Good pastors are not parrots...
Q: What should pastors do if they no longer hold the defining beliefs of their denomination? Do clergy have a moral obligation not to challenge the sincere faith of their parishioners? If this requires them to dissemble from the pulpit, doesn't this create systematic hypocrisy at the center of religion? What would you want your pastor to do with his or her personal doubts or loss of faith?

People become members of religious denominations for a variety of reasons. Often, they are simply following their parents or family members, a spouse, or the dominant religious form in their community. None of these reasons necessitate a deep thinking about the beliefs of the particular denomination, but only a passive acceptance of them. This is the way in which most American and European Christians are connected with their respective religious denominations. For the most part, they know little about many of the doctrinal beliefs or pay little attention to them as they impact their lives. A relatively common term for such individuals is "C and E" Christians. The letters refer to Christmas and Easter, the only time many of them think much about their religious affiliation or attend a religious service.

For those who become members of the clergy, on the other hand, one would hope that they have thought deeply about and hold dearly to the defining beliefs of their denomination or their religion, at least initially. However, because clergy are expected to devote their lives to studying these beliefs, the scenario may well arise that some clergy will grow in their understanding of the Divine and of life, and their beliefs may change as a consequence of their study and experience. They may then find that their views and values no longer parallel the rhetoric of their denomination. This can be a natural result of a deep and open-minded study, and such growth should be encouraged. After all, what is the role of the clergy? Is it not to devote their lives to knowing God and truth more intimately each day than those to whom they preach and minister? If the clergy are only hired to memorize and spout doctrine without any allowance for growth and change in their understanding of the Divine, then they are expected to be little more than talking mannequins. Moreover, if they are not allowed to grow in the realization, they will either stagnate or die spiritually. For those who do grow and find a separation between their evolving beliefs and the doctrine of their denomination, what are they to do?

The answer depends a great deal on the denomination or religion to which they belong. According to the 2001 edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia, there are more than 33,000 denominations of Christianity worldwide. Because many of these denominations claim to have the ONLY truth or true form of Christianity, clergy from these groups are more likely to face a conflict if any of their views change than clergy from denominations or religions that accept and allow for a broader spectrum of beliefs. As a consequence, when clergy from denominations that narrowly define truth no longer believe the doctrines, they should drop out and not "dissemble from the pulpit." Hopefully, they would have enough self respect as well as respect for their parishioners to leave that position than to remain and be hypocrites. I have known several Christian clergy members who found themselves in this situation. A few quit, while at least one chose to remain for financial reasons. Unfortunately but predictably, he is not a person at peace with himself.

Many of the various religious traditions in the world, small and large, are open to their clergy growing, expanding, and realizing a broad approach to God and to Truth. Some are Christian denominations, many have other labels. Unlike fundamentalists, I don't believe the label is all that important. My own religious teachers encouraged me to trust my inner voice and my inner experience and to question any external teaching that does not "sit well" in a composed and quiet heart. Many traditions, and many Christians, say that God lives within. If that is the case, then learning to purify oneself to be able to listen to the Divine within is a better path to finding truth than memorizing answers in some text, no matter how great its promoters claim it to be. A religious teacher, or any other kind of teacher, should not simply be a parrot. Those for whom I have the greatest respect are individuals who teach what they have experienced and realized, not what they have read and memorized.

DR. RAMDAS LAMB
USA

“The Most Effective Organisation in the US…….” Part Two

We are often tempted to think that diversity is a modern term and that it is related to a community’s racial or cultural mix. However it has been around for many years and diversity can be related to activities as well. Wherever the Army Flag is flown you will find a diversity of work and effort that seems contrary to the one allegiance that is expressed by the ‘S’s on the collar’. But it is this spreading of the responsibility that has brought great benefits (and financial profits to support the Welfare work) across the States and indeed many places around the world. However it is more about the fact that there is devolution of authority down through the various levels of the organisation. There is nothing new or magic about this; there is a narrative in the Old Testament where The Hebrews had to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to protect themselves from attack and it was decreed that each family would repair the wall that was closest to his house. Job done and all the people benefited.

The early Army structure of responsibility was such that it was more vertical than horizontal and the further we get away from William Booth, who championed the ultimate vertical management structure, the more the responsibility flattens out in a horizontal manner with the benefits flowing to the whole organisation. Of course there are times when this may not be the case and an individual has to be aware of the impact on the whole organisation however it can happen. (red the latest issue of Priority and the Officers in their Tent Ministry in Alaska)

Organise to Improvise
One of the reasons that the Army is perceived as the most effective organisation in the states is the lack of this downward thrust of authority. At each level of responsibility you have this freedom to improvise. Yes there are principles and values that have to be observed and adhered to but there is always the encouragement to improvise with the basic understanding that if we always do what we always do we will always get what we have always got. Over many years all round the world the Army has been leading Social Welfare reforms, so much so that William Booths landmark narrative on the social conditions of his day, ‘In Darkest England and the Way Out’, was reprinted 100 years later as a text book for the Social Welfare course in a well known London University.

