Home - Join Us as We Leave

St. Croix Vineyard wants to take a stand for LGBTQ+ Christians. Stand in solidarity - all are welcome!

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Background

Thanks for Joining Us – Check out “Queerly Grafted”

Thanks so much to all of you for joining us as we make this transition. Your willingness to take a stand for justice for LGBTQ+ people has touched many, and your comments have been most encouraging.

We wish you could have all been with us in person for this past weekend, but with the COVID-19 crisis, even many locals weren’t able to make it out. Still, with precautions, a small but mighty group came out to share sacred space with our LGBTQ+ siblings as they shared lament and gratitude. We called the evening, Queerly Grafted – and you can listen in on the stories and songs. Unfortunately, the Sunday morning service when we originally planned to continue to grieve and celebrate as we step into our new identity has been postponed due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19. Stay tuned!

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I’ve always known and experienced St. Croix Vineyard as a safe, loving, and embracing community. Unfortunately, a love that embraces all others is not embraced by all others. Even though SCV must leave Vineyard Canada because of its convictions about what love looks like, it will continue to stand as a beacon of what a church community can be in a time when justice requires the full inclusion and participation of all people.
David Hayward@nakedpastor

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Despite claims (and even intentions) to the contrary, the sad truth is that LGBTQ2S+ people suffer real harm and trauma when churches impose exclusionary positions such as the ones Vineyard Canada has recently enacted. This is why the St. Croix Vineyard's commitment to full LGBTQ2S+ affirmation is critical to exposing the injustice of those positions and to making space for all God's children.
Jamie Arpin-RicciAuthor and pastoral leader, Little Flowers Community and Generous Space

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Now that the line is being drawn within the Vineyard Canada and our particular church, we willingly place ourselves with those on the other side of it. To many of us, this isn’t an 'agenda' nor is it an issue or a debate: these are our church homes, our families, our dear friends - both gay and straight, and this hurts everyone. It’s complicated and hard. And yet the grief we are experiencing as a family pales in comparison to the damage, oppression, and hurt inflicted on the personhood of LGBTQ+ believers: there are life and death consequences for these policies, especially for vulnerable young people. God, forgive us all.
Sarah BesseyAuthor/Preacher

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Equal marriage and the full acceptance of LGBTQ2 people within our churches is not only vital in terms of compassion and love, but also a fundamental of genuine Christian relationship and belief. To be affirming is not contrary to Christianity but at the heart of its meaning.
Rev. Michael Corenclergyman, columnist, author, radio and television talk show host

Join us as we “step away”

On Feb. 5, 2020, Vineyard Canada “concluded that it is not a practically viable option for our movement to allow a diversity of practice regarding officiating same sex marriages or licensing people in same sex marriages for pastoral ministry.”

We, at St. Croix Vineyard, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada have been a part of Vineyard Canada since its beginning in 1995. As a result of this decision by Vineyard Canada, we are being asked to “step away” and “cease using the name ‘Vineyard’ as to avoid confusion.”

We have heard from LGBTQ+ friends and allies that it is important that we don’t just slip away quietly, complicit with the harm that this decision extends.

We are asking our friends across the country and around the world to join us in this process. We are inviting you to become “honourary members” of St. Croix Vineyard, so that when we leave, we leave representing the strength that is growing among affirming churches and individuals. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! (You don’t have to be Canadian or a part of the Vineyard.)