Feature

Better together... but how?

Major David Evans highlights examples of the Army’s ecumenical engagement

SALVATION Army corps officers are appointed not just to a corps but also its community. By extension, every corps exists for the benefit of everyone in the area, including fellow Christians and people of other faiths. In his high priestly prayer of John 17:21, Christ prayed for his followers ‘that all of them may be one’ just as he and his Father were one. He went on to imply that our living out of that oneness should be obvious in our interactions with each other so ‘the world may believe’. The Amplified Bible, which brings out the full meaning of the original Greek, adds: ‘without any doubt’!

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18–25 January) raises a challenge to all Salvationists as to just how committed we are to ecumenism – in effect, to Christ’s prayer.

In 1987 the Army signed the Swanwick Declaration, a covenant with other mainstream denominations, which stated: ‘We commit ourselves to each other under God. Our earnest desire is to become more, fully in his own time, the one Church of Christ, united in faith, communion, pastoral care and mission. Such unity is the gift of God.’ This overt declaration of intent moved beyond just co-operation towards a progressive commitment.

It has been amazing during the Covid-19 pandemic to hear of Christians serving their communities, working together to oil the wheels of community service and share resources without duplicating efforts. Corps across the territory have worked in partnership with other churches and revealed Christ’s love by assisting the responses of other faith communities.

In 2017 Captains Melanie and Stephen Scoulding (Carlisle) were given additional appointments as denominational ecumenical officers (DEOs) in Cumbria. Their task was to aid the development of mission and project partnering in that mainly rural county, which has six Army corps.

A covenant was signed between the Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed churches, later joined by The Salvation Army. It has recently been renewed as a sign of increasing trust and commitment in missional and other initiatives. This partnership is monitored by companion churches (the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Church of Scotland) and observer churches, including the Roman Catholic Church.

Building on the hard work done by the denominations in this county, the new North West Division has added more DEOs: Major Gareth Dickens (Winsford) in Cheshire, Captain Tracy Collis (Morecambe) in Lancashire and Major Allister Versfeld (Strawberry Field) in Merseyside. Gareth says: ‘Serving on Churches Together in Cheshire, both on the working group of denominational ecumenical officers and representing The Salvation Army at the Church Leaders Group, is a tremendous privilege.’

Divisional Commander Major David Taylor still prioritises ‘presidents’ meetings, but in Cheshire and Lancashire Gareth and Tracy have tended to deputise, whereas Cumbria’s DEOs step in at other times. The divisional commander says it is especially good that he has DEOs who can deputise at presidents meetings, just as with other denominations who cover substantial geographical areas.

Gareth is particularly thrilled that an adherent at Winsford – one of the Iranian asylum seekers whom some of the corps in Cheshire have been supporting – will read about the visit of the Magi from Matthew’s Gospel in Farsi at the county’s service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, to be held at Chester Cathedral. As the material was prepared by the Council of Churches for the Middle East, it seems highly appropriate.

In Merseyside, Allister reports: ‘Liverpool Stoneycroft Corps and Strawberry Field are entering into a partnership with Liverpool Citizens (Citizens UK), while The Salvation Army is involved within the Roma community in Liverpool, working alongside volunteers from other denominations.’

Another excellent initiative in Lancashire emerged from an intentionally structured ecumenical approach, when churches united to take part in Lancashire Sings Christmas on BBC Radio Lancashire. It featured Christian friends, the DC and corps bands.

The Bible calls us to fulfil Christ’s high priestly prayer, and the pandemic has revealed more than ever just how much we need each other. If we are seriously committed to doing things increasingly better together, what can you, your corps and your division do so that others will see Jesus in his body, the Church – without any doubt?

Find out more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and download resources at ctbi.org.uk

Picture: DAVID HILLAS

Swanwick Declaration plaque at The Hayes Conference Centre

MAJOR EVANS IS TERRITORIAL ECUMENICAL OFFICER

Partners in mission

Major Katrina Greetham (Swanage) talks to Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts about her work with other churches

Katrina hands over the Churches Together phone to Methodist minister the Rev Karen James

THE Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on 18 January. Marked annually around the world it is an opportunity to celebrate the oneness that Christians experience in the body of Christ and to pray that unity will be expressed more and more in fellowship, ministry and mission.

While this week is important, Major Katrina Greetham sees Christian unity as a focus all year round. In addition to her and her husband, Major Jonathan, being corps officers at Swanage, Katrina is involved in ecumenical work in the town and has been chair of Churches Together in Dorset for the past 18 months.

Her election as chair came after many years of ecumenical interest, which began with a childhood awareness of Christians from other churches.

‘I grew up next door to a Catholic family,’ she says. ‘They came to the Army when we were made soldiers and we went to their church when the children had their first communion.

‘That interest developed in my early years of officership when I started getting to know ministers from other denominations and realising that there’s an awful lot that unites us. I also began to see how churches could work together. Sometimes it was at small events, such as services for special occasions, and at other times large projects. For example, when we were the corps officers at Hull Icehouse we had the Lighthouse Project, which worked with the ladies of the night. It started with a previous officer and a woman from the corps walking around with a flask of coffee getting to know the girls and ended up becoming a huge ecumenical project that is still running today. With the involvement of other churches the project became something we could never have done by ourselves.’

Katrina and Jonathan were also involved ecumenically while serving with the Red Shield Services in Germany.

‘We were an integral part of the chaplaincy team,’ she recalls. ‘We led services, we were available when the soldiers were deployed and we were involved in all the training for that.