Tonia Ford Vines: the Church Bizness Meeting

The Church Bizness Meeting is a hilarious gospel comedy centered on a day in the life of Light of God (LOG) Community Church, a historically Black church in Washington, DC. The church is on the brink of collapse due to ineffective leadership, declining attendance as people opt for virtual services, and the lure of developers eager to turn the property into luxury condos and a fancy dog park. Barely hanging on under the self-centered leadership of its temporary pastor, the church trustees call an emergency business meeting to update the congregation—and to introduce a new pastor they hope will save the church from destruction. This doesn’t sit well with a motley crew of longtime members, and the meeting quickly spirals into chaos as folks interrupt with gripes and unsolicited opinions—from complaints about the rationing of expired communion juice to outrage over the new pastor canceling their Atlantic City trip to attend the Usher concert in favor of community outreach. But when the biggest interruption of all takes place, the members are forced to decide whether the church is worth saving—and if they’re willing to do what it takes to make it the heart of the community once again.

Inspiration for the Work:
I grew up in a small storefront church that eventually grew into a megachurch in Washington, DC. In those early days, I encountered a full cast of characters—from frazzled Sunday School teachers to exuberant choir directors and meddling but well-meaning missionaries. Even with all the colorful personalities, it still felt like family—like home. Back then, everyone knew each other’s name, address, and prayer requests. We looked out for one another—helping with rent, babysitting, or simply a shoulder to lean on. There were no cell phones or social media, but everyone felt seen, known, and, despite our flaws and foibles, deeply loved.

As the church grew, so did the personalities—which I began to see more as caricatures—as well as a shift in focus from community-centered service to seemingly self-centered promotion. I channeled these observations into writing The Church Bizness Meeting, a comedy first produced in 2011 at the National Black Theatre Festival in Washington, DC. I’ve since updated the play to reflect how the church has evolved—or not—during this digital age, while maintaining its over-the-top caricatures and satirical tone. It explores questions many are wrestling with today: Is the physical church still relevant? Has technology helped or hindered its mission? And if church doors close, where do people go for refuge and support?

The goal of The Church Bizness Meeting isn’t to force Jesus on anyone, but to spark reflection and conversation—through laughter. Set in the fictional Light of God Community Church, the play offers a window into the experience of a historically Black church, inviting audiences to consider how far we’ve drifted from our roots—and whether there’s still space to return to a spirit of service, community, and authentic connection with God and one another.

Runtime: 1 hour

Ages: All Ages

Content Advisory: mild depictions of violence

Tonia Vines is a vibrant and passionate actor, director, playwright, and theatre educator. A proud graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she went on to earn a BFA in Theatre Education from Howard University and later received a Master of Arts in Theatre from California State University.

Tonia served as Artistic Director of Act 2 Drama Ministry—an entity of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church in Washington, D.C.—from 2000 to 2020, where she wrote and directed numerous gospel plays that drew large, enthusiastic audiences year after year.

Her theatre company, True Vine Productions, grew out of this ministry and continued to perform until Tonia retired it in 2015 to focus on motherhood. Even during this time, she remained creatively active, continuing to write, teach, and direct. Former members of True Vine Productions, now known as ENCORE, continue to gather regularly to create theatre together through acting workshops under Tonia’s direction.

A dedicated theatre educator, Tonia has worked in schools throughout the DMV and directed students in numerous musicals, including several that were performed at The Atlas Performing Arts Center during her 15 years as the Arts Coordinator at Two Rivers Public Charter School. She currently serves as the Middle School Theatre Director and DEI Liaison at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland, most recently directing Disney’s Descendants the Musical.

Tonia has served as an adjudicator for the NAACP’s annual ACT-SO Monologue Competition for the past eight years and as a teaching artist for the Maryland Thespian Festival for the past four, as well as a workshop presenter for numerous arts conferences throughout the years.

Her most cherished role is being Mom to her two daughters and their lovable dog, Dexter. In her free time, Tonia enjoys reading, exploring nature trails, and traveling to New York City to catch the latest Broadway shows.