The Network (group of churches)
| The Network | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Pentecostal |
| Region | United States |
| Founder | Steve Morgan |
| Origin | 2006 United States |
The Network is an international group of churches known for planting new churches by recruiting college men, training and developing them into leaders within the group.[1]
History
[edit]The Network was started by Steve Morgan in 1995 when he established Vineyard Community Church in Carbondale, Illinois.[2] Morgan and 50 members of his Carbondale congregation moved to Seattle in 2004 to find Blue Sky Church.[3]
In 2006, Steve Morgan removed Blue Sky Church from the Vineyard Association alongside several midwest Vineyard churches to officially birth the Network as an international group of churches focused on planting new churches, and the Carbondale Vineyard was renamed to Vine Church.[4][5]
Network Churches within the United States
[edit]| Year Founded | Church | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Vine Church | Carbondale | Illinois |
| 2002 | Foundation Church | Bloomington-Normal | Illinois |
| 2004 | Blue Sky Church | Bellevue | Washington |
| 2006 | Clear River Church | Lafayette | Indiana |
| 2008 | High Rock Church | Bloomington | Indiana |
| 2011 | Brookfield Church | Athens | Ohio |
| 2012 | Hills Church | Pullman | Washington |
| 2013 | Rock Hills Church | Bowling Green | Kentucky |
| Cedar Heights Church | State College | Pennsylvania | |
| 2015 | Oaks Church | Muncie | Indiana |
| Summit Creek Church | Eugene | Oregon | |
| Valley Springs Church | Corvallis | Oregon | |
| 2016 | Vista Church | San Luis Obispo | California |
| Vida Springs Church | Gainesville | Florida | |
| North Pines Church | Kalamazoo | Michigan | |
| 2017 | Christland Church | College Station | Texas |
| Joshua Church | Austin | Texas | |
| 2018 | Rock River Church | San Marcos | Texas |
| Bright Field Church | Dekalb | Illinois | |
| 2019 | South Grove Church | Athens | Georgia |
| Hosea Church | Raleigh | North Carolina | |
| Mountain Heights Church | Morgantown | West Virginia | |
| 2020 | Ascent Church | Blacksburg | Virginia |
| 2021 | Isaiah Church | Madison | Wisconsin |
Network Churches outside the United States
[edit]| Church | Church | Year Founded | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Roots Church | Taipei | Taiwan |
| 2022 | Stoneway Church | Reading, Berkshire | United Kingdom |
Controversy
[edit]Criticisms against the Network include their college recruitment practices, teachings on the role of women, dismissal of claims of abuse, and the authoritarian leadership style as reported by former members.[1][4][6]
Also, the qualifications of Steve Morgan, the Network founder, as a pastor have been questioned because of his arrest in 1987 for an alleged sexual crime.[7] The Former Vineyard officials who knew Steve Morgan during his ordination into the Vineyard association have issued statements denying knowledge of his arrest.[8][9]
In 2021, the website Leaving The Network was established. The mission statement of the website is:
Leaving The Network exists to platform the stories of those who have left Steve Morgan's Network of Churches and to create a public record of the inner workings and history of The Network.
The Network operates as a textbook example of spiritual abuse and systemic gaslighting. The fruit of Steve Morgan’s leadership tree is a controlling, manipulative, and abusive culture which has left numerous lives in shambles. Because of this, we do not seek to "reform" The Network. Rather, our mission is to equip those who have been abused by The Network.
This site was created by former pastors, staff, board members, and attenders of churches within The Network. We have all escaped this group of churches, in some cases after decades, and are in the process of rebuilding our lives.
To the many women and men who have left The Network, we hope you find encouragement and strength within the pages of this site. And to the many more still within The Network who can't shake the feeling that something feels off, this site exists to help you find the words to describe what you have been experiencing.
This site is for you, and our primary message is this: You are not alone.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Nicholas Gutteridge,"Christland Church: Former members describe alleged abuse, manipulation, control". thebatt.com. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Darlene (Dee) Parsons,"Former Members of The Network Call for a Third Party, Independent Investigation of Steve Morgan and Church Leaders". thewartburgwatch.com. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Les O'dell,"Local members of The Vine leave to start new churches". specials.idsnews.com. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b Marissa Meador,"'The church's answer was hurting them' Former members of Bloomington's High Rock Church allege spiritual abuse". specials.idsnews.com. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Warren Cole Smith, "Watchdog Group Calls For Independent Investigation of Pastor Steve Morgan and "The Network"". ministrywatch.com. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Misogynistic Content In Valley Springs Church'S Instagram Post". leavingthenetwork.org. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Josh Shepherd,"Whistleblowers Say Leader of 'Network' of Churches Hid Sexual Crime for 36 Years". julieroys.com. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Statements From Former Vineyard Officials". leavingthenetwork.org. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Network Leadership Team And Lead Pastors Respond To Allegations". leavingthenetwork.org. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
