INTEGRITY

by Terry Camsey

“No matter what an organization says, no matter what image they try to project, the organization needs to demonstrate who they say they are and deliver what they say they offer…”

T

hus commented Elexio Obiah in an issue of Outreach magazine. There’s a lot of food for thought there and a great challenge to the church in general.

A while ago a friend in New Zealand, who is a Salvationist and has a tremendous heart for the mission of the Army, e-mailed me. Apparently that territory had recently been running an ad on television reminding people (if they ever knew) that the Army is more than a charity and is, in fact, a church. In his corps, an immediate response was experienced when - as a direct result of that ad - a new person turned up at the corps on Sunday.

The strategy of the ad was sound. Take people from what they know of an organization to what else you would like them to know.

When it came out, the Crest Book “Come Join Our Army’ by R.G. Moyles led me to contact the author. I was privileged later to enjoy some insightful conversations with him over the internet. In that book he points out that, towards the end of the late 1880’s and early 1890’s, Salvationists were becoming aware that the Army, as they had known it, was beginning to change. They were “now being asked to become as actively involved in charitable work as previously they were in red-hot revivalism.” And they were being popularized for that. Dr. Moyles suggests that they then became “less frequently hailed as soul-saving revivalists and more often as social reformers known less for their aggressive evangelism than for their good deeds.”

Interestingly, Dr, Moyles tells us in his book that - coinciding with this change - the Army’s membership in inner London peaked and, from 1900,”began to experience a slow decline in numbers to the present day.”

Was there a correlation between the change of emphasis and the decline in memberships? A somewhat similar phenomenon was experienced in (as I recall) the mid 1970’s when churches of many denominations in the USA started to make social work the priority. Where evangelism was the primary emphasis, social work increased, but when social work became the priority, evangelism suffered.

Even as I write this, the cautionary - but sage - saying, “Stick to your knitting” comes to mind.

A few years ago I learned that Charlie Chaplin, famed comedian of yesteryears, once entered a “Charlie Chaplin look-alike Competition.” He came in third! His brand image (the bowler hat, walking stick, black moustache and erratic gait”) was there, yet obviously the judges felt he didn’t seem to be himself!

No doubt many of those early Salvationists caught up in the changing focus of the Army, from evangelism to social work felt much like that…the Army didn’t seem to be itself. As far back as 40 years or more, ago General Kitching expressed concerns about the danger of   the Army taking its eyes off the primary purpose of our ministry. God did not send his Son that people might have clothes on their backs, or food in their bellies, or a roof over their head.

Addressing such social and emotional needs only earns us the right to share with them the prime reason God sent his Son…that they might have eternal life. This is not to knock the ministry of our social work so long as it is connected - as we say it should be - on a continuum that draws social service recipients toward the evangelical ministry of corps…and draws the soldiery into personal involvement with the Army’s social ministry.

I guess this is not helped if the bulk of our advertising focuses - as an end product - on what Booth only intended as a stepping stone (a means to an end) to our real product…”the pearl of greatest price.”

What do you think?

P.S. And the “brand” played on!

Writer: A published and recorded composer; cornet soloist of international fame; Terry Camsey was a Salvation Army officer for over twenty years mostly in the area of Church Health and Growth who in retirement is a church growth consultant. He studied with Carl F George (of the then Fuller Institute of Evangelism) as a church growth “doctor” (Diagnosis with Impact), Lyle E. Schaller, Charles and “Chip” Arne and trained as facilitator with Covey Institute (Seven Habits and  First Things First), and The Edward de Bono Lateral Thinking Course.

Terry has traveled as Church Growth teacher around the world including Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, Philippines, Germany.

He is writer of “Slightly Off-Center” (Crest books) and regular columnist in New Frontier (The Salvation Army USA West’s periodical) for over two decades.

© Terry Camsey, May 2010 (Used with permission of the author)

7 Comments to INTEGRITY

1. Right on the button, I pray that our leaders read this and act on it.

   Your humble foot soldier from New Zealand.
Roy Stephens on May 31st, 2010

2. Excellent Terry. I’m really enjoying your very well thought out (and obviously well lived) contributions here.

   Peter B.
Peter B. on May 31st, 2010

3. I think I hear what you’re saying Terry, but I’m uneasy with any suggestion that the ’social’ work of the Army must be subservient to the ‘evangelical.’

   Surely both are manifestations of the Kingdom and both stem from a desire to serve God and our fellow human. We are both spiritual and physical beings. Unless we ascribe to some bizarre gnostic view of the human it doesn’t make sense to treat one aspect of our humanity as more important than any other.

   I would suggest that God did send his Son so that ‘people might have clothes on their backs, or food in their bellies, or a roof over their head.’ Eternal life is far more than just a ticket to the hereafter. It’s even more than some numinous spiritual experience we can enjoy on this side of death. Jesus’ ministry of healing the sick was was every bit as important and preeminent as his work of preaching.

