Salvationists work on radical plan
for new ways to do their job
Commissioner McKenzie says the Salvation
Army has
a rich heritage of ministry and service and wants to build on that, but
the next few years will be critical because the denomination has major
challenges to face.
“Our mission is to bring people into a
relationship with God, with a faith that is dynamic, radical and
active. When dynamic disciples are made, people are cared for, lives
are transformed and society is reformed.”
The strategic plan affirms the army’s
mission statement, “Caring for people, transforming lives, reforming
society”.
“Caring for people, transforming lives, reforming society”
“Underlying that is the need for dynamic disciples, people who are
really disciples of the Lord, to help that kind of transformation to
take place,” says Commissioner McKenzie. “This is not done in our
strength – it’s done in the strength of the Lord, of course.
“To make it work, we have three working parties which will bring back
recommendations on how to put this into place. It’s all very well
saying those good things, but how do you make it happen?”
The three focuses are:
- Biblical empowerment – “how we can
increase our Biblical understandings”;
- An
administrative review – “looking at our structures and our processes,
including financial management, and directing resources accordingly”;
and
- Counter-cultural – “looking at
justice and society, helping as far as we can to eradicate poverty, and
being prepared to move against the tide of society to do what is right
and just”.
“The Salvation Army is nearly 125 years
old. We
want to make sure we don’t lose our cutting edge. We want to enhance
what we’re doing. It’s bringing a much sharper focus.”
Asked what particular areas of weakness the plan might be
addressing, Commissioner McKenzie said discipleship was not as strong
as it should be.
Another area getting greater emphasis was giving permission
to all members “for any responsibly taken action” to advance the
mission.
“It could be perceived that we are rather structured, and that is a
deliberate statement to allow freedom for people to take initiatives
and really push forward.
“We have been saying that kind of thing in the past but I don’t
think we overly meant it. We are really serious about it now. There
have been some places where we have done it superbly, but it’s across
the whole territory now. We are saying, ‘we want you to take sensible
initiatives and really go for it’.”
The tendency to move officers on quickly from place to place is
also being looked at. “I think if you took a survey now you would find
that we have a lot more officers staying a lot longer in one place than
we have had in our history.
“But I would not want to gild the lily. There are situations where
we have had some short stays. We are endeavouring to hold our officers
longer in appointments, and it’s certainly paying dividends. We try for
five years, but we can’t always achieve that.”
One thing that won’t change, though, is the military titles and
uniform. “This was discussed during the planning process,” says
Commissioner McKenzie. “The uniforms may adapt, and be more T-shirts
than jackets, but the desire among our young people - interestingly -
is to make sure that they are identified. We are not about to give the
uniform away, because of its visibility.”
One difficulty the army has faced over the past couple of decades
has been supporting a large community ministry with falling
congregations. But Commissioner McKenzie says that has begun to turn
round, and attendances across the country are beginning to climb again.
“It has not just happened. There has been an intentional focus
in every one of our divisions to lift what we call ‘soldiership’ –
committed people who name the Salvation Army as their worship place.
That’s very encouraging to us.”
Although the strategic plan began as an exercise at the New Zealand
headquarters, Commissioner McKenzie says it has gone out to a wide
range of people who have been working through it.
“We have gone to grassroots level, with consultations in all five
divisions, and are now refining it further.
“The overall thrust is now in place, and I am expecting reports
back from the working parties by June for further things to put in
place.”
John McNeil, a veteran of 40 years of newspaper
and radio journalism, is South Island reporter for Challenge Weekly,
New Zealand’s non-denominational, independent national Christian
newspaper.
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