SALVATIONIST
Doors and windows
THIS is not the first time that I have confessed that perhaps my all-time favourite film is The Sound of Music
Some will be aware that one of the lines spoken by Maria while seeking to encourage one of the children in her charge is ‘when God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window’.
Whatever your feelings about the film, the concept of trusting God with the future holds true. Discovering God’s plan for our lives and for our Movement requires faith. Faith to believe that if one path appears to be closing, another will present itself if our focus is on him and his service.
In this week’s issue we hear about a new opportunity for spiritual leadership in local settings. This enhances the already established means of paid spiritual ministry that are available as channels through which to respond to God’s calling. It also recognises the changing face of society, acknowledges that God is continuing to call people into ministry and seeks to ensure that our processes and functions do not hinder the Spirit as he directs our responses to be better and more responsive disciples. May God bless us as we respond to his Spirit with this new opportunity.
MAJOR JULIAN WATCHORN Editor
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Issue No 1982
EDITOR Major Julian Watchorn
MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Stevie Hope, George Tanton, Lyn Woods, Major Margaret Bovey, Major Lynne Shaw
ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips, Joseph Halliday, Oyindamola Olagunju
PROOFREADER Chris Horne
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SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
From the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS
General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
TERRITORIAL LEADERS
Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Julian Watchorn
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© The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. ISSN 2516-5909.
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland is SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland is CHY6399.
Northampton.
FOUNDERS William and Catherine Booth
The human cost of living
Captain (Dr) John Clifton (Blackpool Citadel) reflects on the impact of poverty on families across the UK today
IN less than a month, the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will set out her plans for public spending in the autumn budget. She has warned that tough decisions will need to be made to address the nation’s finances. This likely means cuts to public services, especially outside ring-fenced areas like education and pensions, where the vulnerable will feel the greatest impact.
Take, for example, a young boy at our youth club in Blackpool. He lives with his mum and two siblings in overcrowded housing and has moved several times due to unstable accommodation. His family’s poverty reminds us of how deeply housing instability and economic challenges affect families across the UK. He often comes to the club hungry, and struggles at school, especially with reading. Like many of his classmates, the disruption caused by Covid-19 lockdowns has set him back, and he’s finding it hard to catch up.
“ 27% of families in the UK, some 7.5 million households with children, are trapped in poverty. ”
This story is not unique. Current estimates suggest 27 per cent of UK families — some 7.5 million households with children — are trapped in poverty. It’s clear to The Salvation Army that these reductions in public spending risk disproportionately affecting families who are already struggling, like the boy from Blackpool and his family, whose lives have been marked by unstable housing and financial hardship. Cuts to public services will deepen the challenges
for families like his, already bearing the weight of low pay, homelessness, and food insecurity.
There are undeniable economic difficulties, but families like these should not bear the burden of political decisions. The cost of living crisis has already pushed many into deeper poverty, with an overwhelming portion of their income being swallowed by essentials such as food, housing, and energy. These families rely on public services, many of which are now at risk of cuts.
As Christians, our response to these families in need isn’t simply a matter of policy — it’s a reflection of our faith. Jesus’ teachings call us to care for children and protect the vulnerable. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’ The welfare of these families — particularly the children — must not be sacrificed to balance the books.
Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that we should, ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.’ Families provide not only stability but also the foundational values that shape future generations. But how can we expect children to thrive when poverty deprives them of even the basics?
Our founder, William Booth, recognised the inextricable link between physical wellbeing and spiritual flourishing. He famously said, ‘You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.’ This is the mission that has driven The Salvation Army for more than a century, and it is why we are calling on the chancellor to take tangible steps to protect families like the one we’ve been supporting in Blackpool, and others that The Salvation Army supports across the UK, who need stability to recover from their crises.
These include:
• Reforming universal credit by removing the two-child limit and ensuring benefits rise with inflation to help families cover essentials like housing and food.
• Investing in early intervention programmes that tackle addiction and mental health crises, as well as expanding access to emergency treatments such as Naloxone.
• Ring-fencing funding for employment services to help those struggling to return to work, ensuring long-term recovery for families on the edge.
As The Salvation Army, we believe that every person should have the opportunity to reach their God-given potential, free from the deprivations of hunger, homelessness, and addiction. But these opportunities can only come with the right support.
We have seen first-hand how much families like the one from our Blackpool youth club rely on these services. They should not be left behind. Join us in calling for change at tsa.link/families and ensure support for all families in the upcoming budget.
In the words of William Booth: ‘While little children go hungry, I’ll fight to the very end!’
Territorial Justice and Reconciliation Officer THQ
Reflect and respond
Pray for the government as they grapple with decisions in the budget that may impact poor families. Join with the call on the government to act at tsa.link/families
CAPTAIN (DR) JOHN CLIFTON
Quiz
Awe-sums
Can you calculate the song?
by Garry D Reed
1 Take the year The Christian Mission started.
2 Divide this by the number of gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11.
3 Add the number of ‘cities of refuge’ in Joshua 20.
‘God’s hand pulled me aside’
Gillian Allan (Perth) shares a humbling moment of divine clarity
4 Subtract the number of anchors cast out of the ship in Acts 27.
H5 Minus the song number of ‘For the Mighty Moving of Thy Spirit’.
