When one's officership is terminated you should expect not one moment of aftercare from within the ranks of the Red and the Yellow and Blue. In our officership I was considered the sinner in need of severe discipline and my spouse the innocent victim, all based on rumor and falsehoods and some pretty creative thinking by the Chief Secretary for Personnel and others. During a pre-termination interview by the Chief's appointee, the Army offered my spouse a guaranteed appointment if my spouse would end our marriage in divorce. Without compromise, THQ attempted to destroy our marriage. With this kind of "theology" and "ministry" at work, is it any wonder my spouse volunteered to resign? That was more than a decade ago and our marriage is thriving.
Following our termination/resignation, no one from our corps, no one from our division, no one from our territory, no one from our session kept in touch with us. In fact, no one made any move at all to minister to our needs, save one family of officers with whom we had close fellowship prior to officership.
The difficult to accept truth is that in some territories (ours was USA - South) THQ and DHQ officers have forgotten even the smallest of steps on how to minister to its officers. Some DC's and Area Commanders may be great administrators, but they are extremely poor shepherds, without any inclination towards compassion, forgiveness or grace. In some instances they are more akin to wolves than shepherds. Some have spirits so calloused that they terminated a couple's officership at the altar rail after hearing a sacred confession of repentence (this was not our situation; we witnessed this at an officer's councils in Kentucky-Tennessee in the early 90's).
If not for the counsel and ministry of a close pastoral friend from another denomination, our marriage would have been lost, condemned by an Army that wanted one one of us to continue to salute and go. In the past several months since opening my FaceBook page, I have come into contact with many former officers who experienced similar "beatings" by their supervisory officers, former officers who found comfort and solace and genuine ministry only from pastors of other denominations.
Former
USA South
16 comments:
Sven - you left me hanging - is there a part four??
former
US Central
There is a part -4-, however, Major JoAnn Shade's excellent article was received, and I sensed all would agree that a fresh voice was welcome...
Part -4- will follow in a few days; existentialism; are we asking/expecting more from Leadership than we gave while active officers?
I can not agree more that some in headquarters leadership are more like wolves than shepherds.It is evident when termination or resignation happens and under other circumstances. Marriage needs to stay intact, with rare exception. You were mistreated and given unwise counsel. I am sorry for your mistreatment. It is too bad that this treatment is even considered in the army.Thank God you found a good minister of the Gospel.
USA East,residing in Arizona
Perhaps a historical lesson is to be learned...
7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:8 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn't search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve.9 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey.11 "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep.(Ezekiel 345:7-11, NLT).
Thank you for that heart piercing scripture.What can you add to that?
Randy ,it is a great historical and Biblical lesson.
As a very young Officer I recall a mature Officer sharing with me about the death of his son and saying: 'Painful experiences in life either make you bitter or better ... the choice is ours'. Now, as a mature person I choose to allow such things to make me 'better'.
Former UKT
Randy, your comment brought an immediate response from me that says: 'Judge not that you be not judged' ... 'He that is without sin cast the first stone'
USA SOUTH
Former
Randy- it's much too simplistic to quote selective scripture verses aimed at who? The SA ? Your former DC's ? I served under two of them and they were fine, honorable, Christian gentlemen, and the wives, people of integrity. Me thinks there is a hidden, bitter experience here.
SA employee (former)
USA E ast
I am feeling the pain of former from USA South in his narrative of he and his wife’s experience. There is great justification for his feelings and as simply a fellow traveler in life I wanted to reach out to him and his wife. In my experience I have no frame of reference to even begin to understand the actions of superior officers who would act in this manner and wonder what prior leaders saw in them to appoint them to such high office, where they had such influence over other people’s lives. It is foreign to all that ‘our army’ stands for and shameful that it should have come to this stage. I have long mourned the loss of officers who left for whatever reason and it reinforces my continued theme of the need for better leadership training at all levels. I am sure that most officers at all levels, formers and actives, would share our fellow bloggers pain.
However…
I am offended when quotes from scripture in ‘supposed’ support of our fellow formers point of view. Basic common sense tells me buying in to someone’s pain is not beneficial but simply feeds the distress and abject trauma of the pain. The real need is to support the pained in what is really a journey through the pain to get to the other side, whatever that might be. Focusing on the actions of the officers who handled this so badly is not going to be of benefit to anyone except those who continue to seek justification of their negative point of view. Whilst I genuinely rejoice that support was found in ‘a close pastoral friend from another denomination’, my personal ‘historic and Biblical lesson’; is that we are not unique in how we experience ‘AFTERCARE’ however you spell it.
Let’s empathize with our colleagues and support them in their journey instead of maintaining the agony of what happened. If we really believe what our Faith is about we will be looking to healing the wounds and not continue to dig away at an open sore so that healing is delayed and possibly never actually reached because we, who wish to bring healing, by default, maintain this open spiritual wound.
There are very few ‘words’ that can be expressed to address our colleagues pain, but simply continue to love and accept others love, from wherever it can be found with the sure and biblical knowledge that ‘this too will pass’
I think at times we all generalise
our thoughts when we comment and respond to what has been stated. I will attempt to share Randy's response knowing him personaly and stating that he is a session mate.
We were and still are Heralds of Hope. I do not feel his use of scripture is misused or misplaced.
Of course I do not represent everyone and their views on this blog. A few of us do have strong feelings about how officers were treated or mistreated during their exit. Randy used scripture to show how leadership in the past misused their authority and that The Lord will deal with them. Today in similiar fashion when people are mistreated and shepherds or overseers are abusive, there will be a price to pay. It is called the judgement of God. I feel that would be judgement in various ways.
I thank Sven that a forum is in view by many others than just formers here. People that have some concern and who are open to God's leading have read the description of pain and mistreatment and may be willing to make the proper changes when they personally have opportunity.
If I was a leader that mistreated
officers during their exit and was reminded of the scripture that Randy quoted I would hope that I would have some inclination to repent and be more understanding of people.
So... I would quote a secular statement . What goes around comes around.
To the writer of this article I sense that God provided some healing through a sensitive and supportive individual that was not "Army". Praise The Lord He provided and will continue to do so
in the future.
USA East, residing in Arizona
Randy, how many 'formers' did you search for and comfort during your active years ? I take it that your use of scripture is shared unanimously and not aimed specifically at SA leaders, a habit you appear to have acquired since your departure.
former
USA East
I recently attended a concert at a Salvation Army venue - there were active THQ officers and current officrs in attendance as well. On the way home from the concert (from which we received great blessing), my husband said - why wouldn't those people from THQ talk to you - my only response could be "Because I am a "former". An additional note - the THQ officers there were ones that I had worked for prior to going to training.
Former - USA (East)
I do not think it is fair to leave the tag "Anonymous" when someone is being critical of another opinion. What is the purpose of not stating a name ? I can understand it in certain exceptions
for specific reasons. Are some afraid of retaliation or afraid of someone in leadership. What if Sven or Fletch or Bob signed off as " Anonymous". We would all have fun writing back "Anonymously.
Seriously, should I not sign my name ?
Bob Deidrick,former USA East
You are free to share your thoughts anonymously, however, please be respectful of others, whether you are pro or con their position in your comments.
If you decide that you need to be particularly critical we ask that you identify yourself by adding your name to your comment OR sending it to selmoscow@aol.com.
Rude and non-relevant comments will be deleted.
Thank you.
so sad to read this. Bit yes I have heard similar stories. Whether or not you were guilty matters not, surely the question is about grace?
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