Mark Rees

The death has been reported of Mark Rees. We served together as councillors for the same ward on our local council. He was a chorister with the town's choral society and a contributor of articles to the church parish magazine.

Part 150. Staying on

Following a meeting with the  officers I have decided to continue as an Adherent of The Salvation Army Royal Tunbridge Wells Corps.  I do not hide my displeasure at the utter shambles surrounding my application to THQ to be a Social Justice Champion. It is a disgrace.

However, I am encouraged by the innovative community engagement activity being undertaken at corps level, also by Fresh Expressions initiatives and what I perceive as an encouraging attitude at Division level in the South East towards inclusion issues. 

Part 149. More fundamentalist bile.

Regular readers of my blog know I support a ban on conversion therapy. A complete ban. Many disagree, based on a mixture of literalist reading of scripture,  fundamentalist theology, scientific ignorance and plain homophobia. 

Leading the charge in favour of not having a complete ban is mostly evangelical churches and evangelical umbrella bodies. A leading player is The Christian Institute.  The Institute controls a Facebook page Let us Pray. 

The Institute's output usually does not descend into personal attacks. A recent post on Let us Pray launches into criticism of statements made by Jayne Ozanne. Fair enough. What is not acceptable is that vitriolic, vicious and defamatory comments have been added which should have been deleted. 

Part 147. SENTRY

I am fascinated by the Facebook page SENTRY - Salvationists Fighting For Sanctity.

It is the haunt of fundamentalist literalist Salvationists.  The following statements were posted recently. 

The Apostle Paul entered heaven to the cheers of those he martyred. Thats (sic) how the gospel works.

A report from heaven? Wow.

Another offering of dodgy theology:

There is no such thing as "your truth". There is the truth and your opinion.  

 

I was tempted to ask what in their opinion the truth is.

Part 148. Dialogue and insults.

Two recent events have raised the profile considerably of those seeking full inclusion in The Salvation Army United Kingdom & Ireland Territory. The Pride event in London was supported by Regent Hall. The premises were adorned with supportive material and love and hospitality shown to marchers.

The second event was the commissioning of new officers. It has been the subject of comment that there was more than a scattering of rainbow badges worn in support of full inclusion.

The anticipated backlash from fundamentalists spouting dodgy theology was quick to surface on social media. Nastiness and blatant homophobia from supposed Christians much in evidence. Those of us who support full inclusion are greatly encouraged by the two events. We recognise that the virulent entrenched homophobia (masked as biblical truth) within the Army shows it may be a long slow road to full inclusion. Let's pray that the new General is bold and decisive and authorises territories to determine the extent of inclusion on their patch.

Part 146. Yes, but....

Some of my posts on this blog and items on my Facebook page refer to the requirement placed on us by Jesus to follow him.   This entails providing direct assistance to the poor, the deprived, the oppressed, the downtrodden,  the marginalised, the discriminated against,  the sick, the abused and the frail.  However it entails also tackling and overcoming the causes as well as the effects of policies and attitudes. In other words seeking what is glibly defined as systemic change.

Two important considerations, process and substance.  There is a vast literature on how to campaign, how to influence and the mechanics of achieving change.  When it comes to the substance though it is a murky vista. Change has  consequences, foreseen and unforeseen. Sometimes the remedy is just as damaging as the original issue. There will often be competing ideas as to the most effective, efficient or sustainable change.  Pragmatism versus principle may come into play.  However, the issues and problems in effecting change must not be permitted to dissuade us from seeking to follow him in seeking to bring his kingdom on earth.

Part 145. Down memory lane

Many years ago Tunbridge Wells Churches' Social Responsibility Group was approached by Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource Ltd to propose an individual who would act as a link between the latter and churches in the area. And so it was that I became a director of the company for just short of a decade.

Yesterday I attended the thirtieth birthday party of the company I left just over ten years ago. It was good to meet up with friends and colleague from my time as a director.

The company is thriving and achieving the ambition and hopes of its founders. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of the organisation.  It happened only as a consequence of my involvement in the churches' social responsibility group. 

Part 144. A church in crisis?

I have been watching the broadcasts from York of the General Synod of the Church of England. It has made for depressing watching. The church is in a spiral of decline, buries it head in the sand, and will soon crash.  Its leadership is abysmal. Whilst there is the veneer of concern, caring and compassion scratch the surface and beneath is loathing, anger, frustration, hatred and bullying on an industrial scale. Indeed, an iron fist in a velvet glove.

On a range of issues there is controversy and dissent: diversity, gay marriage and safeguarding processes to name but three.

The parish system is creaking, the Anglican Communion is divided. Surely now is the time to put the church and nation out of their misery? Disestablish the Church of England and let it sink in its own mire.

Part 143. More on reading scripture

Yesterday I watched the live transmission of the first session of the General Synod of the Church of England. Not an edifying experience as claims of anger, mistrust and lack of transparency articulated by Synod members. At the outset of the proceedings there was a reading from Ephesians 2.  In this chapter Paul argues that Jews and Gentiles are now united in Jesus. Verses14-15.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. 

Jesus is quoted  in the synoptic gospels as stating that he had not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. In fulfilling the law Jesus had rendered it irrelevant. The law had served its purpose. Paul is emphasising the point by stating that followers of Jesus did not have to adhere to the rules and regulations of the law. Instead, to follow Jesus is to live by the broad principle of love.

It baffles me why fundamentalists fail to understand the concepts the words of scripture convey.  They are in thrall to detailed analysis of individual words and miss completely their context and ideas they convey.  Scripture is not to be read and interpreted as statute law. 

Part 142. Ferment in Yorkshire.

No, I am not referring to the England v. Australia cricket match at Headingley commencing today.  Doubtless the good folk of Yorkshire will give the Aussie team a hard time.

The ferment will be down the road at York University where the General Synod of the Church of England meets over the next few days. It will be interesting to hear the tone and content of the speech by a representative of the Anglican Communion and to note how it is received. The situation in Uganda,  the reaction of the Communion to proposed blessings for individuals in same sex marriages and the development of GAFCON doubtless will exercise minds and stir emotions. There is a motion in the name of a prominent Conservative Evangelical calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign. The Bishop of London is invited to answer a question on how the Church defines female same-sex sexual acts!  It all makes the England v. Australia contest look like a minor skirmish.  The real battle is at York.

Part 141. Resignation

I have resigned as an Adherent member of The Salvation Army.  My application to be a volunteer Social Justice Champion has been handled appallingly by THQ. Such skills and experience I have will be placed at the disposal of organisations that welcome volunteers.  

Update.

Deferred a decision on resigning until after a meeting with corps officers.