Vintage Church

History

Founded in August 2004 under the name "Heartland K10 Lawrence", services were originally held in a variety of rooms on the University of Kansas campus, primarily attended by students. After out-growing space available to campus ministries on a weekly basis, the ministry moved to the Lawrence Arts Center, then to its current location at Central Junior High School (formerly known as Liberty High School, built after World War I), where attendance is currently between 250-300 on a weekly basis. The church changed its name to Vintage Church in the Fall of 2006.

Vintage Church was originally a church plant of Heartland K10 (now known as 'Redemption Church', currently located in Olathe, Kansas), which was established by Pastors Kevin Cloud and Tim Suttle. Heartland K10 planted Vintage Church with the hope of establishing a church with similar values as its own in the Lawrence area. Redemption Church itself is a church plant of Heartland Church in the Kansas City area.

Beliefs

Vintage Church has often used the motto "Modern Art, Traditional Spirituality" on its signage and occasional advertisements. In line with 'traditional spirituality', the church's 'statement of beliefs' gravitates towards the historic orthodox Christian creeds, specifically the Nicene Creed. When questioned about the beliefs of the church, its pastor, Seth Davidson, has stated more than once: "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity." (This statement is a quote from John Wesley, who in turn was referencing a 1627 tract written by Rupertus Meldenius, a relatively unknown orthodox Lutheran theologian of the 17th century. There is no direct tie between Vintage and the Wesleyan or Lutheran tradition.)

Vintage Church has no formal connection with a denomination or overseeing body in regards to its practice or theology. According to leadership of the church, Vintage has a network of relationships with other like-minded churches in the Kansas City area by which the leadership holds itself voluntarily accountable for practice and beliefs.

Services

Vintage Church's services typically appeal to a younger demographic, with a majority of those attending services coming from local colleges and the University of Kansas, as well as a growing 'post college' and alternatively, high school-aged crowd. As of May, 2009, services are normally held at 5:30pm on Sunday evenings. According to the church leadership, the evening service time (as opposed to the more characteristic Sunday morning service, held by the vast majority of Christian churches) is intentional, as they believe both students and those from unchurched backgrounds find it difficult to attend a morning service if the individual is not already committed to the Christian faith.

The worship service itself is characteristic of most Protestant churches, in that the service incorporates a time of musical worship, communion, public reading of scripture, and teaching, followed by a closing benediction. Communion is taken at every public service.

In February 2008, journalist Hailey Osterhaus, with the University Daily Kansas (the school newspaper of the University of Kansas) wrote:

"I recently observed a Christian church called Vintage Church at the Lawrence Art Center at 940 New Hampshire St. The structure of the sermon was extremely modern. I was greeted by a huge group of incredibly warm and accepting Christians. They opened with a talented band playing religious songs that I actually enjoyed listening to. (It was no Radiohead, In Rainbows but nevertheless enjoyable). Then, the preacher said that he was happy to receive the company of those who came to explore their church. As he spoke, there were no implications of what was fashionable concerning religion. He was simply saying that the church welcomed anyone, even if they didn’t have a relationship with God. When the hour was finished, I decided this church was open-minded and tolerant, the way that everyone should be."