6 Square the number of Marys mentioned in the New Testament and subtract it from your running total.
7 Robert Redhead’s brass composition and William Himes’s vocal work share the same number: ‘Isaiah ___’. Multiply by it.
8 Divide by the number of Commandments.
9 Add the total number of songs and choruses in the current songbook.
10 Take Leonard Ballantine’s March, ‘Brazil __’, from your running total.
11 Subtract the song number of ‘Jesus Friend of Little Children’.
12 Divide by the number of times Naaman was told to wash to free himself from leprosy.
13 Angels, churches, seals… In Revelation we find a number repeated many times. Subtract this to get the number of a song inspired by Psalm 92.
ANSWERS 1 1865. 2 5 (running total: 373). 3 6 (379). 4 4 (375). 5 319 (56). 6 36 (20) 7 40 (800) 8 10 (80) 9 1041 (1121). 10 75 (1046). 11 654 (392). 12 7 (56) 13 7 (49). Song 49: ‘O Lord My God, When I in Awesome Wonder’.
OW many of us simply plod along each day convinced we are doing our best in every situation without truly knowing what God really wants from us? I have been a Christian for nearly 30 years. I am the only saved person in my family and can honestly look back and see God’s hand in my life at times when no way out possible.
Yes, I pray that my family will be saved, that he will continue to bless us each and every day, as well as the many other things that the Spirit puts on my heart. But recently, God really pulled me up and stopped me in my tracks.
I came into the office and flipped over the daily reading on my calendar to read that God not only expects me to do his will, but that he, himself, is in me to do it. Philippians 2:12 and 13 tell us how important it is that we obey God to work out our own salvation, because he always works in us to make us willing and able to obey his own purpose. It isn’t simply a matter of believing we are saved and then having nothing else to do.
When I came to work in The Salvation Army a few years ago, I was introduced to the church members at a Sunday service. I spoke of running towards the goal in order to win God’s prize of a life above with Christ.
Things have been going well in our corps, although we are unofficered at the moment. I have worked each day of the week to purposely get through all the things that needed doing and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have never left the office feeling that nothing good or effective had been accomplished. There have been no disappointments; everything I am involved in is achieving the desired result.
But in that moment, when I came into the office, I realised I had stopped running his race and become complacent. My desire to please him had diminished;
I was in danger of becoming a peoplepleaser rather than a God-pleaser. So I asked myself: what is God’s purpose for me and exactly what do I have to change within myself to accomplish this?
God’s hand pulled me aside to make me stop and know I was not doing exactly what he desired of me. It was a divine moment of clarity for me and one that was exceedingly humbling.
So, it is now time for me to take a big step back and make more of an effort to consciously seek his face and learn from him and his word. God’s love is boundless, steadfast and nothing will ever separate me from it (see Romans 3:38 and 39). Nothing I can or ever will do will prevent God from loving me, because I am very precious in his sight.
Forgive me, Lord, that I have taken your very costly gift for granted. Help me as I steadfastly look to you for your divine help and inspiration. Onwards and upwards!
Have you got a testimony to share? We’d love to hear your faith story! Get in touch at salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk
Time to listen?
A LETTER from Russell Chalmers (Salvationist 27 July) raised some valid questions. The small number of Salvationists responding to full-time ministry has been with us for a long time. If we believe, as I do, that The Salvation Army was raised by God through William Booth, why then do we find ourselves in our current situation? Is the answer – and maybe I’m being somewhat naïve –obedience? Up and down our territory we have
TIME TO SPEAK UP?
WITH reference to the number of candidates applying for officership, Russell Chalmers asked: ‘Is God desperately trying to get our attention?’ (Salvationist 27 July). Dare I suggest it is the absence of testimonies in meetings, when the invitation is given? Through the corps cadets, many were taught how to speak in public, and in turn how to testify. Could it well be that many do not know how to, and have no idea how to speak in public?
BILL GOLD CLOWNE
Editor’s note: We continue the valued tradition of testimonies every week in ‘Salvationist’ on
brilliant Salvationists undertaking meaningful activities, probably for many decades. I’m convinced that in numerous corps we have such people. However, I’m also certain that, at some point in their service to the Army, God will have asked some of them to cease doing good things and to do even better things – namely, to be full-time leaders. God has never stopped calling people to be obedient to what he wants us to do.
PAUL BOYER LEICESTER
page 4, and encourage Salvationists to share their faith journeys with us.
OPEN DIALOGUE
I WRITE in respect to the recent article in Salvationist (10 August) concerning the use of Alpha. The Alpha course has been perceived by some as dogmatic and too top-down. In order to offset and address this, course facilitators might like to consider coming offpiste a little and playing devil’s advocate. In fact, I think this would be essential when dealing with non-Christians.
KEVIN CHUBB BARRY
A REMINDER
ANYONE who watches the plethora of antiques shows
on TV will be familiar with the word ‘provenance’ – if you were there when it was signed, or have the original receipt. One of my daily duties in the office block where I work is to check the bins in the multifaith prayer room. Recently, two gentlemen having finished their prayers engaged me in conversation. I smiled politely and certain song lines started popping into my mind, starting with: ‘God sent his Son, they called him Jesus;/ He came to love, heal and forgive;/ He lived and died to buy my pardon,/ An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives’ (SASB 219). Another chorus sprang to mind: ‘O the blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow,/ Yes, I know!/ The blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow,/ Yes, I know!/ I bless the happy day/ When he washed my sins away,/ The blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow’ (SASB 950). I serve a risen Saviour, he’s in the world today. Hallelujah!
