NETWORK CHURCHES

The Network is an international group of churches which left the Vineyard denomination in 2006

WHAT IS THE NETWORK?

ON THIS PAGE:

  1. BRIEF INTRODUCTION ⇣
  2. IS THE NETWORK A CULT? ⇣
  3. LIST OF NETWORK CHURCHES BY STATE ⇣
  4. NETWORK CHURCHES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES ⇣
  5. SCHISMS, SECTS, AND BREAKAWAY GROUPS ⇣

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

The Network is an international group of churches which, according to former members, fosters a controlling, manipulative, misogynistic, and spiritually abusive culture. The Network's founder and current leader, Steve Morgan, was arrested in 1987 for allegedly committing aggravated criminal sodomy against a teenage boy while a youth pastor in Johnson County, Kansas.

The Network began when Steve Morgan planted Vineyard Community Church in Carbondale, IL, in 1995. In 2006 the church changed its name to Vine Church and left the Vineyard denomination, taking several midwest Vineyard churches with it to form an independent church planting network.[1] In self-deprecating humor, Steve and the pastors who left Vineyard with him called themselves a "No-name, No-account Network" of churches[2], until "The Network" stuck.

The Network has a singular focus on recruiting young college men to their churches to "raise up" as leaders in their organization. They do not hire pastors from the outside but promote only those who are "home grown and thoroughly trained... so that they can easily replicate" The Network's values[3]. The list of churches on this page were planted under Steve Morgan's direct control and pastoral training was provided by The Network.

For a thorough history of The Network from it's founding until today visit our Network History page.

IS THE NETWORK A CULT?

While we won't make a definitive stance on this site whether the churches within Steve Morgan's church planting network are cults, many of the ex-members who have shared their stories believe they are. They point to The Network’s authoritarian leadership style, rigorous demands and methods for life within the organization, intolerance for disagreement, and members being made to believe they will never find another community like The Network. Former members also describe an atmosphere of denigration and slander toward pastors, staff, and members who have left. Their stories indicate The Network, as an organization, demonstrates a systemic trend of manipulation and social pressure to all involved to conform absolutely to its expectations.

More reading material is provided on our resources page to help current, former, and potential members of The Network critically assess their experience. We have also posted the article "8 Signs of a Dysfunctional Church" for you to read about common characteristics of spiritual abuse within dysfunctional churches and high-control groups.

 

LIST OF NETWORK CHURCHES BY STATE

Who keeps the leaders of the churches within The Network accountable? Read the article on leadership accountability to find out the details on how these churches are governed.

CALIFORNIA

  • VISTA CHURCH*
    • Lead Pastor: Luke Williams
    • San Luis Obispo, CA

    • *Ceased public operations in 2024

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

KENTUCKY

MICHIGAN

NORTH CAROLINA

OHIO

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

TEXAS

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

 

NETWORK CHURCHES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

TAIWAN

UNITED KINGDOM

SCHISMS, SECTS, AND BREAKAWAY GROUPS

In response to rising public scrutiny, certain churches have concealed their ties to The Network, fractured into smaller sects, and scrubbed their websites of references to their past affiliations. To promote transparency, we've created a page which monitors these developments since 2021 and provides documentation on how these alleged breakaway groups have acknowledged abuse claims, responded to our Call to Action, and shown transparency throughout the process.

READ ABOUT SCHISMS, SECTS, AND BREAKAWAY GROUPS →

 

 

FURTHER READING:

HISTORY OF THE NETWORK: Key milestones in the development of Steve Morgan's Network of churches

READ MORE

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Morgan, Steve. "Our Story and How We Do Church", Nov. 2011, pp. 102.

[2] Morgan, Steve. "Our Story and How We Do Church", Nov. 2011, pp. 118.

[3] Morgan, Steve. "Our Story and How We Do Church", Nov. 2011, pp. 120.

[4] Clearview Church in Normal, Illinois was renamed Foundation Church around 2018.

 

 

HELP OTHERS HEAL

Consider donating to the National Association for Christian Recovery (NACR), a 501.c.3 non-profit whose primary purpose is to help provide resources to recover from abuse (including spiritual abuse) and addiction. Leaving The Network admires the work of NACR but is not associated with their organization.