Tree of Life was planted on April 24, 2011 as a synergy between two other churches – Serrano Hills Church of Tustin and The Gathering Community Church of Orange. Serrano Hills had been around for over fifty years and was looking for ways to live out its missional call to be more present in the city. The Gathering was a two-year old church with a lot of energy and in need of some structure and resources. These churches had partnered together for several years in various ways, and were so like-minded; the decision was made that they would be able to accomplish better as one church what neither could do on its own. We believe that God is defragmenting his church and we are a part of that process.

The “tree of life” in the Bible appears to be symbolic of many things. It is in Genesis (the first book of the Bible) and Revelation (the last book). It symbolizes that we all have a decision to make – to choose God’s kingdom or our own. Jesus carried on this theme from nature in John 15 by describing himself as a vine and his followers as branches. Even the cross Jesus died on can be a symbol of a “tree of life.”

We believe in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, because many times doctrinal statements have been impacted by personal opinions and church history more than by Jesus. Some of the freshest articulation of Christian belief is contained in the creeds of the early church, such as the Apostle’s Creed. And practically every week we talk about our values of spiritual formation and discipleship, connecting with others in relationship, and living missionally as sent people to the places God has us planted (we summarize this as Formation, Community, Mission). John 15 also has much to say about these.

Tree of Life is led by a team of elders who commit their energies and gifts to shepherding and leading the church. There is a Pastoral Team of ordained pastors and a Catalyst Team that serves by getting ministries started and functioning in health. We also have Interns who are preparing to be in full-time ministry one day. But most important, we want everyone to know we are a church of volunteers – people committed to using their gifts and energies to serve God without getting paid.

We are not part of any denomination, though we partner with Christian churches from various denominational backgrounds. While we might technically be classified “non-denominational,” we like to call ourselves “inter-denominational” -because whatever your church background, you are welcome at Tree of Life.

Tree of Life Community has no affiliation with the Crystal Cathedral. One of the churches that consolidated into Tree of Life, The Gathering Community, originally met at the Crystal Cathedral but left in 2009 with no support other than prayer.

Our Lead Pastor Michael Bischof is founder of SOULeader Resources (www.souleader.org), a ministry committed to empowering wholeness in leaders and churches. Our Teaching Pastor Bobby Schuller is founder of The St. Patrick Project (www.stpatrickproject.org), a ministry that integrates monastic living with practical ministry. We also enjoy partnerships with various other ministries as we get really excited about what God is doing in his kingdom, and never want to be limited by what he is doing in just one local church.

Our home churches (sometimes referred to as “simple” or “organic” churches) are called “Parishes.” They are gatherings that meet in homes (and other locations) so that people can spend time in relationship with others, eating together, praying together, and supporting each other. We believe they are everything a church is. A “hybrid church” is simply a church that has both home churches and a centralized gathering.

We have both ordained pastors and ministry “catalysts” who serve God by using their gifts and leadership to empower others in ministry. Some are paid and some are not.

We do not have official membership of the church, but we offer to those who are on a spiritual journey together with us to sign a “covenant agreement” which contains some commitments about being disciples of Jesus.

To put it simply, our vision is to make disciples (apprentices) of Jesus who are committed to being and doing what Jesus said. We believe we accomplish this as we “go” as sent people into those places where God has called us, “baptize” or submerge people in the reality of the Trinitarian God, and “teach” them to obey everything that Jesus said. In other words, read Matthew 28:16-20 where Jesus gives the mission of what every church is to be about.