LEAVING VINEYARD USA
This is the letter sent out to our church family explaining our decision to leave Vineyard USA after three decades of partnership and participation.
Dear Church Family,
We had an amazing resurrection celebration this past Sunday! Great worship, joyful communion and seven baptisms. It was a meaningful morning and I’m so grateful for all of you.
I’m writing to update you, our church family, on the unanimous decision our elders have made together after much prayer, consultation and discernment about our relationship with Vineyard USA. We have determined that after 30 years of being a part of the association of Vineyard churches, it seems right to us and our sense of how the Holy Spirit is leading us to disassociate from Vineyard USA.
Here is the body of the letter we sent to inform Vineyard USA of our decision:
Dear Jay, Robb and the Trustees of Vineyard USA,
This letter serves as formal notification that Raleigh Vineyard Church has made the prayerful and considered decision to disassociate from Vineyard USA, effective April 15, 2025.
This decision was reached after significant discussion, reflection, and prayer by our Elder Board and Congregation. While we have resonated with the vision and values of Vineyard USA for almost three decades now, we have come to a point where we believe our paths are diverging in ways that necessitate a formal separation.
The reasons for our separation should not be a surprise to you.
We have observed a growing difference in our approaches to ministry and the practical application of our faith. We believe that Raleigh Vineyard Church is being called to a different model of engagement within our local community and beyond, which no longer aligns with the strategies and priorities of Vineyard USA.
We have developed concerns regarding the leadership structure, accountability practices, and ethical standards within Vineyard USA that we believe warrant a separation to ensure the spiritual health and integrity of our church.
And finally, as a local church, we have a deep commitment to practicing the God-given gift of autonomy as a local body of believers, even as we seek to mutually submit to others in relationship centered on Jesus and his Way. We believe that disassociation from Vineyard USA will allow us to more fully embrace this autonomy and pursue the specific vision God has given to Raleigh Vineyard Church for our unique context.
This decision was not made lightly and comes with a desire for the continued well-being and ministry of Vineyard USA.
Moving forward, Raleigh Vineyard Church will update our records, logos, name and communication materials accordingly to reflect this change of status. We request that Vineyard USA update its records to reflect our disassociation, effective immediately.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We trust that God will continue to guide both our ministries as we each seek to serve Him faithfully.
Sincerely,
Brian Metzger, lead pastor
Raleigh Vineyard Church
CC: Roger Adema
Bill Betts
Rashidah Lovick
Kimball McNeal
Amy Phillips
Larry Williamson, Elders of Raleigh Vineyard
Leah Pavel, Area Leader
Sharon McCarter, Regional Leader
John Elmer, Super Regional Leader
Being a part of something for over three decades means that this will be a loss for us, even if it is the right thing to do. This is a time for us to feel this loss. Sadness is normal and expected in a time of change like this. This is also the beginning of a new season, full of possibilities and opportunities that the Resurrection makes possible for all of us.
This transition will mean we need to make some simple changes. Our website address, updates to our social media presence and adopting a new name for our church will feel like big changes. Over the next few weeks, we will be transitioning to our new name that’s really our old name, Rivertree Church. We were “Rivertree Evangelical Presbyterian Church” in 1989 before becoming Raleigh Vineyard. We won’t be rejoining the Presbyterian Church but we will reclaim the name “Rivertree.” We are connecting that name to these verses from Revelation 22:1,2: “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”
Our mission remains, to be people who are all about experiencing and extending God's life-changing love.
On Sunday, June 8, Pentecost Sunday, we will have a special service that will officially launch our new name as we explore new ways we can find all those people, and there are many, that are looking for a place to belong and people like us to share life with.
If you have any questions, concerns or would like to dig down into some of the details about this decision, please contact Brian or any of the staff or elders. Thank you for being our church family and working through this season of discernment with us. We appreciate your patience as we have done our best to try to get this right.