A quote is used that comes from the pen of the author of a management book called ‘Leading the Revolution’ and he says ‘In this new age a company that is evolving slowly is already on the way to extinction’.
Spread the responsibility, share the profits In various degrees this has been the catch cry of the Army revolutionise or fossilise. It has had its Glory days and its other days but everything is cyclical and this desire to improvise will keep it at the forefront of many of its activities long into the future.

Act with Audacity
Throughout its History the Salvo’s in so many places have been ahead of the field and a sense of the bold and dramatic has been a ‘hall mark’. From the time the early day Officer was carried in a coffin into the local market square, waited until a crowd had gathered and then jumped out to preach about the ‘Wages of Sin’ to Major Alida Bosshardt in Amsterdam who went and lived in a house alongside the brothels so that she could be a help to them if they needed it. Being bold and audacious can also be a sign that you are ahead of all the others who are waiting to get all the data in so that they can make a ‘responsible’ decision..

Make Joy Count
What can we say throughout its history and right up to the present day the Salvation Army has known how to celebrate. I suppose that it is often seen with musical sections but there is a wider aspect that is seen more as Public Relations. Over the years this aspect of the Salvation Army has been refined to almost an art form where in telling the story we encourage non Salvationists to support our work, but underlying all that is the joy that is expressed in serving others irrespective of race, creed or colour. There are many tears shed in telling some of the harrowing stories of the Army’s work but all the time is the almost incomprehensible joy of actually making a difference in the world.

If the Army can give one thing to the wider church life, or the corporate community as they come to terms with what makes an organisation effective, it is the simple understanding that it is possible to enjoy what they do. In all organisations there will be times when it is tough but if you can see the wider picture of the Army’s lessons to the world it is that it is having a good time.

This is the sort of thing that needs to be added to as experience and history roll into the future of an organisation. I am very aware that where I am at the moment in my particular position, I am laying down a tradition and background for the future. I realise that more than raising funds for various organisations, is the importance of setting down process and procedures that will last into the future when the culture changes to accept fundraising as a profession much as it has been accepted in the States. Until then I will need to keep putting into practice these lessons learned in the Salvation Army and continue to make a difference in the world.

Fletch
Peter Fletcher
Former
Australia

“The Most Effective Organisation in the US…….” Part One

It was at the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Madison Institute at the University of Wisconsin that we were given a reading list of good books on Leadership, Management and Organisational Development. As each one was described a couple of them seemed that they needed to be in my library. This one seemed to come out of the blue in more ways than one. It was written by a retired National Territorial Commander of the United States, Robert A Watson, with a co writer, Ben Brown, and the title came from a statement reflected in the title of the book by none other than Peter Drucker, when he learned of the extent of the Salvation Army’s ministry in the States.

Robert Watson decided that it was time to set out why this is perceived to be the case. Following are the points that he distilled as he studied the process of how the Army does what it does. There is a great deal of Army illustrative material and also a good deal of the early day history of the Salvation Army when William Booth was struggling with the effects of autocracy that was tearing the Army apart and how it was resolved. It is a classic tale of ‘reorganise or die’ as far as management principles were concerned.

So in a nutshell here is why the Salvation Army was described by Peter Drucker as ‘The Most Effective Organisation in the US…’ The headings in Bold are a straight take from the book and I have added a few personal illustrations from my background and a little reflection on what was and what could have been.

It is an interesting journey that is still heading to the horizon. That horizon is in sight but it is still a long way off.

The Business of the Salvation Army
There needs to be a purpose bigger than the individual or the organisation. It may be difficult to find but it needs to be there. There needs to be a motivation that goes beyond material consideration, almost a spiritual integration of the individual and the organisation. This is not about religious activity but about the congruence between who we are, and what we do. Many conferences will concentrate on the development of skills to enable the delegates to go back to their employment and ‘do it better’, when the real need is to encourage them to connect with the bigger picture of what their organisations are doing. In the illustration of the Salvation Army one of the keys is that there is significant ‘Clarity of Mission’ and it is this that transcends all its activities, personalities and programs. Everything about the Salvo’s, feeds into this clarity of mission.

Engage the Spirit
An organisation needs to offer each employee the opportunity to ‘Bring their Passion to Work’; to in some way enable the employee to say of their work ‘This is who I am and this is what I do to make a difference in the world’. This is possibly the most difficult aspect of developing an effective organisation. Where each employee feels that their particular skill is recognised as part of the whole, and wants to contribute to the whole.

