The Church That Never Was
The Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Denver, Colorado was the first church I went to after becoming a Christian in the mid-80's. I attended there--usually two or more times a week--for a number of years. I was baptized there. I first learned the Bible there. I made friendships there that have endured to this day. I played in the worship band, was on the "ministry team" and participated in outreach. I met my wife there. Eventually I became disillusioned and then disgusted at the autocratic leadership style of Senior Pastor Tom Stipe and so I left there.
Now it appears that the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Denver never actually existed. At least, that's the impression that Tom Stipe seems to want the world to have. Around the time I left, Stipe parted company with the Association of Vineyard Churches, renamed the church to Crossroads Church of Denver and re-aligned himself more closely with Calvary Chapel, which is where he had begun his ministry in the 70's.
Recently I stumbled upon the website of Crossroads Church of Denver and was surprised when I read the section entitled Our History:
Likewise, Stipe's biography on the website makes no mention of the Denver Vineyard Christian Fellowship, instead stating that:
In fact, I could not find any mention anywhere on the website indicating that Crossroads Church of Denver used to be the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Denver.
For some reason this bugs me. I know it shouldn't. I parted ways with Stipe many years ago and I doubt if he even remembers who I am. Yet I feel as if someone has tried to erase an important part of my own past. It seems that Crossroads is doing revisionist history for the sake of expediency. The dozen or so years that the Denver Vineyard existed (and was one of the largest churches in town) have been airbrushed out in a way that reminds me of how the Soviets doctored photographs to remove any who had fallen from favor. It seems so ... disingenuous.
Big deal. It's his church, he can do what he wants.
Of course, that's the exact attitude that drove me out. It wasn't his church. The church was all of the people who passed through the doors over the years. The church was the people who worshipped and prayed and served and fellowshipped and generously gave their tithes to pay the salaries and rent and enabled Stipe to build a career. It is those people who are now, apparently, an inconvenient embarrassment to Pastor Stipe.
If you're interested in hearing Tom give a very different history (and I can't imagine why you would be), you can watch a video of him from the 80's by clicking here.
Now it appears that the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Denver never actually existed. At least, that's the impression that Tom Stipe seems to want the world to have. Around the time I left, Stipe parted company with the Association of Vineyard Churches, renamed the church to Crossroads Church of Denver and re-aligned himself more closely with Calvary Chapel, which is where he had begun his ministry in the 70's.
Recently I stumbled upon the website of Crossroads Church of Denver and was surprised when I read the section entitled Our History:
"Crossroads Church of Denver began as a home Bible study in 1976. This Bible study was started by Pastor Tom Stipe in his basement in 1976 and has grown into Crossroads Church of Denver, a congregation of over 5,000."
Likewise, Stipe's biography on the website makes no mention of the Denver Vineyard Christian Fellowship, instead stating that:
"Tom and his family moved to Denver to start Crossroads Church."
In fact, I could not find any mention anywhere on the website indicating that Crossroads Church of Denver used to be the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Denver.
For some reason this bugs me. I know it shouldn't. I parted ways with Stipe many years ago and I doubt if he even remembers who I am. Yet I feel as if someone has tried to erase an important part of my own past. It seems that Crossroads is doing revisionist history for the sake of expediency. The dozen or so years that the Denver Vineyard existed (and was one of the largest churches in town) have been airbrushed out in a way that reminds me of how the Soviets doctored photographs to remove any who had fallen from favor. It seems so ... disingenuous.
Big deal. It's his church, he can do what he wants.
Of course, that's the exact attitude that drove me out. It wasn't his church. The church was all of the people who passed through the doors over the years. The church was the people who worshipped and prayed and served and fellowshipped and generously gave their tithes to pay the salaries and rent and enabled Stipe to build a career. It is those people who are now, apparently, an inconvenient embarrassment to Pastor Stipe.
If you're interested in hearing Tom give a very different history (and I can't imagine why you would be), you can watch a video of him from the 80's by clicking here.
15 Comments:
Hi Danny,
My name is Kyle and I ran across Tom Stipe's name and the testimony you put up as I've been watching the Signs and Wonders Conference in 1985. I got curious as to who he was and is today as it seems the integrity of leaders in the Vineyard doesn't have the BEST reputation. And man, it really hurts! I love the Vineyard and the power of God in it and the remarkable level of hunger. So I began googling him and came across your blog.
I'm wondering if you knew anything more on what happened to him during that time. If you do, that would be awesome to hear. If not, that's ok and I pray the Lord would bless you with all He has everyday.
