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...a friend of mine eventually stopped going to her church because she felt that the bible had been relegated to a prop...
It's difficult for me to see why it took the leadership so long to perform some pruning of this movement. I suppose it's easy to be critical when you're outside looking in.

As a former attendee, I can say that you nailed it on the head. Bringing your Bible was OPTIONAL. You weren't going to need it, because the pastor rarely, if ever, quoted from it except to cite it, out of context, in support of whatever new revelation he had received from the Lord since last Sunday's service. I don't think the Vineyard leadership even studied the Bible for themselves. Church wasn't about studying God's prior revelations; it was about seeking new ones.

"Bringing your Bible was OPTIONAL."

That's what she said too. I wonder if making the bible more central would be a good test of a congregation's commitment to Christianity?

Even in my Continuing Anglican church the bible is inextricably woven through every part of the liturgy. It is the foundation of our Book of Common Prayer and it provides the substance of every sermon.

I know some people have twisted the bible for evil ends but I'd rather guard against that than support a "bible free" interpretation of Christianity.