Put People in your Purpose
The purpose of any organisation has to have a People Base. It can be a factory making widgets, or a not for profit providing for homeless people, there has to be that vital people element. Even a waiter/waitress working in Starbucks can be educated to know that she/he is providing a ‘comfortable, hospitable place with a conducive atmosphere for people to meet and share aspects of their lives that would not be possible anywhere else’. She/he is not just serving coffee. Whatever purpose an organisation has, it is meaningless unless it incorporates and inspires human aspirations.

Embody the Brand
There needs to be a significant internalisation by each employee of the Company Brand. We are not talking about the outward wearing of the uniform here although I remember very well during the mid 70’s when some of the radicals were strongly advocating that having to wear a uniform was putting people off joining the ranks of the Army, yet at the same time many young people were queuing up to wear some form of uniform in other organisations. It was about this time that ‘corporate wear’ really took off and supermarkets and banks started wearing uniform. In a sense it is nothing about the outward expression although this is a significant benefit in belonging to a ‘family’, however it is more an outward expression of an inward desire to ‘embody the brand’. The brand is what makes an organisation unique. It represents the values, hopes and dreams of the organisation and the employee adopts those as his own. From the earliest days of the Salvation Army this was clearly understood when Elijah Cadman stated that he ‘wanted a suit of clothes that would tell the world he belonged to Jesus’

Lead by Listening
One of the difficulties of the early Army was that William Booth based much of his management style on what he was familiar with at the time the Monarchy and the Military. Both in their own way were very Autocratic and William hid behind his belief that God had given him the responsibility for the Army and it was going o be handed down to his Children. The trauma that it caused changed the management of the Army forever and it did become an organisation that listened to the people in the lower ranks who in turn listened down the line. In recent years very little of the Army’s endeavours have been pioneered from Headquarters. Overwhelmingly someone at the coal face has seen an opportunity to serve and convinced leaders up the line that this is the way to go. Generally speaking it is the people out in the field that hold all the creativity and where much of the drive and energy are based. Wise leaders today are always listening to their followers and they have developed a culture of no blame so that people are not ‘afraid’ to tell the emperor that he has no clothes on. (this may be argued in some cases but overall I think you will find it still applies)

Fletch
Peter Fletcher
Former
Australia

Jesus Preferred the KJV to the NIV !

Is The Bible The Word of God?

I once heard a dear old Salvationist Soldier say in a discussion regarding which Bible translation is best to use ‘I use the King James Version. If it was good enough for Jesus to read, it’s good enough for me.’ I think many of us have heard comments like that. It highlights an issue that seems to have plagued Christians for centuries, and regularly raises its’ head in discussions around ‘Does the Bible really say.....’ I think the questions facing us in this regard are ‘Is the Bible the Word of God?’ If it is, ‘How literally can we read it?’ If it isn’t, ‘What is it?’ I don’t intend to answer all these questions in full, just raise some of the issues. A proper answer would require a major work.

The question is not a new one. In Genesis we read of the temptation of Eve by the serpent who said ‘Did God really say......’ (Genesis 3:1). Let us assume for the start of the discussion that the Bible is the Divine Word of God, and therefore to be obeyed in its’ entirety. Doctrine in most denominations would seem to support this assumption. The Salvation Army Articles of Faith state ‘We believe that the scriptures of the old and new testament were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and practice.’ This raises a number of questions for me – chiefly – ‘How literally can we take it?’ There are certainly a number of things which seem ‘wrong’ if we are to take a literal understanding. In Genesis, we have two different accounts of creation. We can say that one simply explains in more detail the other, yet that only raises more questions. They are obviously two different styles. If God only created Adam and Eve, then where did the other nations come from with which their children intermarried after the fall? By the time we get to Noah, the earth is full of nations. Where did they come from? It’s simply not physically possible for them all to have been descended from Adam and Eve in just a few generations. Yes. Genetics has confirmed that we are all related through mitochondrial DNA – but this does not mean one person – it means one small group of people (who were located somewhere in Africa). It also assumes that humanity is hundreads of thousands of years old and we need to accept in part the theory of evolution otherwise the idea that we are all related falls down. In order to take such a literal account of creation, we need to start making up other stories to force the various biblical stories to fit together.

Moving on from Genesis (although we could stay there for a long time), other Biblical passages don’t make sense in light of what we know of the world, unless we take them allegorically. No one today would assume that the earth is flat, or that the universe revolves around the earth, or that epilepsy is the same as demonic possession. Very few of us consider wearing garments of blended material to be sinful, or insist on maintaining the various food regulations (the list goes on). Suddenly, we find ourselves in the position of looking at the Bible and deciding which parts are to be taken literally, which parts are to be taken allegorically, and which parts are to be understood as no longer applying to us because they have ‘been fulfilled in Christ.’ This is a very dangerous thing to do. Once we start doing that, what difference is there between Christianity and any other man made religion? We can say that it was Godfearing men and women who made these decisions, but many of these same Godfearers were the ones who condoned the holocaust, the witch hunts, and many other atrocities throughout history. As a result, the Bible has been used to say whatever man wants it to say. Instead of asking ‘Did God really say....?’, we ask ‘Didn’t God really say....?’ and so justify anything we want it to. At that point we have arguments starting with ‘The Bible says...... and so that’s the end of it!’ While at the same time saying other practices are no longer applicable because they have been fulfilled in Christ.

