Divestment versus Reconciliation

The Former Officer: Divestment versus Reconciliation

To reconcile is to bring into harmony; to restore friendly relations.  Officers consecrate themselves to a ministry of reconciling people to the heavenly Father.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).  Officers also work in an office, where every month they reconcile the ledger balance to the bank balance for each account.  In accounting, these balances are different, but not necessarily at odds.  One adjusts the ledger balance for transactions that have not been given proper consideration by the bank, and for bank activity that was not reflected in the ledger.  Reconciliation though, is astonishingly absent when an officer removes the red and turns in the tunic.  In accounting, this is divestment.

Signing the covenant, an officer invests all of his or her assets.  This is a religious and spiritual investment first, and an ecclesiastical promise second.  That notwithstanding, on the ecclesiastical side, the officer agrees to marry an officer, to reject the rights granted to employees, and to seek permission prior to travelling out of the division (immediate area).  The officer wears the uniform, drives the Army’s vehicle, works extreme hours, and moves his or her nuclear family to live where an Army leader decides.  The Army invests costly training, guarantee of assignment, and excellent health coverage.  The officer and the Army are mutually vested.

Leaving rank is a sudden, massive loss of personal identity, social status, and social support; and a traumatic change of lifestyle, no matter who initiates the separation.  Some are asked to leave for administrative reasons; some choose to leave over disillusionment or doctrinal differences.  Others succumb to stress on family or personal life.  The newly former officer must seek housing, employment, transportation, insurances, and a new social support system.  Many are inexperienced in managing these fiscal responsibilities on their own and not accustomed to having to forge friendships outside of the Army’s fellowship.  Some deal with loss of a marriage at the same time.  Many experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress from the sudden and complete break with a formerly supportive, dependency-provoking, and all-inclusive relationship with the Army.  The Former Salvation Army Officers Fellowship has been an invaluable resource to former officers

Former officers who once wooed drunkards, sinners and backsliders home have reported an absence of pastoral care and have suffered treatment that was tantamount to shunning.  'Formers' who had opened homeless shelters and soup kitchens have themselves faced homelessness and economic crises.  On the other side, in many cases, the Army has lost opportunities to help formers to transition to effective soldier-ship, employment, volunteer service, or advisory board membership.

Divestment must not trump a ministry of reconciliation.  In Catholicism, there is a sacrament of reconciliation.  It is more commonly called confession.  Perhaps we should start this process with confession.  There have been important instances of this in USA East and USA West.  Penitence and repentance activate divine healing.  Reconciliation is becoming friendly after estrangement.  It is re-consecration.  It is a godly goal.  Leave thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift (Matthew 5:24).  God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Robert O. Chase, MSW, LCSW

The author was an officer in the USA East Territory for ten years, and now works as a textbook author, professor of modern languages, and pre-trial competency examiner/expert witness in criminal cases.