Part 127. Poverty in London

Travel across London and you will come upon areas of ostentatious wealth and neighbourhoods of multiple deprivation, the latter characterised by poverty, poor health, unemployment, awful housing, low grade criminality amongst other depressing features. It was ever thus. Read Charles Dickens novels to gain an understanding of life in the slums of Victorian London. Slums were to be found in major cities in the UK and sadly the new builds of the 1960s, whether in inner cities or outer suburbs, have failed to dispel the  ghettos of multiple deprivation. Society has failed people living in these areas. As Galbraith stated society has the means to tackle the issues but refuses to act.

The Salvation Army was founded in East London. Anglo-Catholic churches became active in areas of deprivation as has the London City Mission.  But all they can provide is direct support to a few of those suffering poverty, neglect or discrimination. They lack the resources to do more. It is a disgrace that voluntary organisations have to provide foodbanks, soup kitchens, warm areas, clothing exchanges and the like.  

I have not noted any political party espouse as a priority the cause of those living in areas of multiple deprivation.  Faith groups and individuals must fill the void, must stand up and campaign for policies to eradicate the factors underpinning deprivation, poverty and marginalisation. Jesus calls upon us to love our neighbour and help those in need.

Part 126. The new General. What now?

The election of Lyndon Buckingham as the next General of The Salvation Army is to be welcomed.  Only time will tell if the hope so many have for reform will become reality under his leadership. Keeping the Army united worldwide is a major challenge and it may be that granting increased autonomy to territories is the answer.

The next General takes up his post in August 2023. A key early decision for him is to decide who is to replace him as Chief of Staff, a post of great importance as the holder is number two in the Army.  

Part 125. The Salvation Army High Council. The new General.

Looking at the runners in the New General Stakes I make the current Chief of Staff the firm favourite and the USA candidate a strong second favourite.  The candidates from Latin America and Pakistan are outsiders but I would expect the latter to do better than the former.  Of course races and elections often do not produce results in line with expectation.

Later today we should have the result declared and then I shall continue to write this post.

So, the favourite won. Hopefully this will lead in time to a reevaluation of the exclusion of individuals from officership on the basis of sexual orientation. However only very very cautious optimism that there will be change in at least some territories.

Part 124. Getting stuck in, Sally Army style.

I have been most impressed by the engagement of The Salvation Army with communities and organisations in Brighton, Faversham and Sheerness. Doubtless there is good engagement in many places but the three I mention are the ones of which I am most aware.

Brighton has a dynamic officer who promotes full inclusion and has reached out to other organisations to promote social justice. Being seen, having a telling presence, making a contribution to the deliberations of local agencies and authorities is essential in campaigning for social justice.

Faversham and Sheerness are examples of Fresh Expressions whereby a new approach to the work of TSA is being undertaken. In both instances it involves working collaboratively with other organisations, particularly to serve individuals in need.  Sheerness promoted the use of a bus to extend its services across the Isle of Sheppey.  In Faversham a new centre is being developed in a former bank. Exciting times pointing to a better future for the Army.

Part 123. Social Justice Champions. Another Update.

Territorial HQ has been in contact with my local corps commanding officers and a meeting between us will be held in early June. According to the corps' officers the appointment of Social Justice Champions is a matter for local corps councils.  This is not stated on TSA website which does state however that HQ will process applications.  TSA bureaucracy is very slow. I applied on 4th April!

Part 122. Social Justice Champions update

My interest in becoming  Salvation Army Social Justice Champion has taken a step forward. A Public Affairs Officer at HQ has flagged up my interest with the commanding officers of the corps I attend and they will be contacting me.

Part 121. Join the club?

Thinking of joining a club? Use due diligence to understand the club's rules. You may have cause to regret not doing so when an issue arises.  Just as important is understanding who are the guardians of the rules and how they apply them. Of course you may discover the rules do not permit you to join or participate as much as you might wish.

Churches have rules, regulations, dogmas  doctrines, customs, traditions, processes and procedures all aimed at directing, circumscribing, promoting or discouraging behaviour.  There has to be order and discipline. All legalistic and introspective.

Jesus had  a different approach: Love God, love all and follow him.

Part 120. High Council

Before the end of this month The Salvation Army High Council will have elected a new General. The new General will have serious issues to consider, decisions on which will have a major impact on the future direction of the Army. In some parts of the world the good news is that membership is growing. Set against this are territories where membership is in decline, officer recruitment is abysmal and corps are closing. Arresting this decline, never mind reversing it, has to be the key priority for the next General.

An allied issue is that of how inclusive the Army is. Whilst it welcomes all, opportunities for advancement may be denied on the basis of sexual orientation. Same sex partners and same sex marriage are bars to officership. Will the Army change its stance and its theology and doctrine? I sense in some territories a desire for change.  The problem is that opposition to change will come from the major financial generator, the USA, and from territories experiencing growth.

The Army is a force for good, helping and campaigning for the poor, discriminated and marginalised. Yet on issues of sexual orientation it is stuck in an outdated theological and doctrinal mindset.

I don't believe the next General will be handed a poisoned chalice, rather a conundrum, to which there is no clear solution, of how to avoid splitting up an international organisation.

Part 119. Don't shoot The Messenger

Have you read The Messenger? An interesting book, it is not a bible translation. Rather it is seeking to explain, through paraphrasing in plain English, the concepts and commentaries of the Biblical authors.  It is anathema to those who seek to interpret scripture literally and/or as the inerrant God-given word.

An example. In the NIV translation we read Hebrews11.1 thus:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

The Messenger has it thus:

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith,  is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.  It's our handle on what we can't see.

Refreshing, or what?

Part 118. A signal or an error?

The United Kingdom & Ireland Territory Salvation Army Facebook page has an item containing a video about what motivated a person to become an officer cadet. The person in question is wearing an Army jacket and on it is a badge worn by people who support full inclusion. Was publishing this on an official Army social media site an error, or is the Territory sending out a signal that its attitude towards inclusion has changed? I fear it is the former but hope it is the latter.

Part 117. Social Justice Champions

I applied to become one of The Salvation Army's Social Justice Champions in April 2023. Earlier this week I was telephoned by a very pleasant person from HQ to discuss my interest. I have a long history of contacting officers and councillors of local authorities on social justice issues, not with unalloyed success, either in a personal capacity or on behalf of an organisation. How does an SJC represent the Army? Is there a chain of command or monitoring in place to ensure that representations by SJCs are with the Army's consent? Will systems be established, particularly ones which provide for quick responses?