We do need to realise that the Bible has a historical and cultural context – which is very different to ours today. There are difficulties in translation. How a particular phrase or word might have been understood in biblical times is very different to how it might be understood today. It has often been discussed as to the meaning of certain words in 1Corinthians 6:9. ‘Arsenekoine’ is translated as ‘homosexual’, while the previous word ‘Malakoi’ is translated as male prostitutes. However, in classic Greek literature, language and culture, these words have very different meanings. An example of a difference in understanding resulting from a difference in culture and history is that of marriage (or age of consent). There is strong evidence that Mary was at the oldest 14 when she gave birth to Christ, and that Joseph was probably in his mid to late 30’s with adult children of his own. Today, we would consider such a relationship as paedophilic. But in its’ historical and cultural setting, it was perfectly moral. As stated above, we are forced to make decisions as to which parts of the Bible are culturally affected, and which parts apply to us. We can not take the Bible literally. If we do, we are forced to admit that either the Bible is wrong, and therefore the word of God can not be trusted, or it is not the word of God, and is something different.

John 1:1 says ‘In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.....’ It goes on to say ‘and the word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). The writer of Hebrews writes ‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’ (Hebrews 4:12). Now, we can debate as to whether it is ‘Big ‘W’ word’ or ‘Little ‘w’ word’ as much as we like. But it would seem plain that the Bible is saying that Christ is ‘The Word of God’ – ‘Divine Logos’. Christ came to fulfil the Old Testament – so the Old Testament looked forward to Christ. It was but a dim reflection of what is in heaven. The New Testament is about Christ more explicitly. I would suggest that the Word of God is Christ, and that the Bible is man’s commentary on the Word of God (Christ).

This gives us a very different way of understanding the Bible, and our own faith. Only then can we fully reconcile positions such as women in church leadership, gender inclusive language, issues of sexuality within the church – the list goes on – to science, psychology and our personal understanding of our faith.

The Bible is not The Word of God, it is commentary on The Word of God. It is fallible and open to interpretation. It gives us a historical understanding of how men and women have understood God and salvation. It must continue to change and evolve. If it doesn’t, then as all things which do not change and grow, it is dead and has no power.


Graeme Randall
Former
Australia
Australia Southern Territory

The Death of our Savior has set us free.

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.


—John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople; sermon, ca. 400

FROM Our Poet General; Healing Water Flows...


'Will you follow me, please?' came the voice of the Naval Equerry to His Majesty King George VI, on duty at Buckingham Palace, on a morning in January, 1947. Up marble steps and along splendid corridors the Salvationist followed the naval personage to come at last to wide doors which were thrown open, and to hear the announcement: 'General Albert Orsborn, The Salvation Army.'

 The King came forward to greet his visitor. 'Take a seat,' he said, and the two men began a long and interesting conversation.

The King knew the General. His Majesty remembered pinning the C.B.E. medal on the General's tunic at a Buckingham Palace function during World War II. Now he noted that a 'Fighting Faith' badge had a place beside the ribbon of the Empire Order.

'What is this campaign? the King queried. The General explained that "this campaign… was for the souls of men.
"

…Now as he sat in the Palace, international leader of the world-wide Salvation Army, and the King was about to bring the audience to an end, it seemed that he had come a long way, though never so far as to forget the reason why he journeyed.



In the year 1947 General Albert Orsborn held in his hand a newly published red-covered book -a collection of his own verses -- The Beauty of Jesus.

Poets often find their form of expression unappreciated. For one Wordsworth or T. S. Eliot there are twenty who never achieve fame or who do so only posthumously. Some, indeed, pay to have their verses published. But here was a book of verse for which the writer neither paid nor would receive any pay. He had not asked for it to be published. One justification for his pride was that thousands of people already knew of the poems he wrote and sang them in meetings all over the world-and not only in The Salvation Army…

One day, after reading Matthew's account of the Crucifixion, he was moved to tears of shame to find that it only moved his mind and not his heart. An all-night of prayer and confession and a resolve to weigh his words against his experience brought him victory over that snare. His talks about the Cross of Jesus ever afterward were heart-moving and brought blessing to thousands.



