Walking Forward Together as a Church Family
Vineyard Columbus family,
Thank you to everyone who made time to join us for our recent all-congregation meeting. We know this has been a heavy and disorienting season, and that many of you are holding questions, grief, and concern—especially as we approach Christmas. We want to take a moment to follow up, to ground us again in what is most important, and to share how we will continue walking forward together.
The purpose of this message is simple:
to provide clarity where we can, to reduce confusion and anxiety, and to offer clear next steps for how we stay connected and care for one another in this season.
Naming the moment we’re in
This has been one of the most humbling and challenging seasons of leadership we have ever experienced. We are deeply aware that decisions and transitions over this past year have created pain, confusion, and weariness for many. We are carrying responsibility for that, and we are approaching this moment with sobriety, prayer, and a renewed commitment to humility.
Scripture gives us language for moments like this: lament. Lament is not blame or despair—it is the honest naming of what is real, while still trusting that God is present and at work. Jesus is with His church not only when it is flourishing, but also when it is hurting. We believe He is with us now.
A brief word of context
At Sunday’s meeting, leaders shared a high-level overview of factors that have converged over time—organizational complexity in a growing multi-site church, financial realities that surfaced earlier this year, and increasing strain within leadership roles. These pressures eventually led to several pastoral transitions in recent weeks.
Each of these transitions carries its own story, and we want to be clear: there is not a single cause, a single decision, or a single person to blame. Rather, this has been the accumulation of many factors over time. We shared this context not to assign fault, but to offer transparency and help the church understand how we arrived at this point.
Leadership transitions
Several campus pastors have discerned that they no longer had the grace to continue in their roles during this season. We are profoundly grateful for the faithful service of each of these leaders and recognize the grief their departures bring.
Interim campus pastors have been appointed to provide stability, care, and leadership during this season, and pastoral support is being extended to congregants who are directly impacted—particularly those from our New Albany campus, which has now been closed due to the sudden loss of pastoral leadership.
In addition, due to unresolved conflict affecting both relationships and the broader health of the church, the Church Council has asked our founding pastor to step away from active leadership and ministry roles at Vineyard Columbus for a season. This is not intended to be permanent. The intent is to create space for clarity, healing, and a pathway toward reconciliation. We know this is especially painful for many who love the founding pastor and his wife deeply, and we hold that grief with care as we continue to purse restoration.
Our financial and church health picture
It was shared that while this year required difficult financial decisions, our current financial position is stable. Giving has remained close to budget in recent months, cash reserves remain above required thresholds, and our annual audit is nearing completion with expectations of a clean report. Leadership and Council stated clearly that the earlier financial challenges were not believed to be the result of fraud, misconduct, or mismanagement, but rather the need to address unsustainable spending patterns.
Attendance has remained relatively stable in the years following COVID, though we are not currently experiencing growth.
Last July, we published this FAQ with details about our financials.
How to process in a healthy way
In seasons like this, it is natural to want to talk, make sense of things, and seek understanding. We want to encourage how and where that happens.
We ask that you:
- Lean into community, not isolation
- Process with trusted leaders—interim campus pastors, small-group leaders, and pastoral staff
- Use the listening spaces and submit questions using this form, rather than social media or speculation
- Ask honest questions, while resisting gossip, assumptions, or partial narratives
We are committed to responding thoughtfully and pastorally, even if that means answers take time.
Support from Vineyard USA
We have invited Vineyard USA to walk alongside us during this season as a coaching and support presence. Their role is to listen, help reduce anxiety in the system, support reconciliation efforts, and assist us in discerning healthy next steps. Vineyard Columbus remains locally led, and we are grateful not to walk through this season alone.
Looking ahead with hope
As we approach Christmas, we want to name what we are genuinely grateful for: a faithful and generous church, devoted staff and volunteers, interim leaders stepping in with courage, and countless stories of God’s quiet faithfulness even in a hard year.
Advent reminds us that hope often enters the world quietly, in places of uncertainty and waiting. Jesus came not into ideal circumstances, but into confusion, tension, and longing. We trust that He is still at work among us—forming us, refining us, and leading us forward.
Thank you for your prayers, your patience, and your love for this church. We are committed to continuing this journey with honesty, humility, and hope in Christ.
With love and care,
Eric & Julia