MORVYN FINCH WOODBRIDGE
RECYCLE, REDUCE –AND REUSE
THE problem of disposal of plastic has earned it the accolade of materia non grata, despite it having benefits when used correctly. So, how can we live sustainably with it? Low cost has made plastic disposable, and human laziness enabled this to become litter. Plastic’s physical longevity has made this permanent, and much of it ends in water and eventually the oceans. All power to the squads of people who clean it up for the benefit of us all. We need conversions of those who chuck away this material. How about Sustainable Plastic September?
WESLEY PAXTON ANNAN
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? Get in touch with the Salvationist editorial team at salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk or comment on Facebook @SalvationistUKI.
ON COMMISSIONER
FREDA LARSSON’S APPEARANCE ON SALVATIONIST
RADIO’S THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG PODCAST
‘I am so proud of Commissioner Freda Larsson. Compassionate, kind and loving leader. In 2000 while I was in London she invited me for a cup of tea in her office with a very special concern for me and my twins. I thank and praise God for her kindness and compassion. God bless her.’
Phulen Macwan
‘I have the book Just a Year Lord. It is a real treasure.’
Jean Saville
YOUR VIEWS
Many years ago General Frederick Coutts said letters for publication in the Army’s press should be ‘carefully thought out, logically presented and charitably expressed’. Letters may be edited and should ideally be no more than 150 words.
Reset your vision!
Captain Kathryn Stowers encourages us to allow God space to speak into our lives and worship
ISAIAH 1:10–20
YEARS ago, in one of my many attempts to lose weight, my slimming consultant had a favourite saying: ‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got’. The only way to make a difference to your outcome would be to make a difference to your input.
It seems like common sense when you put it like that. However, when it comes to our spiritual lives the reality of this can be difficult, painful even.
In our study passage, God had tough words to say to Israel about what the outcome would be if they continued to rebel against his covenant. He told them: ‘Stop bringing meaningless offerings’ (v13). Israel had spent many years perfecting the art of ritual. Their religion was more about ritual than worship. It was meaningless because their focus was not on the One who was the only true object of worship.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
What rituals are so familiar to us that we don’t think about them at all?
Do we understand why we do what we do in worship?
Ritual can be really important. It grounds us and helps us make sense of what we are doing. However, we must be present and aware of what things mean. Worship is far more than just going
through the motions and doing things as they have always been done.
For hundreds of years, Israel had gone about their religious rituals of sacrifices and prayers with little or no regard of what God actually required of them. Without the true heart behind the offering and worship, God explained that sacrifices were worthless: ‘I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats … I cannot bear your worthless assemblies … and your appointed festivals’ (vv11–14).
This is a tough message when transferred to our context – the things we do as ritual, going through the motions, without putting our whole heart into them are not what God desires from us.
Furthermore, God didn’t listen to the prayers of those whose hands were ‘full of blood’ (v15). This reminds us of Psalm 24 when, as part of the procession to festivals, the question is asked: ‘Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false God’ (Psalm 24:3 and 4). The concept of clean hands is directly associated with purity of heart.
There is something therapeutic about hand-washing, cleansing away the dirt and grime of work, or sometimes just feeling cleansed and fresh. Isaiah, speaking the Lord’s words, urged Israel to ‘wash and make yourselves clean’ (v16). This is the purity of heart the psalmist talks of: washing away the ritual and getting back to the main thing; repenting
of our evil deeds; seeking justice and defending those who have no voice – the oppressed, the fatherless and the widow (see Isaiah 1:17).
PAUSE AND REFLECT
What in your rituals might stain your hands?
Take a few moments to wash your hands, think about what you are washing away and how refreshing and liberating clean hands feel.
There is hope, however, in obedience to the Lord. If we are willing to follow his rule and reign in our lives, our sins will be washed ‘as white as snow’ (v18) and we will enjoy all the goodness he has to offer.
For a people who were so steeped in ritual of which the Lord despaired, the only way to find his favour was to completely reset. They were to put aside their precious religious practices and focus on obedience and listening to what he asked of them.
For us, there are times when we are caught up in our own rituals that in themselves are not wrong. However, we may have moved our focus off the Lord and on to the rituals themselves. We need to reset, strip back what we are doing and allow God space to speak into our lives and worship. He promises: ‘If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land’ (v19).
The first step of practising obedience is learning to listen. To listen, you must stop and give attention to the speaker. Resetting, then, must start with paying
attention to what the Lord is saying. We need to listen intently and, instead of doing things our way, put what he says into practice.
Building this discipline into our personal devotions or corporate worship is challenging and takes an investment of thought and time. When we are serious about resetting and focusing on what is most important, the Holy Spirit will give us patience, stamina and peace, and help us open our hearts to his blessings – the ‘good things of the land’ he desires for us.