Thank you for your time,
Kyle
Tom Stipe may choose not to recognize the role Vineyard played in his career and the foundation of CrossRoads but anyone who was there in the late 70s knows the truth. It was a transformed liquor store where the first sign of Denver Vineyard existed. Danny Daniels was the worship leader at that time. John Wimber came to the initial opening ceremony of blessing the Denver Vineyard, where Tom Stipe was head pastor. It was a vibrant church with many miracles occurring and rich worship. I was almost out of college at that time, looking for a new church to call my home. When I was told to try the Denver Vineyard, it was the most life-changing church I had experienced. The move of the Holy Spirit was vibrant drawing a variety of people. It was the days of power, healing and evangelism simply by attending church. Over the course of the next decades, I continued to go to Vineyard churches where ever I lived. Every year I looked forward to the Vineyard Annual Conference in Anaheim where John would minister along with many other anointed people. Hearing such speakers as Jackie Pullinger, transformed my thinking and life. The Pastors’ Conference at the Denver Vineyard was also life transforming. Even now I belong to the Vineyard, but the signs and wonders look much different. One day, in the not too distant future, the seeds God had planted through John Wimber will grow into little John Wimbers ‘doing the stuff’ all over the world, and God will use Vineyard once again in power to transform lives. In that time, the Kingdom of God will be few words, but power in signs and wonders again.
I share your concerns for Tom's historical revisionism. I also concur regarding his "autocratic leadership style." Tom and I parted company on what could have been cordial terms. Unfortunately, the week immediately following my departure he blasted me from his pulpit in all three services. As was often Tom's issue, he was sorely out of touch with his congregation, and the issue he blasted me for was one which a large portion of the congregation strongly supported. I received dozens of calls over that "sermon," all from people who were very upset that Tom would name me from the pulpit as an example of someone who was misguided. Many immediately left the Denver Vineyard (yes, that's what we were called at that time) never to return. Those who departed happened to be, like me, the activists -- the ones who were active in their communities, active in politics, active in the church. They were the committed ones and, not coincidentally, they were the most committed financial supporters of the Vineyard.
Within three weeks I received a call from the assistant pastor who informed me that the church's offerings had taken a dramatic downturn and that Tom was worried. Within a month after my departure Tom called me asking me to return. He never apologized for having slandered me from the pulpit. He just wanted me back, and "Please bring everyone else back too." As I probed him as to his motives he acknowledged he was worried about the cash flow situation. His lack of contrition and repentance hardly served as an inducement for my return.
To help fill in the historical omission, here's a video of Lonnie Frisbee (being embraced by Tom Stipe) as he comes to the pulpit to "minister" at the Denver Vineyard. BTW, this is one of the last messages Lonnie gave prior to his death in 1993 from AIDS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp4jfl02gAc
(cont.)
I knew Lonnie when I was a member of the original Vineyard Church in Westwood CA (Pastor Kenn Gulliksen), prior to John Wimber's arrival on the scene. I got to know Wimber, as well, and I had many concerns about Wimber's theology. I mentioned my concerns to Kenn and asked that he not allow Wimber to become a part of what we were doing, or to use the Vineyard name, as I was confident it would sully our reputation. Wimber had a very dominant (sometimes bordering on bombastic) personality and I knew he would completely subsume the much more humble and mild-mannered Kenn.
Part of what was so beautiful about the early Vineyard was the tranquility of our services. When we came to visit Wimber's services Sunday evening, at his request, the style was just the opposite -- loud and showy. Wimber reminded me of a televangelist faith healer. He seemed to love being the center of attention, whereas Kenn felt uncomfortable being in the limelight. Kenn avoided the accolades, whereas Wimber was the opposite. With Kenn in the pulpit you had no doubts that any move of the Holy Spirit was genuine. Not so John, who reminded me a great deal of Benny Hinn.
After moving to Boulder CO I encountered Tom Stipe and started attending the Denver Calvary Chapel. Tom was intrigued by my affiliation with the Vineyard, although his knowledge was based on what he knew of Wimber, not Gulliksen. Over lunch one day Tom informed me that he was considering parting relations with Calvary and Chuck Smith and becoming a Vineyard Church. I urged him not to do so because, by that time, Wimber had taken over completely as top banana of the Vineyard Christian Fellowships. I warned Tom of my theological concerns about Wimber. I also warned him that Wimber wouldn't be an easy person to have to work with. Tom seemed less than concerned. He'd already made up his mind.
