The Trellis and the Vine

Our pastoral and ministry staff recently began ingesting a book
by this title and discussing it’s basic principles during our weekly
staff meetings. Colin Marshall and Tony Payne co-authored
the book. I have long appreciated some of their material from
Mathias Media in Australia and it came highly recommended.
Much of what they propose is not new and is simply a fresh
way of describing a biblical ecclesiology (the doctrine of the
church). What we have found helpful thus far is the imagery
of the distinction between the trellis and the vine. Vine work is
the ministry of the Word of God on various levels. This takes
place in both public and private settings. Vine work “requires us
to depend upon God and to open our mouths and speak God’s
word in some way to another person.” Thus, the central work
of any Christian ministry is planting, watering, fertilizing and
tending the vine.
Trellis work is the infrastructure that provides a context for
vine work. It consists of administration, committees, programs,
activities, organization and management. Every church has
a mixture of both. The vine grows on the trellis. At the very
least we need to meet somewhere and utilize various tools to
help facilitate the ministry of the Word. For us this includes
a wonderful worship center, public address system, fellowship
hall, kitchen, offices, a van, website, classrooms and all the kind
believers that administrate, manage and give attention to all
these material things and the people that serve with them.
The challenge directed to our pastoral staff has been to
recognize where trellis work is taking over vine work.
There are several reasons it is very easy for this to happen.
First, in some ways trellis work is easier. Vine work can be very
personal and requires much prayer and expending spiritual
energy within interpersonal relationships. It’s easy to shy away
from this. The authors put it this way, “Which is easier: to
have a business meeting about the state of the carpet, or to
have a difficult personal meeting where you need to rebuke
a friend about his sinful behavior?” Granted, some church
carpet meetings would be more difficult but that’s generally not
the case here! Trellis work is also often more visible than vine
work. It’s easier to point to a finished building than a healed
relationship or spiritual walk.
But how many are truly embracing the gospel? How many are
hearing the Word of God and being illumined by the power
of the Holy Spirit? The pastoral staff must be judicious with
their time because, as the authors state, “structures don’t grow
ministry any more than trellises grow vines.”
The challenge directed to our ministry staff has been to
recognize where trellis work is not supporting vine work.
Sometimes a church can have structures that were established
but no longer serve a vital purpose. They are there simply
because they’ve always been there and no one can imagine not
doing it that way. Meanwhile, other Word based ministries
that God is blessing with growth have emerged that lack the
necessary administrative support.
The challenge to the congregation (you knew that was coming
didn’t you?) is simple yet multifaceted. Do you recognize the
difference between the trellis and the vine? Do you recognize
that all believers belong to the vine? Do you recognize that
pastors must give the majority of their time to vine work (Acts
6:4; Eph. 4:11-13)? Do you recognize how God has gifted
you to serve His body within the vine or on the trellis? Let me
explain why each of these is important.
If you don’t readily recognize the difference between the trellis
and the vine you will find it difficult to accept change where
the trellis is no longer necessary or where it simply is not
accomplishing much. You might confuse offering programs and
having meetings with real spiritual growth. You might confuse
numerical growth with spiritual reality. You might see a meeting
time, bulletin layout or favorite chair as being inexpendable.
If you don’t recognize that EVERY believer belongs to the vine
you might think that vine work is strictly the role of pastors.
But we are all to speak the Word of God to each other (Rom.
15:14). This might be a word of encouragement, instruction,
correction, rebuke or love (think of all the “one anothers” in the
NT). Because of this you might avoid deep personal fellowship
such as a community group because you think the vine work
only comes through the professionals on Sundays. You might
also see evangelism as the job of the pastoral staff instead of
seeing yourself as salt and light.
If you don’t recognize that pastors must give the majority of
their time to vine work you might take offense when they
don’t run everything or offer everything you think ought to be
offered. You might also fail to involve yourself in trellis work
thinking it is only for the trained and paid few.
If you don’t recognize where God has gifted you, you might
become a vine that bears no fruit. Frankly, every Christian
must and will bear some fruit by virtue of the new birth and the
indwelling Spirit. So, you will bear little fruit and maybe suffer
from doubts regarding your justification because of it. The
problem is, not only will you suffer but the entire vine also will
suffer because of a shortage of workers attending to the trellis
and the vine.
As a staff we are prayerfully considering our own roles and use
of time. Frankly, the pastoral staff needs to do less trellis work.
We need to give more of our time to speaking the word and
caring for souls in both public an private settings.
How about you? Where do you speak the word to one another?
Are you close enough with any Christians to do this? Where do
you shine as a light in darkness? Are you confusing a shortage
of programs you would like to see with the absence of spiritual
vitality? Are you struggling with change? Are you more of a
trellis person or a vinedresser?
Pray with us and labor with us. We want to see an even
healthier vine because it honors Jesus. He is the true and only
life of the vine (John 15:4-5). As we abide in Him He will give
us greater life and fruit.
~Tony Sanelli