When we change the input, the outcome will change. I won’t say how well I was able to achieve this on my weightloss journey, but it has worked for my journey with the Lord!
PAUSE AND REFLECT
What can you change? How can you reset your personal relationship with the Lord?
Who might you ask to keep you accountable for your spiritual reset?
Practise silence. Listen to God. If it makes you uncomfortable, set a timer for 20 seconds and raise it by ten seconds a day, and journal what you’ve heard God saying through your silence.
CAPTAIN KATHRYN STOWERS Corps Officer Newport Citadel
As of January 2024, Prayer Matters is following a new prayer rhythm, to pray for renewal in this territory’s worship and mission. Each day has a theme, based on the five mission priorities. To read the unedited Prayer Matters booklet, visit salvationist.org.uk/discipleship
SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER: CARE FOR CREATION – REPURPOSING CLOTHES AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Creator God, make us more creative: creative in mending, repurposing and restoring. As we learn how to lengthen the life of our clothes and other possessions, give us joy in these simple acts of creation care. by Lyndall Bywater (UKI Boiler Room Team)
SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER: SABBATH PRAYER – THE PROMISE OF TRANSFORMING LOVE –PSALM 139:1 AND 2
Lord Jesus, thank you that with you I can really be myself, realising that you’re not shocked by what you find. You’re glad when I allow you to work in me, so I can become who you had in mind for me to be. Have your way in me, Lord.
by Captain Cor van der Woude (Bury)
MONDAY 14 OCTOBER: SHARING THE GOOD NEWS – PRISONS WEEK (13–19 OCTOBER)
Sovereign God, we lift to you in prayer the minister for prisons, the director general of operations for HM Prisons and the probation service, and those who work with them. Grant them wisdom to ensure the welfare of prisoners and to fulfil their other responsibilities. We pray for the many Christian ministries that engage with people in UK prisons and youth offender institutions through chaplaincy, evangelism, discipleship, education, counselling and other support. from Care Prayer Diary July–October 2024
TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER: SERVING AND CARING – IRELAND DIVISION
Rates of domestic violence remain high across this island. Lifehouses, hostels and safe houses are often at full capacity, and women and children seeking refuge struggle to get the help they need. Pray for protection, safety and that violence will cease. Pray for the division’s initiatives to help those who are victims of violence and who come to us looking for safety.
by Major Nina Wright (Belfast Citadel)
WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER: GROWING IN FAITH – DESIGN FOR LIFE FOR CHILDREN
Pray for the Design for Life weekend experience specifically for children, which potentially has wonderful implications for the future, as children learn and discover that God has plans for their lives. Pray especially for the training day that we will be holding soon.
by Major Mark Sawyer (Territorial Candidates Director)
THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER: INTERNATIONAL SALVATION ARMY – PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND SOLOMON ISLANDS TERRITORY
Pray that the territory’s corps and centres will be places of refuge and transformation. Pray for God’s provision and protection, particularly for those serving and worshipping in remote communities; ask God’s blessing on the territorial leadership team of Colonels Chris and Tilitah Goa and Lieut-Colonels Garth and Suzanne Stevenson. by Lyndall Bywater (UKI Boiler Room Team)
FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER: JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION – CHILDREN WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS
The families of children with disabilities and additional needs often speak in the language of war. Pray for the families who talk about things being a fight because of how hard they find it to access appropriate healthcare, education, specialist equipment, carers’ support, therapy and finance. Pray that their children can have a good quality of life. by
Chris Stringer (Learning Disability Inclusion Development Manager, THQ)
PRAYER REQUESTS
Do you have something or someone you’d like us to pray for? Email salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk with ‘prayer request’ in the subject line and it will be upheld in prayer.
Now recruiting
Major Beverly Baker introduces the territory’s new strategy for employing corps leaders
FOR many years, in addition to the crucial ministry of officers and territorial envoys, The Salvation Army has welcomed and valued the Christian ministry and leadership of employees who live out the mission of The Salvation Army. Today, employed roles as well as officer roles exist in several positions that were traditionally reserved for officers. Examples include spiritual directors, divisional youth specialists, chaplains in Homelessness Services, Older People’s Services and prison ministry, and, more recently, pioneer leaders of fresh expressions, reaching new people with the gospel of Jesus in new ways and in new places and spaces.
“ Our hopes and prayers are that people will continue to be open to exploring the call of God. ”
This change has emerged as a pragmatic response to missional need at a local level, but it is also the result of a strategic decision rather than a reactive response. Our territory’s senior leaders prayerfully continue to
seek God’s direction for The Salvation Army, balancing the need to be consistent with our history and theology with the need for creative approaches to current contexts.
The discerned way forward is to strategically move towards a flexible leadership model. As part of this, a new role of employed corps leader will be introduced. This role will exist alongside the continued availability of roles such as pioneer leader and chaplain.
In giving attention to how we employ leaders for ministry, we have developed a wider territorial framework. This will ensure a consistent approach to the recruitment, assessment, training, deployment, support and oversight of those who enter into an employment contract to lead a local setting of The Salvation Army – including corps, pioneer or fresh expressions, as well as chaplaincy in residential settings.