The Bishop of Salisbury had thousands of Albert Orsborn's songs printed for the troops during World War I. They sang 'On the ocean of love and mercy' to their familiar tune, 'It's a long way to Tipperary'. When the zeppelins dropped bombs women and children sang 'We're in the Father's care' to 'We parted on the shore '.

With a Bible and prayer - often waiting days or weeks for the right phrase - songs flowed from Albert Orsborn's pen. Many of them are in The Song Book of The Salvation Army and include such favourites as 'Except I am moved with compassion', 'Fellowship with Thee', and 'Shepherd, hear my prayer'.



He learned to have firm ideas about the music. From New Zealand he sent a song to Eric Ball and told him what the tune was like.

'This is what I hear,' he said. He did not write any music at all, but tried to describe it. When the song, 'The Awakeners', came into being and he heard it for the first time, he knew that he had heard it before.

..

When the BBC. called him 'the poet General' he might well have smiled a wry smile. He denies that he is a poet, but he did, to the tune of 'The pink lady', write a song which other men have coveted and various religious movements have borrowed - 'Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me'.

This was the first song in the collection of Albert Orsborn's verse published by The Salvation Army. Unlike much true poetry, these lines were well known in many parts of the world. As he looked at the little book, to put it down and turn to his many tasks, the General had no regrets.


…By God's grace he had been 'counted faithful' since the days when, as a corps cadet in camp at Hadleigh, he had sung: 

Surely my Captain may depend on me,
 Though but an armour bearer I may be.
Bernard Watson

“He came right down to me, He came right down to me,
To condescend to be my friend, He came right down to me.

Because He loved me so, Because He loved me so;
He bled and died, was crucified, Because He loved me so.”

TAKE FROM MY MIND THE STRESS OF SECRET FEAR
CLEANSE THOU THE WOUNDS
OF ALL BUT THEE FAR HIDDEN
AND WHEN THE WATERS FLOW
LET MY HEALING APPEAR.

FROM A HILL I KNOW,
HEALING WATERS FLOW.
O RISE IMMANUEL'S TIDE
AND MY SOUL OVERFLOW !


“O is not this Christ midst the crowds of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will He not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace.
And how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
And how shall hearts move with the Master’s own love
Without his anointing and seal.

Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth Thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in Thee.”

“My all is in the Master’s hands
For him to bless and break;
Beyond the brook his winepress stands
And thence my way I take,
Resolved the whole of love’s demands
To give, for his dear sake.

Albert Orsborn

OUT OF SIGHT - OUT OF TOUCH ... (from our archives)

Recent discussion of the FSAOF blog has focused on the Army’s response or lack of it to those who ‘leave the work.’ I am hopeful that this discussion will generate some specific guidelines for use across the Army so that officers who are taking up the “former” mantle will find some systemic support for that oftentimes traumatic transition.

Yet all too often, a corporate policy is only as good as the abilities and attitudes of those who are charged with carrying out that policy. I know of very few Salvation Army officers who would say that they have too little work to do, as most of us are dealing with a plate that is overflowing with responsibility, and sadly, pastoral care doesn’t always rise to the top of the list. Like many corps officers, the typical divisional commander is hard-pressed to meet the pastoral needs of his or her active and retired officers, and the expectation that they will be able to keep in contact with those who have moved in a different direction may be unrealistic. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a fact of life, whether we like it or not. This is not to say that we shouldn’t reach out to former officers, but it’s probably not top priority at the beginning the day.

The recent posts have, however, forced me to consider my own reactions, both past and present. As an active officer, my response to someone choosing a different path than officership has generally depended upon my relationship (or lack of one) with the person involved. If I'd normally send them a note or call them were they sharing a college graduation or a death in the family, I've generally done the same upon hearing of their decision. If I had little more than a passing acquaintance, I probably wouldn't be in contact.

However, there have been times when I have gotten involved in the dynamics of an officer resignation. In a recent situation, our corps was privileged to invite a DHQ officer to be with us on her last Sunday as an active officer, where we were able to provide her with affirmation of her work, a blessing upon her new ministry, as well as a luncheon and some shower gifts for her new home. Our intention was to treat this transition for her with respect and with appreciation for her impact on our lives.

I’d suggest that what made this particular situation a positive one was our commitment to treat our friend’s decision as one that we were willing to support, even though I was sad to see her leave the Army. People do change directions in life, and working to normalize those transitions is a healthy response to people we love, even if we don’t fully agree with their decision. By helping those involved grieve the losses and celebrate the new possibilities, we are modeling a healthy approach to life in general.

The more difficult situations are those when there has been a dismissal or a marriage breakdown. What do we do? After all, there is often no public announcement, only a whispered message that implies some difficulty that can’t quite be explained. I must admit that in all too many instances, I've done nothing, excusing my inaction with the thought that perhaps someone else who is closer to them will have involvement. Sadly, that may be the thought of many officers, and the officer being asked to leave is also stripped of much of his or her support system at a time when they most need that support. No one offers to baby-sit, help clean the quarters, or lend some money.

