About Us

We're part of a larger story.

Every church community is just one part of the body of Christ, and The Table is no different. Here, we're happy to share our unique representation of the wider church. We hope that you'll see your own heart reflected in some of these core values and practices.

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Our Story

The seeds of The Table were planted in 2017, when founding community member Kate attended a Vineyard Global gathering in Ohio. Her family, along with a few others in B.C., had found themselves without a church community after long seasons of participation, leadership, and eventual fatigue.

Stirred by the Spirit, Kate had a glimpse of what a different kind of church might look like: one where the process of connecting and sharing lives together was simple and low-barrier. "I just felt like, while it wasn't the most convenient time to start a community, I needed a community," she says. "And if not, now, when?"

The result was a small gathering of families in the Fraser Valley who met together, sang songs of worship, studied the Bible, and prayed for one another. While The Table has grown and changed since those early days, that founding ethos remains the same: we aim to be a place where people can be present, care for one another, and look towards Jesus.

the table

Our Values

The Table was founded in the knowledge that we need connection—with God, and with one another. Here are some of the values that underpin our gatherings, and keep us growing towards Jesus.

Jesus is at the centre of everything we do.
We are people enthusiastically focused on Jesus. From the worship to the teaching to our conversations, our times together acknowledge his place as wonderful counsellor, prince of peace, and friend above all and through all and in all. We are working to journey ever closer to his heart.

Hospitality is our first language.
We genuinely care about people feeling welcome at The Table. From our earliest days as a home group of only a few families, we've practiced radical care for one another—and always gathered around food as a part of that practice. That's why we're called "The Table": because when we sit down together, everyone is equal and equally welcome.

We invite people to be who they are.
There's no need to perform at The Table. Frankly, we're too small. But more than that, we believe that we grow better through transparency and honesty, and that God can change our hearts as we spend time in his presence as our authentic selves.

Emotionally healthy relationships start here.

We all arrive at The Table bringing our past experiences with us. We acknowledge that many of us have been disappointed with church in the past—and some of us have been disappointments to others. But that's not a place we want to inhabit forever. At The Table, we build friendships based in mutual respect and healthy relating, with the expectation that as we pursue Jesus together, we heal.

Opting in, not obligation.
Everyone at The Table is leading a full life. Rather than adding another commitment to our calendars, we see our gatherings as an opportunity: to joyfully connect with each other and with the beautiful presence of Jesus. We respect and appreciate that not every Sunday we meet will be convenient for your family, your health, or your schedule. Please take care, and we'll see you next time.

Relationships come first.
It's easy to find reasons to disagree with one another, and staying part of a community is sometimes hard work. At The Table, we place a priority on growing together and towards one another through challenging seasons—and hopefully through this commitment, we experience the fruit of stable and caring relationships.

Discipleship is more than a day.
We are very aware that two gatherings a month is not enough for a full spiritual life. Everyone at The Table engages in their own practices of learning, prayer, and dialogue outside of our times together in order to grow in maturity and theological soundness. We are convinced that church is only one part of healthy spiritual formation.

We're part of the global church.
We value our identity as just one part of the body of Christ, and as part of the Vineyard movement. This anchors us and gives us accountability that we cherish.

Our Leadership

The Table is led by a Core Team of seasoned ministry leaders. This group of six to eight people is responsible for casting the vision for The Table, monitoring the needs of the community, and implementing pastoral care.

Supporting the Core Team is our three-person Board, which is responsible for upholding our charitable status and for financial stewardship. The Board includes one Core Team member at all times. We are deeply committed to responsible governance as a part of Vineyard Canada and the wider Vineyard Global.

We have one paid part-time pastoral coordinator who serves as point person for our community.

Both the Core Team and the Board are made up of dedicated volunteers. Since our earliest days, we recognized that for our community to flourish, the work of "being a church" needed to be collective: no one person had the energy or time to lead, but there was opportunity when everyone pooled their giftings together. We operate within the "geese in formation" model: if anyone in leadership is feeling fatigued, they rotate back as another team member takes point for the next season.

Teaching and worship leading at The Table is also rotational, accommodating different learning styles and leaving room for God to move in different ways. If anything we're trying is too hard for volunteers to execute, it tells us we're heading in the wrong direction. 

Our Roots

The Table is part of Vineyard Global, under the banner of Vineyard Canada. The Vineyard's rich tradition of Jesus-centred worship and intentional compassion for others is where we feel at home. To learn more about the Vineyard and its values, please visit https://www.vineyard.ca/theology.