We continue to affirm and encourage the opportunity and privilege of officership and territorial envoyship. Officership and territorial envoyship are not jobs, but a way of life and lifestyle that is liberating and enabling of living out a life responsive to the calling of God. As a result of this focus on leadership, we have recently increased the flexibility possible within officership and envoyship to accommodate, for example, family and caring needs.
Salvation Army ministry is based in covenant, with soldiers, officers and territorial envoys in covenantal relationship as a denominational
extension of the profound biblical and theological concept of covenant that runs throughout Scripture. There are many Salvationists who would like to be an officer but, for lots of valid and practical reasons, cannot offer the kind of commitment required. Many want to use their talents and faith to serve him in the Army, but bypass officership and seek other forms of full-time ministry. We acknowledge, therefore, that contracted employment may be appropriate for some. The roles of employed corps leader and pioneer leader will both have an occupational requirement to be a soldier. For corps leaders, this is because they are leading Salvation Army worshipping communities and mobilising Salvationists for mission. For pioneer leaders, this is because they are seeking to establish new, fresh expressions of The Salvation Army.
For chaplaincy roles in residential settings, there is an occupational requirement to be a committed Christian and to uphold the vision, mission and values of The Salvation Army. This is because they are supporting people in exploring Christian faith, and potentially signposting faith communities rather than leading Salvation Army corps. This broader requirement expands the pool of potential applicants where we have traditionally struggled to fulfil these crucial roles.
Employed spiritual leaders will have more self-determination in terms of
A priesthood of all believers
Major David Taylor reflects on the theology of officership and spiritual leadership
THE assumptions and expectations of contemporary life have changed dramatically in The Salvation Army’s 159 years. How do we understand officership and spiritual leadership to serve the present age in the UK and Ireland?
A royal priesthood
The good news is that God still chooses and enables ordinary human beings to participate in God’s mission of salvation for the world. Through the incarnational life, death and resurrection of Jesus, every Christian disciple is liberated to be a partner in God’s mission, bearing witness in their words and deeds.
Peter called the people of God ‘a royal priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:9), inspiring the familiar saying that God’s people are a ‘priesthood of all believers’. This does not mean that every individual is a priest but that, all together, the people of God the Father – the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:27), the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16) – are enabled to mediate his grace to the world. Therefore, every disciple is on a mission and in ministry through God’s grace.
Servant leaders
Paul described God’s people as a spiritually gifted community (see 1 Corinthians 12), literally ‘grace-marked’ (charismata) to serve God’s mission through the Spirit’s presence and grace gifts in their lives. In serving with the grace gifts that God freely supplies, every Christian is enabled to give a lead. But the early Church recognised the value of appointed servant leaders to ensure two critical things were maintained: first, that every believer is released into the rich diversity of Holy Spirit-inspired giftedness in Christian ministry and mission; and second, that this glorious diversity is held together in an essential unity of one God, Father, Son and Spirit.
These appointed servant leaders were called elders or overseers. They were expected to be mature, wise and faithful examples to the flock. Paul wrote to Timothy that ‘whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task’ (1 Timothy 3:1). Alongside elders, deacons were appointed to serve locally in developing patterns of spiritual leadership and ministry.
This does not represent an exact and legalistic blueprint, but it does indicate how spiritual leaders and ministers emerged within the priesthood of all believers: to release it into diverse and creative ministry as a royal priesthood, while held together in unity. The overseer serves the unity and diversity of God’s people, in ever widening circles.
Officers
In The Salvation Army, these overseers and servant leaders are officers – called, assessed, trained, ordained and commissioned. The word ‘ordained’ comes from the Latin word ordinare, which literally means to ‘set in order’. Officers are ‘office holders’ upholding the ‘noble task’ of overseeing – locally, regionally, nationally, internationally.
They must help to mobilise the saints, releasing God’s priesthood of all believers into spiritually gifted ministry and mission, while seeking to help God’s people to live in good order and unity, protecting them as far as possible from fracture and division. This requires that officers are biblically and theologically trained, able to teach and preach the truths of the gospel, that they are good pastors of the flock and able to prophetically listen to and communicate God’s priorities.
In Ephesians, we find the fivefold gifting of the Church: ‘the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service’ (Ephesians 4:11 and 12). However, an officer exercising evangelism, for example, does not
discount all Christians from being witnesses, or prophecy discount all from hearing from God, or pastoring discount all from caring for God’s people. Therefore, while officers are well served in being able to use these five gifts to varying degrees, there is no suggestion that they hold them all.
Officership is as much about who a person is as what they do. All disciples gain an incredible identity in Christ that they are invited to grow into. This is equally true for an officer in view of their training, their spiritual formation and their experience. They are more than the sum of their functions. It is the combination of these that, alongside the Holy Spirit’s work, imbue them with a measure of spiritual authority. This is not automatic and requires full cooperation and humility before God.
Different forms of leadership
The time, energy and sacrifice invested in an officer’s servant leadership should build character, wisdom, experience and trust, but this is not true for officers alone.
It is not difficult to see how, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s Church – in all its many and diverse expressions, denominations and streams – continues to develop a variety of patterns of leadership, to ensure that every follower of Christ is released into mission and ministry, and that every Christian community is held together in local, regional, national and international unity – and as far as possible held together across ecumenical relationships as the one true Church of Jesus Christ, ‘so that the world may believe’ (John 17:21).