A friend who left officership, admittedly under a cloud of her own making, told me that I was the only officer who had even called. That saddened me, knowing that there were many who were all too willing to talk to me about the ensuing scandal. Perhaps those are the situations where the administration needs to request that someone make contact and stay in contact, whether they be an active officer in the vicinity, a retired officer of discretion, or even someone from outside our denomination.

Ultimately, while the corporate response is important, all Salvation Army officers, active, former or retired, have a responsibility to each other to support, comfort, confront and care for each other. While we may not reach out every time a rumor comes our way or a bulletin crosses our computer screen, we can make an effort to call or e-mail a session-mate or a former officer whom we had served with simply to check in and to say, “I remember.” And we can do it now.
So to those whose paths have crossed with mine, you are not forgotten. Your ministry has touched my life, and I am grateful. The words of II Thess. 3:5 from The Message are my prayer for you today: “May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance.”


Major JoAnn Shade
Major JoAnn Shade ministers with her husband Larry as the corps officers and Directors of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. She received a B.A. in sociology from S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton, a M.A. in Pastoral Counseling, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in June, 2006. She is a prolific writer, lecturer, and busy counselor and has contributed to this blog since its inception.

The Journey Part -2-

Peace- It’s funny to think that not all of the questions being asked at the start of this journey have been answered. God has taken incredible care of us, and there is a renewed sense of passion and urgency for Him, and for sharing the Good News about His Son Jesus. We are only two years out, and look forward to the next part of the journey.


Honesty/Introspection- Interestingly enough it was when another Former told me about this website that I (www.FSAOF.blogspot.com) began to clear my mind and look at our situation through the eyes of others who share the same journey. As I read of similar experiences I was able to step back and start to name the things I was responsible for creating. I could see how much my pain, anger, and frustration would feed on themselves. The blame did nothing more than delay the incredible healing that awaited me. Others who were hurt much worse could move beyond the pain and accept the goodness and grace of their Heavenly Father. This needed to become my testimony.

Acceptance- While there was an intellectual and spiritual acceptance of the new path God had chosen, my emotions were not in sync. SA officership had come to define me in many ways. There is an immediate acceptance of the “major” in every community. While not always the best emotion, I was comfortable being an officer, and I realized much of that was gone. I had to accept this mid-course correction, accept the severing of many relationships, and accept responsibility for the hurt I caused to family and friends still faithfully serving. As hard as it was, I had to accept the fact that I was no longer an officer. This acceptance began the process of knowing that I was ok. Now there is a new course, with new challenges and new victories. I would begin to embrace the understanding that the God who called me, loves, accepts and approves of Jeffery Todd Bassett with or without a rank.

Growth- I have such a long way to go. My feet are still made of clay, I still don’t trust as much as He deserves, and I still fail on too many occasions. But through it all I can honestly say I am not the man I was two years ago when I left SA officership. I am learning that my growth, my health, my faith, and my fears are not the responsibility of any organization, not even The Salvation Army. I am finding renewed confidence in and dependence on the One who alone can be trusted.

Healing- Because I was trying to be obedient and to know what God’s plans were, I left under the assumption that by following Him healing would be instant. The past 2 years have allowed me to see that God’s love and mercies are new every day. For me this means that He lovingly and purposefully begins to scrape away all of the garbage and pain from my past. I have found that healing is mostly subjective. My tolerance for pain may be less or more than yours. The time it takes for me to heal can take more or less time than for you to heal from the exact same hurt. I believe God wants every one of us to know His healing power. I am grateful for the process and this forum that has contributed to my journey. It has been therapeutic to name the stages, knowing that they have led to the place where I am today.

My humble bit of advice is simply this;
1. Don’t skip any stages in your journey; you will have to address them eventually.
2. Don’t stay in any part of the journey beyond your appointed time; God wants to keep you moving forward.
3. Finally, don’t judge anyone; instead encourage those still struggling along in their journey!
I am finding that it gets better every day☺

Jeffery T. Bassett
Former
USA East
Jeffery Bassett is the Founding Pastor of Living Water Church Ministries. He has a BS in Bible and MS in Organizational Leadership from Philadelphia Biblical University where he teaches as an adjunct professor. Jeffery is employed full time by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association where he serves as the Director of Development.
Living Water Church Ministries
Wall, NJ
pastor@livingwaterchurchministries.org

The Journey Part -1-

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has become the youngest billionaire in the world at age 23 according to a Forbes estimate. He is ranked 785 on the World’s Billionaires list.

Imagine a world where you never have to choose where you will live or what you will drive, have little to no worry about bills, or even what you will do for a living. Other than an occasional move, and perhaps a disappointment from time to time there is a predictability that defines your rhythm of life.