   Maybe we need to stop thinking about which aspect has priority. In fact, we shouldn’t even see them as separate things that can be held in tension with one another: this isn’t a continuum, it’s a whole. Talking about opposite sides of the coin just emphasises the differences between the two sides rather than the unity of the whole coin.

   I suspect that if we could get this right our soldiers might be just as likely to help in the Corps food bank as they are to play in the band. God knows we need soldiers who will.

   Cameron
Cameron on June 10th, 2010

4. Thanks Cameron for your insight and comments.

   John 3:16 seems to clearly state that God sent his Son to the world so that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. That is THE bottom line of God’s purpose.

   There are many ways to get to it and dealing with social needs first is one of them. We can clothe and feed the otherwise lost, but if that is not used as a conduit to the heart maybe we miss the mark.

   As I suggested - for an Army that pursues a continuum (unbroken line)between our social work and our corps’ spiritual life… AND between our corps spiritual life and our social work - That continuum does seem to be fragmented.

   In one extreme instance I visited a corps that had social services run at the same facility but separated by a corridor. A new officer arrived and the social services director took the officer to the door to the corridor and told him that his authority ended there.

   Both spiritual and social ministries are important of course, but as I have suggested, there is surely only ONE bottom line in John 3:16..

   I can’t speak for your territory, but there seem to be those that invest far more in advertising our social work than our corps and their holistic ministry. No wonder so many have no idea we are a “church” an excuse long given as an excuse why corps are not thriving.

   I’ve heard that excuse over many years and always ask, “Whose fault is that? The General, the TC, the DC, the CO, the soldiers?

   I then ask how long it would take a corps to let every person its community know that it is a “church” and that they are welcome to come and worship with us…seventy years, thirty years, fifteen years, one year, six months?

   All it takes would be maybe a couple of months. And that could be strengthened/facilitated by support at territorial, national and international levels in their advertising.

   The underlying issue is that of the elusive continuum don’t you think?

   Terry
Terry Camsey on June 26th, 2010

5. Some interesting thoughts here and an excellent conversation. One that needs to happen. Here is my perspective.

   As an organization the Army’s mission is “The World for God” (incidentally it is NOT to “do the most good” but that is another conversation for another day).

   As individuals Christ calls us to serve Him (”I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40)

   These two dovetail quite nicely in The Salvation Army. We can, as individuals, serve Christ through helping others and, at the same time, share Christ with these same people. If we are not offering Christ while delivering social services (or any other service), we are failing to do that which the Army was raised up to do. That said, if we cancel all of our social services programs, we would also be failing to do that which the Army was raised up to do.

   While I believe that the ministry side of this is more important, both are vital to the identity of the Army.

   All that said, allow me to ask this question. What is the benefit of “outsiders” knowing that we are a church? So that people will come to us? Shame on you if that is your reason. We need to be going out and getting them and bringing them in - one at a time. I suggest that we quit campaigning to convince people that we are a church and just go about our business. If we are about God’s work, then He will take care of the rest and it will matter not what those outside of the Army know or think about us.

   William
William on June 28th, 2010

6. It is important to note that these two emphases, social work and soul work, happen in some locations with great success. The key is an officer who is intentional in marrying these two areas, employees who are on board, and soldiers who see the need, the opportunity, and the success of such efforts.

   It can be done and has been done. The need on the part of the Army is to send this message to all soldiers and officers and then to encourage through financial and moral support, those corps/institution where it is taking place.

   I believe we still have a great idea, that most of the Church still does not get. By, the way, I don’t like the idea that we are both “social service organization AND a church.” We are the Army. In many countries, that doesn’t need a definition. We ARE different. That is why I am a Salvationist, and not a Methodist, or Nazarene, etc..

   As someone said, “Be Army, Do Army.” Rediscover what that means, and you will see it work.

   Mike
Mike on July 4th, 2010

7. Addressing such social and emotional needs [largely with donated funds] only earns us the right to share with them the prime reason God sent his Son…that they might have eternal life. This is not to knock the ministry of our social work so long as it is connected - as we say it should be - on a continuum that draws social service recipients toward the evangelical ministry of corps…and draws the soldiery into personal involvement with the Army’s social ministry.

   Since The Salvation Army relies on the generosity of the public and a significant amount of government funding (money raised through the taxation of non-Christians as well as Christians) for some of its programs, perhaps the organization should ensure that all of its donors understand clearly that the money they donate is used to a) meet physical and social needs, and b) evangelize. Mr. Camsey’s opening quote addresses this point well.

   I’m sure many donors are aware of both purposes and support them wholeheartedly. But, at least some of the people who drop money in the kettles and respond to mass mailings are not aware of the dual purposes at play here. Those donors think they’re just helping to send kids to camp, or provide food for Christmas dinner and toys for the kids. They may not want their donations going toward religious proselytization.

   I highlighted the phrase “earns us the right” because, considering the fact that The Salvation Army relies so heavily on public and governmental largess, it strikes me as a somewhat arrogant position to take, unless the Army becomes more intentional about informing its donors of its total mission.

   The Chaplain
The Chaplain on July 14th, 2010

Leave a comment