The Salvation Army has through the years sought to employ and deploy God’s people in many different patterns of ministry and leadership, as soldiers, local officers, officers, auxiliary-captains, envoys, warranted leaders and more. In 2000, the International Commission on Officership recognised this vital task.
The International Commission was clear that ‘without dedicated, motivated and qualified officers who are willing to give sacrificial service the effectiveness of mission would be seriously disadvantaged’. It also challenged the Army to go on developing ‘new models of spiritual leadership’ in every context and culture.
God’s mission, not ours
The Salvation Army’s task today is to discern and obediently honour and serve God’s mission, not its own. Discernment involves carefully listening to God, watching to see what God is doing and how God is calling and inspiring people, keeping alert to the Spirit’s ever new and creative lead.
The role of sacrificially dedicated officership, as a service of oversight to the Christian community is crucial, but it is not exclusive of other patterns and callings within leadership and ministry alongside it.
This remains the good news: that God is imaginatively and creatively enabling people to take their place within the priesthood of all believers, exercising gifts of ministry and spiritual leadership. All within the passionate, holy love, doctrinal clarity, orderly regulation, missional enterprise and evangelistic zeal that Salvationists humbly offer to God as their understanding of how to honour God’s mission in the world.
MAJOR DAVID TAYLOR Divisional Commander
and Isle of Man
North West
‘It’s
about making a covenant with God’
Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Sawyer talks to Salvationist about officership, leadership and calling
Is God still calling people to officership?
Absolutely! In my time at William Booth College, I’ve seen 4 sessions of cadets, and 40 cadets across those, as well as many territorial envoys. I celebrate that. I believe there is a real stirring of God’s Spirit right now. We just had a Design for Life weekend and there were 20 delegates. There was a real sense of being intentional about hearing what God was saying and an urgency about doing what God was calling them to. Fourteen people have since asked for interviews with the Candidates Unit and the majority are young adults saying they feel called to be an officer, which is incredible.
Why have we introduced employed corps leaders?
Not everyone can fit into the model of officership, because of family circumstances and personal situations. Now, we have different pathways where people can fulfil their vocation in a way that suits their situation. I celebrate that too. We have many gifted people on fire for God in our Movement. My prayer is that this opening up of pathways to ministry will enable people to see there is a vocation place in the Army for them. I led prayers recently at THQ and I thought: ‘20 years ago, a lot of these people’s roles would have been done by officers.’ It’s great we are enabling people to fulfil their vocations in different roles and ministries.
Does it matter which leadership pathway people go down?
What matters is that we help people discern the will of God so that they do what is right for them from him. A number of territorial envoys, once they’ve had a taste of ministry, have gone on to commit to officership. For some, employed corps leadership could lead to the same thing.
Is there a hierarchy to these pathways?
In every organisation and in the Church, there needs to be leaders. There is synergy between all these pathways, as spiritual leadership gives people the opportunity to enable others to develop spiritually, to enrich our church community. It’s not about one being above the other: together, they are a glorious tapestry of ministry. The highest calling is to be called by Jesus, which is for all believers. We all have that foundational calling as Christians. It’s about how you live that out and what your part in that tapestry is.
Does this new role diminish the value of officership?
None of these changes can or will change the value of officership. If someone feels called to leadership, I encourage them not to
always go for what might seem the easiest option. I wouldn’t want us to lose that sacrificial aspect to what God wants us to do with our lives, particularly with officership – it involves putting your trust in God, and the Army’s leaders, that you will be in the right place. In my experience, when there is an element of sacrifice in your giving and your walk with God, he honours that and blesses it.
Why is soldiership central to each leadership pathway?
Soldiership is a requirement all over the world for officership and envoyship. People make a promise to God through the Soldier’s Covenant and that promise is the springboard into ministry. It’s about making a covenant to God. And our God is a covenant-keeping God.
How does the Officer’s Covenant relate to the Soldier’s Covenant?
The Officer’s Covenant and the Soldier’s Covenant are both making a covenant with God – and God’s covenant with us is trustworthy and unchanging. It is not a tiered covenant: there is one covenant that comes from God. It is then about developing your understanding of your covenanted relationship further in terms of how you live it out.
So it’s ultimately about being who you are called to be?
God is in the business of becoming. Romans 12:1 says: ‘Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.’ If we all lived like that, we would all be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing!
What should someone do if they feel called to leadership?
If God is calling you, take a step and test it. If it’s right, doors will open. If it’s not, doors will close and another door will open.
• To speak to someone from the Candidates Unit, email vocation@salvationarmy.org.uk.
Are you listening?
Lyn Woods reflects on Design for Life
JUNE was my second time exploring God’s design for my life at William Booth College. The last occasion was five years ago. Although I feel that God has placed me just where he wants me to be, in ministry through the written word, there’s always something new to take away from this Spirit-filled weekend – and, of course, the possibility that there may be more that I need to hear. Over the course of the weekend, 24 delegates participated in individual, group and collective study and worship. Our aim was to discern whether we are listening to – but choosing to hide from – God’s unique calling for us, or whether we are listening to and responding to that call. As Territorial Candidates Director Major Mark Sawyer reminded us: ‘If we are not responding to God’s unique plan for us, then we are missing out on the highest calling, whatever that might be.’
