Part 174. Stay or leave?

I have been an Adherent member of The Salvation Army for almost a decade. My motivation for joining was my admiration for the work the Army undertakes with the marginalised in our society.  Often unsung, it is vital work necessitated by the failure of governments to provide sufficient resources to deal with existing issues as well as failure to take action to eliminate the causes of deprivation and marginisation.

I have seen at first hand, indeed been part of, the work being undertaken by The Salvation Army, other denominations and the wider voluntary sector. However I am shocked by the report Destitution in the UK 2023 published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It paints an appalling picture.

So, the work being undertaken in vital and I continue to support it. I wish the Army would fund a greatly enhanced campaign for additional resources to assist the marginalised and also for changes to existing policies. As Desmond Tutu said, we must not just be pulling people out of the river, we should go upstream to find the causes and stop them falling in.

With regard to campaigning  I did seek to become a Social Justice Champion in The Salvation Army. What a disaster. The way it was handled reminded me of Fred Karno's Army.

In recent years I have become much more aware of the vicious discrimination often faced by LBGTQ communities. The Salvation Army welcomes all into its support work but the barriers shoot up when soldiership and officership are mentioned. It is dreadful. The theology behind this approach is literalist, fundamentalist and conservative evangelical. There are brave officers campaigning for full inclusion and I sense an increase in support for their position. But will this translate into action? Sadly, I very much doubt it, but I pray fervently that I am wrong. 

So, should I stay or leave? 

Part 173. Shocking!!

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has funded the production of a report entitled: Destitution in the UK 2023. It is sombre reading, it is shocking.  The report, in full, is available online and I commend it. Please read it.

The report states 1.8 million households equating to 3.8 million individuals live in destitution. Destitution is defined clearly in the report. Indeed there is an underclass in the UK as defined by JK Galbraith in a USA context. Galbraith said we have the means to overcome destitution, politically we prefer not so to do.

The situation is a damning indictment of the political process and the Civil Service. It is also an indictment of religious bodies. The latter are good at providing bandages but are reticent in attacking those causing the wounds.  Religious bodies should be leading campaigns demanding change. No longer is the cry sustainable that religion should keep out of politics.

Christian churches need to engage with the political process, to shout out for social justice, to show leadership in the pursuit of His Kingdom on earth.

Part 172. Further developments

Since my previous post news has emerged that there will not be proposals for a ban on conversion therapy in the forthcoming King's Speech to Parliament setting out the government's proposed legislation for the next session.  It is reported that the government has caved in to a motley crew led by Miriam Cates the Tory MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge. She is a known conservative evangelical.

It is reported by an attendee at last week's Salvation Army Officers' Council that "the leadership made some positive inclusive comments during sessions". The hope is that this leads to positive action  but don't hold your breath.

The fallout from the House of Bishops motion and report to the next General Synod of the Church of England on prayers for gay couples et al continues apace. Shouts of betrayal by the gay community. Justified in my opinion. For details go to Facebook.

John Hopkinson Theology Page

&

Theology of Social Justice 

Part 171. Developments, maybe.

Press reports indicate that, in another U-turn, the UK government will promise in the King's speech to introduce a bill to outlaw conversion therapy. The worry is that it will only provide for a partial ban and will contain loopholes rendering the legislation virtually useless.

The Salvation Army UK & Ireland Territory held an Officers' Council this week. Proponents of full inclusion regardless of sexual orientation are pleased with the display of support witnessed by the wearing of rainbow badges. Thus optimism grows, but will hope for change be fulfilled or dashed?

The Church of England has published papers for November's General Synod. One motion is to note and agree with the House of Bishops approach to same-sex marriages. Nothing new of substance, so delay will continue, much to the delight of conservative evangelicals and disappointment, anger and dismay of supporters of inclusion.

Part 170. The Army: and me. A quandary.

For many years I have been impressed by the work The Salvation Army engages in in supporting the lonely, the marginalised, the deprived, the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the refugee, the modern day slave, the alcoholic,  the discriminated against. This work is done in its settings (locations) week in and week out and takes a multitude of forms. The activities are undertaken by the Army alone, or in collaboration, or in partnership with other organisations; public bodies, companies or charities. 

On top of this relief work TSA engages at national level campaigning for changes to tackle the causes of the above-mentioned matters.

It was in this context that in 2014 I became an Adherent member of The Army. At the time neither the theology nor the doctrine of the Army were  considerations in my decision to join. However since then I have become aware of discrimination within the Army directed at individuals on the basis of sexual orientation. My corps' officer states I have a passion for inclusiveness (as indeed have many officers and soldiers). This sets me at odds with the Army's theology and arguably doctrine. My quandary is: stay or leave.  Frankly I don't know.

Part 169: Dither, dither, dither

The House of Bishops has funked it.  It has agreed in principle to commend prayers and readings of blessing for individuals in a same-sex marriage as part of an existing authorised service, but has not  recommended authorisation for new stand-alone services for blessing such individuals.

The Bishops declined to grant authorisation of stand-alone services for an experimental period.

Instead there will be a period of consultation with dioceses leading to a motion for authorisation at a Church of England Synod, probably in November 2025. Such a motion to succeed requires a two thirds majority in each of the three Houses - Clergy, Laity and Bishops. The likelihood is the motion will be not be carried.

In the face of opposition and threats of legal action from Evangelical groups the House of Bishops has funked it. It should not have cowered before the opposition and boldly gone ahead with an experimental period. Shame on them.

Part 168. Roman Catholic Church stirs?

Pope Francis has stated that whilst marriage in the eyes of the Church is one of one man to one woman, nevertheless it is open to priests on a case by case basis to bless same sex marriages. This is a major shift in attitude, welcomed by liberal Catholics but anathema to conservatives.

Debate on expanding the role of the laity and in particular the role of women is viewed by conservative elements with grave suspicion.

The Pope has been busy appointing new cardinals likely to be supportive of his agenda and ensuring his approach endures in the hands of his successor.

Exciting times.