Now picture you are standing at the edge of a cliff with a blindfold on. You hear a voice telling you to jump. You don’t know how far from the ground or how long the plunge will last, you only hear and recognize the voice of the One calling you to jump.

After serving for 21 years, in July of 2008 we entered the world of “Former Officer”. As a third generation officer and fourth generation Salvationist this was never part of the journey that I could have anticipated.

Many who read this have known similar experiences. I hope to share in an attempt to connect with those who have become “Formers” and with many who continue to share concern for us. Obviously our steps and time we spend at each stage of the journey are be impacted by many variables: personality, tolerance, self esteem, support, acceptance, years of service, commitment, etc., etc., etc. The point is we will experience all or some of the strong emotions associated with leaving officership, as it was so much a part of our lives.

Fear- As this odyssey began I was scared to death about leaving. The “spiritual” questions like: have I correctly heard God’s call, will I be out of His will, how will this impact those we have loved, nurtured, and seen come into the kingdom? And the “practical” questions like: can we survive without the Army, where will we work, where will we live, can we afford to walk away from the security, what will our friends and family think?

Faith- The months preceding our resignation were marked by an extreme sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This sensitivity was due in large part because I could not answer most of the questions that caused my fear. When our letter of resignation was written there was no promise of employment, no housing, and no clear indication of what the future would bring. I only knew it was God who was leading me.

Freedom- Following 21 years of service there was a sense of liberty that did not always exist as an officer. We attended a local church and the pastor shared how he had met many SA officers who would implode after they left the Army, this because they were not conditioned to make many of their own choices. We developed a healthy friendship and I continue to make myself accountable to him.

Frustration- It didn’t take long for me to move from healthy to unhealthy. While God had miraculously provided for all of our needs, I took my eyes off Him and started looking back at all the reasons why I wasn’t an officer. My appreciation for everything good was replaced with criticism for everything wrong with the organization. There was unresolved hurt. I focused on the friends, leadership, and session mates who abandoned me rather than the handful of godly officers whom God used to reach out and minister on a regular basis. As a result I became increasingly frustrated and my frustration turned to blame and anger. I was angry at The Salvation Army for every perceived wrong they did to me, for every perceived wrong they did to others. I was angry that the connection was gone, and whether real or perceived angry that the Army no longer cared about me and my family. I was upset that there did not seem to be any interest or concern about where we would worship. I blamed the Army for any problems our children were having, I blamed the Army for my having to work three jobs to keep a basic standard of living, I blamed the Army for me leaving the ministry I loved…I was angry!

Part -1-

Jeffery T. Bassett
Former
USA East
Jeffery Bassett is the Founding Pastor of Living Water Church Ministries. He has a BS in Bible and MS in Organizational Leadership from Philadelphia Biblical University where he teaches as an adjunct professor. Jeffery is employed full time by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association where he serves as the Director of Development.
Living Water Church Ministries
Wall, NJ
pastor@livingwaterchurchministries.org

The Cross is Central 7

The Cross of Christ is Central to every Scandinavian's Identity !

From one of Sweden’s leading newspapers this week; ‘In our time the hunt takes on Christianity’s increasingly ridiculous twists and there seems to be a touch of horror on all that is called Christianity…Some, however, see the hunt as abating just a bit. Sweden continues to seemingly flip flop in accepting, and the next day rejecting, the significance of Christianity in the history of the country. However, the populous’ allegiance appears to have weakened with clear signs that the struggle is waning.

Madleine Fredell, a Dominican Sister, (General Secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace, Catholic Diocese of Stockholm) said at a lecture in Oslo recently that; "it is rather atheism showing convulsive death throes and, therefore, makes fierce attack on the mainly Christian faith.

There is no question but that in serendipitous times one might easily forget and perhaps even dismiss its cause; God’s plan and effect. God’s presence isn’t quite so notable nor necessary when things are ‘bright and gay’.With smooth sailing we go where the fairwinds lead...





While stationed in Östersund, in northern Sweden’s beautiful fell country I was able to convince the local city government that TSA was the organization that could best take over the administration of the city’s failing homeless shelter and half-way house. It became one of the corps’ key mission efforts, taking us back to basics, and the income fully covered all corps expenses; self-supporting for the first time in decades. And the blessings ? Priceless !

One of our ‘regulars’ was Bengt, a professional exterior house painter whose need for drink often caused him to sip from the alcohol used in his work. He had worked for years alongside his father, and their expertise lay in refinishing church steeples. I joked with him that they were ‘God’s co-workers.’ And I suggested to him that the steeples were their Garden of Eden, "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15).