For the Staff and Elders,
Brian
This is the letter sent out to our church family explaining our decision to leave Vineyard USA after three decades of partnership and participation.
Dear Church Family,
We had an amazing resurrection celebration this past Sunday! Great worship, joyful communion and seven baptisms. It was a meaningful morning and I’m so grateful for all of you.
I’m writing to update you, our church family, on the unanimous decision our elders have made together after much prayer, consultation and discernment about our relationship with Vineyard USA. We have determined that after 30 years of being a part of the association of Vineyard churches, it seems right to us and our sense of how the Holy Spirit is leading us to disassociate from Vineyard USA.
Here is the body of the letter we sent to inform Vineyard USA of our decision:
Dear Jay, Robb and the Trustees of Vineyard USA,
This letter serves as formal notification that Raleigh Vineyard Church has made the prayerful and considered decision to disassociate from Vineyard USA, effective April 15, 2025.
This decision was reached after significant discussion, reflection, and prayer by our Elder Board and Congregation. While we have resonated with the vision and values of Vineyard USA for almost three decades now, we have come to a point where we believe our paths are diverging in ways that necessitate a formal separation.
The reasons for our separation should not be a surprise to you.
We have observed a growing difference in our approaches to ministry and the practical application of our faith. We believe that Raleigh Vineyard Church is being called to a different model of engagement within our local community and beyond, which no longer aligns with the strategies and priorities of Vineyard USA.
We have developed concerns regarding the leadership structure, accountability practices, and ethical standards within Vineyard USA that we believe warrant a separation to ensure the spiritual health and integrity of our church.
And finally, as a local church, we have a deep commitment to practicing the God-given gift of autonomy as a local body of believers, even as we seek to mutually submit to others in relationship centered on Jesus and his Way. We believe that disassociation from Vineyard USA will allow us to more fully embrace this autonomy and pursue the specific vision God has given to Raleigh Vineyard Church for our unique context.
This decision was not made lightly and comes with a desire for the continued well-being and ministry of Vineyard USA.
Moving forward, Raleigh Vineyard Church will update our records, logos, name and communication materials accordingly to reflect this change of status. We request that Vineyard USA update its records to reflect our disassociation, effective immediately.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We trust that God will continue to guide both our ministries as we each seek to serve Him faithfully.
Sincerely,
Brian Metzger, lead pastor
Raleigh Vineyard Church
CC: Roger Adema
Bill Betts
Rashidah Lovick
Kimball McNeal
Amy Phillips
Larry Williamson, Elders of Raleigh Vineyard
Leah Pavel, Area Leader
Sharon McCarter, Regional Leader
John Elmer, Super Regional Leader
Being a part of something for over three decades means that this will be a loss for us, even if it is the right thing to do. This is a time for us to feel this loss. Sadness is normal and expected in a time of change like this. This is also the beginning of a new season, full of possibilities and opportunities that the Resurrection makes possible for all of us.
This transition will mean we need to make some simple changes. Our website address, updates to our social media presence and adopting a new name for our church will feel like big changes. Over the next few weeks, we will be transitioning to our new name that’s really our old name, Rivertree Church. We were “Rivertree Evangelical Presbyterian Church” in 1989 before becoming Raleigh Vineyard. We won’t be rejoining the Presbyterian Church but we will reclaim the name “Rivertree.” We are connecting that name to these verses from Revelation 22:1,2: “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”
Our mission remains, to be people who are all about experiencing and extending God's life-changing love.
On Sunday, June 8, Pentecost Sunday, we will have a special service that will officially launch our new name as we explore new ways we can find all those people, and there are many, that are looking for a place to belong and people like us to share life with.
If you have any questions, concerns or would like to dig down into some of the details about this decision, please contact Brian or any of the staff or elders. Thank you for being our church family and working through this season of discernment with us. We appreciate your patience as we have done our best to try to get this right.
For the Staff and Elders,
Brian