Candidate
- Background Check
- Psychological AssessmentÂ
Phase 2 is about helping candidates start off on the best foot possible, by surfacing areas of strength, identifying opportunities for growth, and supporting long-term flourishing in ministry. Read alongside the materials from Phase 1, this phase offers a fuller picture of the candidate’s journey, equipping the Sponsoring Pastor to walk alongside the candidate with additional clarity and care and for designated translocal leaders and Vineyard USA to offer additional support. All submitted materials will be treated as a sacred trust. They are handled with attentiveness and care, as part of a shared commitment to the candidate’s ongoing formation.
There is a cost of $650 for this phase, which covers the cost of the psychological assessment, the background check, and administrative processing. If a candidate and their Sponsoring Pastor desire, the psychological assessment may be completed by the candidate and their spouse (if applicable). In that case, the total cost for Phase 2 will be $1,000.
Candidates may cover this expense directly, the Sponsoring Church can cover the cost, or the cost can be covered by the candidate and the Sponsoring Church together. If finances are an obstacle for any party, please communicate with Vineyard USA.
Phase 3: Development and Approval (Launching Early 2026)
Phase 3 Application includes:
- Pastoral Conversation
- Two Pathways
- Traditional (Most Common): Development Plan > Development Journey > Closing Pastoral Conversation > Ordination & Endorsement
- Abbreviated: Pastoral Feedback > Ordination & Endorsement
Phase 3 begins with a Pastoral Conversation involving the candidate, their Sponsoring Pastor, designated translocal leaders, and a Vineyard USA team member (such as a Super Regional Leader or the Associations Director). This conversation builds on the work completed so far, offering a space to reflect together on the candidate’s development and calling, and to discern next steps in a spirit of support and collaboration.
Following the conversation, the leaders (excluding the candidate) will review the outcomes and materials together. From there, Phase 3 proceeds in one of two tracks:
Traditional Path (Most Common)
Most candidates will continue their Ordination and Endorsement journey through a season of intentional development. This phase is not about checking off tasks, but about growing in maturity across the dimensions outlined in the Be-Know-Do framework: deepening intimacy with God, strengthening character and relationships, expanding theological understanding, and practicing ministry with wisdom and love.Â
This part of the process draws directly from who we’ve always been and what we’ve always done. Vineyard churches have always raised up and recognized their own pastors, and that hasn’t changed. The Sponsoring Pastor leads this next stage, charting a development path that reflects where growth is most needed. What’s new are the tools from Phase 1 and Phase 2, which now help provide a baseline and a guide along the way, and a broader team of voices available to offer support, encouragement, and connection to helpful resources along the journey.
Once the development plan is completed, the candidate will participate in a second Pastoral Conversation. If Ordination and Endorsement readiness is affirmed, the process will culminate in the candidate receiving ordination credentials from their local church and along with a national endorsement from Vineyard USA.
Abbreviated Path
We recognize that some candidates may already be well along in their development and readiness for ordination. These candidates may be ordination transfer candidates who have been serving faithfully in their local church and living into the expectations of Vineyard pastoral leadership for some time. Others may have walked through significant formation already—through ministry, mentoring, and experience—and be ready for ordination and endorsement without the need for an extended development plan.
In these cases, the outcome of the Pastoral Conversation may be a recommendation to move forward with ordination and national endorsement through an abbreviated path. While personal and professional development is an ongoing expectation for all of us, this route acknowledges the maturity and readiness already evident in the candidate’s life and leadership.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
FAQs
Anyone who demonstrates a clear call to lifelong pastoral service in the Vineyard, aligned with the Be-Know-Do framework, and is affirmed by a Sponsoring Pastor and local Vineyard Church, or in exceptional cases, a Vineyard USA National Ministry, may be considered for ordination. Candidates come from a wide range of ministry contexts and do not need to hold or be pursuing a particular title or full-time role.
Ordination is rooted in the local church. Local leaders discern a person’s call, character, and readiness. The Sponsoring Church and Sponsoring Pastor affirm the candidate’s journey and commit to walking with them throughout the process. Vineyard USA comes alongside to provide support and national endorsement.
This process means that updates to the Handbook will happen slowly and with broadly consultative and transparent engagement of the Leadership Council and Vineyard churches.
Sponsoring Pastors are typically a lead pastor or another senior-level pastor at the candidate’s home church. They are responsible for supporting the candidate throughout their ordination journey. They have a critical role in assessing readiness, providing feedback, participating in pastoral conversations, and guiding the candidate during the development phase (Phase 3). The Sponsoring Pastor is supported by Vineyard USA and translocal Vineyard leadership throughout the ordination process.
Yes. You do not need to be a lead pastor or in a full-time or paid ministry position to pursue ordination. Many ordained Vineyard pastors serve as associate pastors, other staff pastor positions, co-vocational pastors, or in other ministry roles.
Vineyard USA is working to ratify version 3.0 in Spring of 2026 and version 4.0 in Spring of 2028. The 2026 proposed 3.0 Handbook updates will be communicated to all active Senior Pastors on or before September 1, 2025 allowing for a minimum of 6 months for review and input prior to ratification votes.