Three blocks from the corps stands one of Sweden’s largest cathedrals, and I asked Bengt if he’d ever painted the steeple that crowned one of Östersund's landmarks ?He quickly responded, “Yes, of course I have- 150 meters at the top with a gold gilded cross… the ascent is tiring and we do it in stages, especially if we’re downloaded with paint, brushes and other equipment.” I pressed him further, ‘what if you get all the way to the top and begin to paint and a storm begins to roar do you then seek shelter?’ “Well, not usually, we simply move to the cross- there’s one on every steeple, and we hold on tight till the clouds pass…”

A favorite modern day philosophy professor of mine is Jacob Needleman. His, The Heart of Philosophy speaks about “remembering”, those unique spiritual moments in our past that cause us to reflect on God and His ‘sometime’ presence. In our comfort, and when all is bliss, the ‘remembering’ is infrequent. But when the storms come, and for most this occurs when the children are gone and their visits to the family home are less often. They are the years when we become church-goers at a more frequent rate; weddings, Christenings, child baptisms, but perhaps when the ‘remembering’ is most needed is when attending the ever increasing number of funerals or reading of friends’ passings.

As God’s stewards we’re entrusted with the responsibility of caring for His children, often proud, dismissive, rude, self-aggrandizing. As God’s worker-stewards we are mandated to cultivate the ministry opportunities God places before us. Could it be that in the noise and drama taking place in debating God’s historical impact has caused His heart enough grief, and that He now steps in again, a gentle small voice, His holy spirit speaking to warring hearts, now ‘remembering’- reminded to seeking the Truth. Have I, have you, naively sought to win a verbal battle in our own despairing weakness? I believe that in those moments when both sides stop to rearm and take a breather, God speaks and reminds us all; “Be still and know that I am God; The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exod 14:14.


John Gowans told us to “find out what the Holy Spirit is doing and join in.”
Perhaps we, who seek ‘to be like Jesus’, need to re-analyze our mind set when we speak for God’s intent. It will take some specific choices on our part to be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s expectations, “forgetting what lies behind..." We must focus on the future with Christ, and let him lead us away from the disappointments and indifferences of our past. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ( Jeremiah 29:11)

Another well-known internationally respected leader is Commissioner Joe Noland, whose recent blog entry included:
"Salvationism is a two part word: Salvation + ism. The salvation part is never changing – the same, yesterday, today, forever (The conservative part). Ism, by its proper definition is “a movement” – always changing: “Mobile, fluid, robust, pulsating, progressive, maturing – Genesis in motion.” In other words, our methodology needs to stay relevant, inclusive and flexible in order to reach the last, the lost and least (The liberal part)." God supplies us with the creation— the raw materials— and invites us to cultivate it and care for it (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). We manage, preserve and sustain it on God’s behalf.

Not surprisingly the stewardship motif emerges on the pages of the New Testament. According to Jesus, his disciples are to participate together with God in the task of sustaining and preserving the created order. On several occasions, Christ describes his followers in his parables as stewards and house-holders enlisted by him (Matthew 24:45-51; parallels Psalm 104: 27). Our work can be seen as an act of cooperation with God.

Unfortunately, God’s "cultural mandate" is frequently neglected by Christians today. In his book, Living by the Gospel, Regent College professor Klaus Bockmuehl writes, "The ethics of sustainment and preservation are necessarily part of Christian ethics. This fact must be upheld against those among us who confess to knowing only Christ’s Great Commission, Matthew 28: 18-20, and neglect God’s cultural mandate, Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 2:15....God’s creation and man’s commission in it must not be disregarded or disdained. Christians will have to find the proper balance between the two tasks assigned to them— on the one hand, in the preservation of creation; on the other hand, in the realm of salvation."

In this Lenten season we recall the build-up for what were your and mine most crucial sermons- built on the centrality of the Cross of Christ. And leading up to it was His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus chose a donkey to serve as His royal transport. His disciples were instructed to say, “The Lord has need of it” (Mark 11:3). Alexander MacLaren commented on this: “Christ comes to us in like fashion, and brushes aside all our convenient excuses. He says, ‘I want you, and that is enough.’ ”

There will never be a greater request made of you or me! The Creator of the universe needs us to fill a unique role in His eternal design! Though all-powerful He has chosen us to help in carrying out His plans.

Someone once asked Francis of Assisi how he was able to accomplish so much. He replied, “This may be why: The Lord looked down from heaven and said, ‘Where can I find the weakest, littlest man on earth?’ Then He saw me and said, ‘I’ve found him. I will work through him, and he won’t be proud of it. He’ll see that I am only using him because of his insignificance.’

Yours is a mission you alone can fill,
 Whether it be to build or teach or till;
 Your goal may still be hidden from your view,
 But somewhere God has urgent need of you. —Thayer



Dr. Sven Ljungholm
Former
Exeter Temple Corps
UK