Letters

A CHRISTIAN ORGANISATION

I WAS at a free coffee bar run by a small local church, which they do to reach out to the community and share Christ in a practical way. A fellow who is a Christian there said something that infuriated me: that The Salvation Army is no longer a Christian organisation. If other believers are saying things like that, we need to ask ourselves: are we all saved by the grace of God or not? And are we doing a great deal to share Christ with others? I share Christ in a practical way so that people can see his Holy Spirit in me. Let us go on trusting in the Lord and showing others that we are still very much a Christian organisation.

Gwyn Morgan Penarth

PATIENT AND WELCOMING

MY corps officer has been with us for more than six months and her presence is much appreciated. It is a pleasure to see her smiling face and hear her cheery greeting. Nothing is too much trouble and her patience seems neverending. She turns her hand to anything that needs doing, from cooking the lunch club meals to painting the toilets. She works long hours and must get tired but never allows it to show.

She is equally patient with the older people and the children and goes out of her way to provide translation for anyone whose first language is not English. We had a group of people attend who spoke Spanish and she translated the songs and prayers for them. They were invited to one of our socials and enjoyed it very much.

She is an all-round asset and we are privileged to have her.

Mary Wicks Reading

ARE WE INCLUDING EVERYONE?

ADRIAN Lyons’ ‘Viewpoint’ article in Salvationist (12 March) is very timely. The government is working on the basis that Covid-19 no longer poses a major risk, which is no comfort for the significant number of people who are classed as highly vulnerable. I am 79 and have pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment for this includes medication to suppress my immune system, which increases my vulnerability. My consultant recently advised me that I should continue to be extremely careful and as a consequence I am unable to attend meetings. This has also made me more aware of the many people who for other reasons are unable to attend meetings, or those who feel unaccepted, and become cut off. In this we fail to put into practice our claim to be an inclusive church. What are we doing to share worship and ministry with them?

VALUING CLARITY

WITH reference to the ‘Valuing people’ framework in Salvationist (9 April), although much thought, discussion and prayer has gone into developing these recent statements, perhaps there has not been as much thought given to their presentation.

I feel that phrases such as ‘integration and alignment as opposed to silo working’ and ‘moving away from instrumentalism and managerialism towards coaching, contributing to naming, analysing and challenging oppression’ might need further clarification for people unfamiliar with ‘management speak’.

Thankfully, ‘Love God, Love Others’ is much easier to understand!

Mary Tyler Knottingley

BEING INCLUSIVE

I HAVE been reading the Salvation Army values published in Salvationist (9 April). While I agree wholeheartedly, I was disappointed in some of the wording used. For example, under the heading of respect you state: ‘We will welcome each person with the dignity of those created in the image of God, valuing their diversity.’ Yet the values are written in a way only the educated can understand. I am a qualified nurse and registered midwife, as well as CSM running the corps at Whitehaven, where we are currently unofficered. I am myself educated to a certain level and I struggled with the language used.

I would also like to say that the prices at SP&S do not promote diversity. Some items are expensive, which means people on lower incomes are excluded.

I’m sorry if this all seems negative but I really feel we should be making things accessible for all, not just those who are educated and can afford it.