Yes. Ordination transfer candidates begin with Phase 1, like all other candidates, and proceed through the process. Depending on formation and experience, they may be invited to follow an abbreviated path through Phase 3 if readiness and alignment are affirmed during the pastoral conversation.
Vineyard USA is working to ratify version 3.0 in Spring of 2026 and version 4.0 in Spring of 2028. The 2026 proposed 3.0 Handbook updates will be communicated to all active Senior Pastors on or before September 1, 2025 allowing for a minimum of 6 months for review and input prior to ratification votes.
The psychological assessment provides a snapshot of relational, emotional, and spiritual health. It is not used to determine calling or diagnose mental health conditions. Instead, it helps candidates and those walking with them gain clarity and insight into their readiness for long-term pastoral ministry and identify areas for ongoing maturation and development. Assessments are conducted by trained professionals like Campion Barrow & Associates.
Vineyard USA is working to ratify version 3.0 in Spring of 2026 and version 4.0 in Spring of 2028. The 2026 proposed 3.0 Handbook updates will be communicated to all active Senior Pastors on or before September 1, 2025 allowing for a minimum of 6 months for review and input prior to ratification votes.
Ordination isn’t about passing or failing. If questions arise, Vineyard USA and the Sponsoring Pastor will work with the candidate to discern next steps. That may include additional development, a pause in the process, or a different vocational path. The emphasis is on care, clarity, and discernment, not disqualification.
The formal process strengthens clarity, consistency, and shared standards across the movement. It honors what has always been true—that ordination begins locally—but adds national support, shared language (the Be-Know-Do framework), and a developmentally sensitive structure to care well for pastors and churches alike.
National endorsement is Vineyard USA’s public affirmation of a candidate’s ordination, recognizing shared alignment with Vineyard values, formation, and pastoral identity. Local churches continue to ordain candidates, but national endorsement ensures movement-wide clarity and mutual trust.
The Be-Know-Do framework expresses the identity of a Vineyard pastor. It outlines the spiritual character (Be), theological understanding (Know), and pastoral practice (Do) that mark healthy leaders. This framework anchors both the assessment and development phases of ordination.
Just as a couple is truly married on their wedding day—and yet grows in depth, maturity, and love over the years—so too are Vineyard pastors expected to embody the Be-Know-Do framework from the start, while continuing to grow into it over time. These qualities aren’t static requirements to check off, but lifelong invitations to become more fully who God has called us to be.
Every candidate must have a Sponsoring Vineyard Pastor and a Sponsoring Vineyard Church. In rare cases, a Vineyard USA National Ministry may act as the Sponsoring Church, but candidates must still have a Sponsoring Pastor who commits to walking with them through the process.
There is no rigid deadline. The process allows for flexibility based on the candidate’s context, development, and discernment. Vineyard USA encourages candidates to move steadily, but with care and support at each stage.
Vineyard USA walks closely with churches and Sponsoring Pastors throughout the entire ordination process. Practically, through this three-phase pathway and the Be-Know-Do framework, we provide theological vision, thoughtfully designed assessment tools, and direct involvement from translocal leaders and national team members.
These tools and resources are not just paperwork and process. They’re intended to support real pastoral discernment, grounded in prayer, reflection, and honest conversation. Vineyard USA participates in each stage, offering feedback, insight, and recommendations to help churches care well for the candidate and guide their development.
When a church walks with a candidate, Vineyard USA walks with the church—supporting the pastor who is supporting the candidate. Our role is to serve as an extra set of eyes, help shoulder the weight of discernment, and ensure a shared understanding of what it means to be a Vineyard pastor across our movement. The goal is the same: to raise up pastors with clarity, consistency, and care, affirmed both locally and nationally.
Yes. Churches always maintain the responsibility to provide oversight to those they ordain and may revoke ordination based on the standards outlined in their bylaws. When that happens, Vineyard USA will withdraw national endorsement to reflect the local church’s decision.
Vineyard USA may also withdraw endorsement in rare cases where serious concerns arise—such as misconduct, failure to meet shared expectations, or breach of relational commitments, even if the local church has not taken formal action to revoke ordination. However, this creates a significant tension. In these situations, Vineyard USA commits to working directly with the local church and its board to address concerns collaboratively, seeking clarity, accountability, and alignment whenever possible.
Endorsement reflects a shared affirmation of a pastor’s call, character, and conduct. If circumstances call that into question, both the local church and Vineyard USA have roles to play, but neither acts lightly. Any potential removal involves pastoral conversation, clear communication, and a commitment to handle the process with integrity and care.
Possibly. Local licensing and ordination are distinct but complementary. Local churches license and ordain; Vineyard USA endorses ordination at a national level.
If you’re currently licensed and sense a call to lifelong pastoral ministry, you may be a good candidate for ordination, but it’s not automatic. Talk with your pastor or governing board. With the support of your church and a Sponsoring Pastor, beginning the national ordination process may be the right next step.