To my knowledge Tom never did confess (or explain) from the pulpit, at least with any clarity, why he ultimately separated from the VCF. No doubt at least some of it had to do with Wimber/VCF's obsession for the experiential over theological, i.e. their slippery slide into "signs and wonders" and various and sundry other aberrant "spiritual movements" like "being drunk in the Spirit", "Holy Spirit laughter," Toronto Blessing, etc. I seriously doubt I was the only one who had warned Tom. He refused to take the warnings and many people were harmed as a direct result.
Peter
I just came across this blog in a search on the Vineyard. Don't you think accusing Tom Stipe of trying to erase history based on one paragraph on the church website is a bit of a stretch? The fact that Tom Stipe has been in prominent leadership in both The Vineyard and Calvary Chapel Jesus Movement is well established and widely known. I don't want to offend, but that accusation reads as out of touch and petty... Peter, you might want to pick up the book Counterfeit Revival or read one of the many Christianity Today articles Tom Stipe wrote on why he ultimately separated from the Vineyard (if you're looking for clarity and a "confession").
Having come through the Jesus Movement, attended Bible College with the Assemblies of God, been affiliated with the Liberty Bible Fellowship out of Pensacola, and having attended Vineyard Churches and other charismatic churches, I have been constantly amazed at the desertion of the Gospel of the Bible by these churches and the propensity to seek prophesies and signs and wonders. God's word is so clear and yet these prophets and miracle workers seem to always be invited in and revered by the leaders of charismatic churches. Most of my closest friendships were developed in those churches but few of us have been able to remain in them. Tom is the senior pastor of a large church, has been prominent in the Calvary Chapel movement and in the Jesus Movement. If the things he related in his introduction to Hanegraaff's book were true, then I feel he was justified in separating from the Vineyard fellowship and owes no obligation to reference the years he was affiliated with them. I think that almost all pastors of big churches get the big head somewhat and also don't want be seen as being on the losing end when there is a disagreement and a popular staff member leaves. His actions show that none of us seem to rise far above our pride and insecurities. The church has gone through many wanderings from the basic teachings of the word, but the grace and care of our Lord is sufficient to bring us back. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
I was going to try out crossroads for the first time this Sunday, but this has made me concerned. Iud like to know where some of you choose to go after you left, because my family is new to Denver and we really need a church.
Hi Kimber,
I haven't been back to Crossroads in many, many years--since my wife and I moved out of Colorado, up to Seattle. We continued on in Vineyard churches for a few years in the Pacific Northwest, then we started a house-church which we did for a few years (and which was a wonderful experience). Eventually we became Quakers and that is where we remain to this day.
A friend of mine recently went through a very painful experience at Crossroads, which leads me to believe that things there haven't changed much.
There are many wonderful churches in the Denver area and which one is best for you would depend upon a myriad of factors, such as your doctrinal beliefs, what style of worship you like, etc. One church that I particularly like in Denver is Highlands Church: http://highlandschurchdenver.org/
I should also give a shout out to First Denver Friends (Quaker) Church (http://firstdenverfriendschurch.org/) though I must confess that although I know some folks from that church, I have never visited it myself.
May the Holy Spirit guide you and give you wisdom in your search for a community of faith.
-Danny
Stipe puts his word above God's.
I attended the Vineyard Denver from about 1982-1986. It become all about signs and wonders and little else. Very "exclusive" and no tolerance for any teaching outside of the Vineyards various classes. When I or any of my friends would ever speak to Pastor Stipe and say hello he ALWAYS sneered and never spoke. Can you believe it?! It's the honest truth. He never mixed with the congregation, because he wanted us all to get into small prayer groups. But still, I to this day never saw a more unfriendly pastor. I left the Denver Vineyard because of the lack of focus on the scriptures are more on experiences and signs and wonders and little else. I tired of "The Tom Stipe Show" and what I was seeing was seen by others also. A lack of balance and Tom Stipe was all about Tom and little else.
I ran across this while Googling about Vinyard (my daughter went to a couple of services in Bern, Switzerland, although she is not a Christian at all.)
