Conference

William Booth’s departure from the new Connexion met with conflicting responses among his fellows. One minister, who had been converted in William’s revival services, invited the evangelist to conduct services in Hayle, Cornwall, which later widened into a larger campaign. Before long, however, Methodist chapels were closed against him and he discovered that his resignation had stirred ill-will toward him.

Such mixed responses often greet officers who step out of officership. Some meet with Christian understanding and support from peers and superiors. One divisional commander, upon realising that an officer’s resignation was unavoidable, sincerely offered to help load crates and boxes when moving day arrived.

Too many, however, cannot witness to such experience. Many have echoed the sorrow if one officer-couple who, from the day of their resignation, received no card, call or other contact from any of their comrades for over a year. Another couple remarked, ‘It’s as if we fell off the face of the earth.’

We are frequently so disturbed by the loss of an officer that we find it difficult to comply with Orders and Regulations, which state that, ‘Comrades who withdraw from officership should be treated justly and kindly.’ Earlier editions dealt more specifically with comrades who have resigned honourably, adding that officers should ‘Go out of their way to show [the ex-officer] kindness, obtain for him the sympathy of comrades, and prevent him being, in any sense, regarded with suspicion.’ Even an officer who resigns amid shameful or worrying circumstances should be treated kindly and justly, for ‘you who are spiritual should restore him gently.’

It is difficult to know what to say or how to act toward recently-resigned comrades. When we react unkindly (or not at all) to an ex-officer, however, we not only disobey O&R, but we also increase whatever tension or difficulties may have led to resignation. More importantly, we also oppose the command of Scripture to ‘love one another’, to ‘carry each other’s burdens, and in this way…fulfil the law of Christ’.

The 1862 conference of the New Connexion voted to accept William Booth’s resignation, ‘and thus,’ writes Harold Begbie, ‘any hope he may have nourished of a return to the church of his adoption was effectually knocked on the head.’ It’s impossible to say what action, if any, on the organisation’s part might have led Booth to return, but it appears that little or no effort was made to bring that about.

Similarly, the manner in which we sometimes handle the resignation of our comrade-officers effectually locks the door of re-entry behind them. Due to some circumstances beyond our control (and others within our control), resignation is often so traumatic, seeming to leave the officer ‘without a friend and without a farthing’, that any possibility of return is quashed. Very often, in making it overwhelmingly difficult for an officer to leave, we make it insurmountably difficult for him to return.

Comrade

When all attempts to retain our officers and encourage them to persevere prove fruitless, we can derive no benefit from withholding help or ‘teaching a lesson’ to the resigning officer. We must not only try to make the transition as painless as possible for the Army, but it will be to our benefit in the long run to be a helpful and supportive as possible to our comrade, like the divisional commander who was willing to carry boxes for his officer-friend.

Neither should we (consciously or not) impose exile upon our friends and family who step out of officership. Staying in touch with former officers will not only encourage them and exhibit a Christlike spirit of interest and concern in us, but it may prove a boon to the Army as well. Some who have undertaken to contact former officers have been surprised that many ex-officers might have considered taking an appointment-even after years- if only someone had shown interest.

Too often the back door of officership swings only one way; perhaps, to borrow an American president’s phrase, ‘a kinder, gentler’ approach would keep the door open for those who still have gifts and talents and energy to offer to the Army.

William and Catherine Booth’s departure from the Methodist New Connexion was significant, not only in paving the way for The Salvation Army, but also in the lessons to be gained from their experience. If we heed those lessons, we will more often obey our orders to treat comrades who withdraw from officership ‘kindly and justly’. In this way we will fulfill the law of Christ.

(Part three)

Bob Hostetler; THE OFFICER1991