Design for Life is not just about officership or leadership positions, but living out God’s plan for us in our daily lives. As we sang the hymn ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation’ (SASB 56), I was powerfully reminded to continually ‘ponder anew what the Almighty can do’ through me.
We explored using our God-given gifts and skills. For me personally, just lately this has been something as unremarkable as sewing trimmings on uniforms for corps folk, forming a ladies prayer group or encouraging testimony from a fellow bandsman for inclusion in Salvationist. It’s not always big, bold talents that are used for God: it’s the little things too.
We studied 1 Corinthians 12:1–7 and the difference between spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit, which I had never really considered before – they’re two completely different things!
‘A spiritual gift is given through you, not for you,’ explained Captain
Cor van der Woude (Bury). They are received not achieved. They are given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the Church, for the Church. The fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22 and 23, include characteristics of who we are – or should be – as Christians. We should possess and display all the qualities of the fruit.
The criminologist in me loved an analogy from Major Chris Pears, who shared that ‘every contact leaves a trace’. This principle of forensic science is true in our lives as Christians: if we’re responding to God’s unique call, using our spiritual gifts and living lives that bear the fruit of the Spirit, then the trace that we leave should be evident.
Throughout the weekend I was drawn back to one of my favourite passages of Scripture from childhood: 1 Samuel 3, where God calls Samuel, who didn’t recognise the voice because he had never heard a message from God before. Eventually, on the advice of Eli, he responds: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:10).
Do not doubt God’s voice when you hear it, but respond as young Samuel did.
What are you being called to?
The next Design for Life weekend takes place from Friday 24 January to Sunday 26 January. Find out more at salvationist.org.uk/ designforlife or email vocation@salvationarmy.org.uk.
LYN WOODS Editorial Assistant Salvationist
World leaders complete whirlwind trip
AUSTRALIA
GENERAL Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham toured six states in seven days, delivering a message of revival across the Australia Territory.
The General said he believed a ‘new wave’ of the Holy Spirit was poised to be unleashed upon the Movement, challenging people to consider where Jesus stood in their lives.
‘God is calling us as his people to position ourselves to be ready for what it is that he needs us to be and to do in the world,’ he said. Salvationists responded by kneeling in worship.
Children and young people took part in each rally. Bella, an 11-year-old in Perth, prayed that the Army in Australia would be a ‘mighty Jesus army’.
At many rallies, Commissioner Bronwyn shared her passion for the next generation, saying: ‘We must never, ever underestimate what the Holy Spirit is doing in the hearts of children.’
The Cutmore award was introduced at the first rally in Sydney, named after Commissioners Ian and Nancy Cutmore, who helped pioneer the Army’s work in Papua New Guinea more than 60 years ago. They were the first recipients, when Australian Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas visited their home.
At further rallies, 17 officers and mission leaders were surprised with the award, which honours pioneers of new faith expressions.
At the final rally, the Regeneration award was introduced and presented to Lieutenant Paul Trotter, who ‘reimagined’ the work of Colac Corps in southern Victoria.
At a staff gathering in Sydney, the General described everyone who worked for the Army as ‘game-changers’ who play a significant role in the Army’s mission.
‘God is honoured by it,’ he said. ‘The Bible suggests that your work is an act of worship that blesses the heart of God.’ – LM
ANNIVERSARY
DROITWICH SPA Since 1884 the corps has been at the heart of the community and continues to be so. Previous corps officers Majors Alan and Colleen Price led worship and celebrations to mark this milestone, reminding the congregation that they are ‘caretakers and not owners’ of their church. The YP Band contributed ‘This Little Light of Mine’, the singing company presented ‘Show Me the Way’ and the songsters sang ‘We Will Sing God’s Praise’, before Charlie Green brought a touching rendition of ‘You Are Always There for Me’. The band concluded with ‘Montreal Citadel’, before the corps shared in a roast dinner, sharing stories and photos of times gone by while looking at photos and the corps history books. The corps prays that God will continue to be at the centre of all they do, and that they carry on sharing the gospel for many more years. – MM
EVENT
NORTH SCOTLAND A number of local officers gathered for a retreat with guests Lieut-Colonels Beverley and Drew McCombe (THQ). The theme was Capturing the Spirit and a mix of teaching, worship, prayer and fellowship brought great blessing to those attending. – GJ
OUTREACH
HADLEIGH TEMPLE The annual community Harvest celebration in Hadleigh was blessed by glorious sunshine. A vintage truck, tractor and trailer with straw bales formed a makeshift altar for offerings of food for the food bank. The band played and the crowd were reminded of the parable of the sower and challenged to respond to God’s word. – MC