I'm not a Christian (I'm a Buddhist), but back around 1982 I used to play with a couple of jazz musicians who didn't smoke marijuana. I thought that was odd. Turns out they both converted to Christianity on an acid trip. Anyway, they took me to the Vinyard church: I remember it being in an abandoned liquor warehouse. What I remember about it was that it seemed to be a huge meet-up spot for Christian singles. According to my daughter in Switzerland, that's what it appears to be there, too. Do Vinyard members grow up and go to other churches, or has the Vinyard congregations grown up? I could get lost in all of this theology…Signs and Wonders, etc. It all seems so strange from this outsider's point of view, just as strange as Mormonism or…well, my "faith," Tibetan Buddhism.
Hi Kimber, I would've put my name in this but couldn't figure out how to do it. I went to Crossroads Church when it was a Vineyard. It was wonderful and I really loved it. I moved to Seattle along the way and would visit when I returned to Denver to see my sisters. Even though I didn't know Pastor Tom well he always remembered me and spike with me. I had gone to a Bible study in his home for a time. I found him to be a solid Bible teacher and would consider attending there again if I were in Denver. My husband and I moved to Colorado Springs recently. Regarding all this vitriol toward Tom Stipe....he had served God faithfully over many years. No one is perfect but it's very hard to be a pastor..
.particularly of a large church. Satan is out to destroy Christians and their pastors. Any effective pastor will be attacked viciously ad Mark Driscoll was in Seattle recently. Kimber I wouldn't worry about all the gossip and malcontent. I encourage u to visit Crossroads. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide u and make your own decision. U may muss out on something good if u don't. By the way, I served on the worship team while there...been leading worship for many years....been a Christian since the age of about 10....am now in my 60's and have seen it all. Go visit if u wish. God bless u richly as u serve him. Summer 😊
U should attend Crossroads and ask the Holy Spirit to guide u. I also attended thus church when it was a Vineyard years ago....and before moving Seattle I had a wonderful time there. Pastor Tom wad always nice and kind to me.. Then later when I visited Denver and would visit the church he'd always remember my name and ask how I was doing. Let me say that any man leading such a large church had to be sure about where he is going...and also tends to be directive. Tom is a good guy...and had a strong for God. He had given his life to serving Christ in ministry to others. I'm sure that with his gifts and leadership abilities he could have been successful in another occupation. Being a pastor is not the easiest thing on the world. Satan is constantly attacking and trying to year apart ministries that are having great success for God. Look no one is perfect and we all make mistakes
Has Tom Stipe been perfect in everything...probably not but neither have I. Have u? Well, anyway I had a wonderful time there at the church. I respect Tom Stipe and that he had been used by God to affect many lives. Ne careful, that wr don't get so critical that we rip other servants of the Living God apart. Kimber I encourage u to go there yourself and make your own judgment. Ley the Holy Spirit guide u. Remember anyone can say anything on these sites...true or not. Is everyone inspired by God? Maybe not. I'm in my 60's and have been a Christian since about 12 yrs old. I've been in many churches and seen many things. I believe what I am saying is wisdom speaking. U may miss out on something good if u don't see for yourself. On the other hand if u don't like if...well then u won't have to wonder. God bless u as u serve Him! Summet
In early 1982 my then future husband took me to The Vineyard in Denver. When my heart was so hard I could not hear the Gospel, I was broken by the Spirit
inhabiting worship, the wonderful worship team and the entire ministry led by Pastor Tom. In July of 1982 I gave my life to the Lord after a service during which Tom taught us about the Holy Spirit. We became part of a small group fellowship in our neighborhood and those wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ became our family.
We were attending this Vineyard when the changes occurred. We were not involved in the politics of the change and actually I don't recall now that much changed except the name and our sign. The teaching was full, the Holy Spirit was always there, we couldn't wait until the doors were open on Thursday night and Sunday morning.
My husband and I were married in 1983 and moved from Denver. We were married until March of 2014 when my husband passed away. I am sorry to learn that troubles occurred. But the foundation established in the Lord so long ago, must still be there or the ministry would not still be strong, no matter what the name.
I will always be grateful for the ministry at The Denver Vineyard. Because what started for me in that ministry launched me into a walk with the Lord that is eternally life changing.
V Bullock
Waverly Hall, GA
I plan on being in Denver soon and thought of looking Tom up. So with a google I stumbled across this blog. Imagine my surprise to read the comment from Anonymous, finding them oddly familiar, and then suddenly realizing I'd written them years ago! I'd completely forgotten.
Though Tom has never repented for slandering me, by name, from his pulpit in all three services, I forgave him many years ago. As we age many of us mellow, also growing in God's grace. I hope this is the case for Tom as it has been for me. Perhaps when we meet again it can be on better terms.
Post a Comment
<< Home