BALHAM Corps folk have been looking at ways to make the corps mission more a mission of the wider borough. Corps officer Captain Marie Burr and members have joined local community associations to spread the gospel, such as through a Knit and Natter group at Wandsworth Library. The ladies have knitted loads of sheep for the corps to put in all the shops this Christmas time, to make a Messy Trail leading to the hall, including smaller sheep to be made into keyrings for children’s prizes. – MB
ARMY PEOPLE
Local officers appointed
SONGSTER LEADER NEIL
GALLAGHER , North Shields
BANDMASTER STEVE
GALLAGHER , North Shields
Marriages
ANTHONY AND BOLUWATIFE
ADEBAYO at Aberdeen Citadel on 5 September by Major Peter Renshaw
Dedicated to God
JAIRUS JAYDN, son of Amita and Jagpreet Johnson, at Swansea by Captain Jenni Pryor
Promoted to Glory
JOHN SAWYER , Bolton Citadel
MAJOR DENNIS WARD from The Brunswick care home, Southport, on 15 September
HOME LEAGUE SECRETARY
JENNIFER WILSON, Stotfold, on 21 September
JUNE SCOTT, Cowdenbeath, on 1 October
Bereaved
MAJOR MOLLY WARD of her husband Major Dennis Ward, Major Kathryn Stirling , Joy Wood, Southport, and Margaret Bodger of their father
Retirements from active service
Effective 1 October
MAJOR BARBARA JEFFERY out of Stretford in 1991 and last appointment Bridlington
MAJOR AMARO PEREIRA out of Porto, Portugal in 1981 and Major Susan Pereira (née Bell) out of Liverpool Bootle in 1979 and last appointment Angola Territory
MAJOR SIMON PERKIN out of Maldon in 1998 and last appointment Sittingbourne
MAJOR CATHERINE RAND (née Swansbury) out of Bexleyheath in 2003 and last appointment Rugby
COLONEL NEIL WEBB out of Bromley Temple in 1983 and last appointment DC, Ireland DHQ
MAJOR CAROL WHYBROW (née Gunnell) and Major Martin Whybrow out of Milton Keynes Central in 1992 and last appointment Wickford
ENGAGEMENTS
General Lyndon Buckingham and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
Thu 10 Oct – Sun 13 Oct Bali (International Theology Council Symposium)
Mon 14 Oct – Sat 19 Oct Dallas (Americas and Caribbean Zonal Conference)
Sun 20 Oct - Wed 23 Oct Dallas (USA Commissioners Conference)
Chief of the Staff Commissioner Edward Hill and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries Commissioner Shelley Hill
Tue 22 Oct ICO Lecture
Territorial Leaders Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
Wed 16 Oct William Booth College (Spiritual Day)
Sat 19 Oct – Sun 20 Oct Blackpool Citadel
Sat 26 Oct Regent Hall (Celebration of Major Joy Webb’s life and ministry)
Chief Secretary Colonel Peter Forrest and Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Julie Forrest
Sat 26 Oct Regent Hall (Celebration of Major Joy Webb’s life and ministry)
NOTICES
International Development Week
The theme of the week (19 to 25 October) this year is New Beginnings, highlighting the Army’s work around the world in offering people a fresh start. As it overlaps with Anti-Slavery Day, the focus is particularly on anti-human trafficking and modern slavery. The resources are adaptable to the time you have and include videos, PowerPoint templates, prayer and worship ideas and a teaching starter. The material is available at salvationist.org.uk/resources
Remembrance Sunday
New Remembrance Sunday resources are available at salvationist.org.uk/resources. All material is suitable for a service, an ecumenical or outreach event. Resources include a new sermon starter and a prayer that we hope will be prayed across the territory, helping to cover our corps, communities and world with a passionate prayer for peace. A selection of videos, poems and renditions of The Last Post are available to use as well. All resources are easy to access and adapt for your local setting.
Wales 150: 150 Days of Prayer
The Salvation Army began working in Wales on 15 November 1874. To mark this 150th year, join in 150 days of prayer leading up to the anniversary in November. Each day also features a story of faith and service. Follow along with each day’s prayer focus at salvationist.org.uk/wales150
SOUNDS
Sunday Worship
Join Salvationists across the territory in worship, with music, prayer and a Bible message from a guest speaker. This week’s message is from Captain Alison Hutchings (Southport). Can’t join us at 11am on Sundays? Catch up with the weekly podcast of highlights. Each week’s broadcast is repeated in full on Sundays at 6pm, Mondays at 12am and Thursdays at 9am.
• Listen online at salvationist.org.uk/radio
Evening Jazz with Richard Mingay
Major Richard Mingay (William Booth College) shares the good news through his love of jazz and gospel music. The episode is broadcast at 7pm on Sunday 13 October and repeated in full at 9pm on Friday 18 October.
• Listen online at salvationist.org.uk/radio
Morning Praise with Kids Alive!
Get your day started with half an hour of music, prayer, a thought and lots of giggles! Listen on Saturdays from 7.30am to 8am. Can’t tune in on Saturday morning? The broadcast is repeated in full on Sundays at 9am and Mondays at 7.30am.
• Listen online at salvationist.org.uk/radio
ADVERTS
TO LET
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‘CELEBRATE!’
150TH CORPS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Guest soloists
Caitlin Hedley (vocal) Daniel Robson (cornet) Open invitation to all past musicians to unite with corps sections for the occasion
Saturday 23 November, 6.30pm
Venue: Stockton Baptist Church TS18 1TE
Enquiry email: stocktonsa150@gmail.com Tickets from eventbrite.co.uk
• Community engagement
• Corporate worship
• Sport and wellbeing salvationist.org.uk/resources Equipped. Empowered. Online.
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