International Social Justice Commission

The International Social Justice Commission (ISJC) is The Salvation Army’s strategic voice to advocate for human dignity and social justice with the world’s poor and oppressed.

They seek to promote a vision of justice based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. To advocate and advise on social, economic, political issues and events which lead to the perpetuation of injustice in the world. And to amplify the voices of poor, marginalized and oppressed people and translate their real life insights into policies, practices and life-giving opportunities.

‘God is still leading and blessing the Army. With that comes a clear call … to link who we are with the very essence of what we do, the mission that is ours. It is a call to be a justice-focused Army.’ The Officer: July-September 2018

The ISJC do this through the following means:

COMMUNICATION: By various means of communication, the ISJC will broadcast the plans, goals and practices relative to ISJC mission, values and progress, with a particular emphasis on the use of social media.

ADVOCACY: ISJC will actively partner with others (including the united nations) in the pursuit of justice, with the intention of effecting changes in policies, attitudes, and behaviours.

RESEARCH: The ISJC will investigate issues and questions, providing tools for measuring and documenting social justice.

EDUCATION: ISJC will produce resources to inform and equip others with knowledge to seek justice together.

We are blessed at The Salvation Army Wellington City to have Dr Laurelle Smith as part of the ISJC team. She is based in New York and is the Research Analyst.

Laurelle completed her undergraduate and Master’s studies in Neuroscience and has a PhD in Medicine from the University of Otago in Dunedin.

Her PhD studies focused on improving the health, development and future outcomes of New Zealand children with a particular focus on sleep and aimed to increase children’s quality of life, potential, growth, education and development.

Laurelle has a passion for transforming lives through the eradication of social injustice and her role at the ISJC combines this passion with the research skills she acquired during her Master’s and PhD studies.

General Brian Peddle has declared 2020 as the Year of Prayer for Women and Girls and the International Social Justice Commission has released a prayer initiative called “2020 Cry For Justice”.

You can read about the prayer initiative and many of the other projects that the ISJC are doing here, or keep up to date with the latest information on their Facebook page, or Instagram account.

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International Day of Prayer for Covid-19

As a part of our Sunday Morning Service we invited people to spend time in prayer as part of the General’s International Day of Prayer for Covid-19.

You can check out some of the suggestions that have been put together to guide you, if you are not sure where to begin, by clicking on the link and/or the image above. The Salvation Army continues to provide resources, news and updates of what it is doing around the world here.

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A Word of Encouragement

A word of encouragement in these unprecedented times – some people have been saying that the church is going to be greatly affected, people haven’t been able to gather for Easter and that their faith is being tested. Almost as if to say that covid-19 is another nail in the coffin of Christianity.

Yet it would appear that the opposite is actually true; as many churches and church leaders have had to finally embrace technology to get their message out with a vengeance to the masses, and people are doing all they can to spread the message of Easter by placing crosses in their front lawns and in their windows for all the world to see.

In these days of uncertainty and despair, doubts and fears rise to the surface for many people as they have been affected in one way or another. This is where HOPE is vitally important!

Our civic leaders have embraced this and you will notice that their rhetoric has shifted from the blame game (well some at least) and the promise to spend this and that on such and such and then not delivering – to the “we will get through this”, “whatever it takes!” And some leaders are carrying a heavy load at this time as they navigate the uncertainties, asking for trust and support as they guide us to a new world, a new normal.

And my mind wanders to the disciples as they have recently experienced significant loss and just a few short days later are hearing reports that their Saviour has returned.

HOPE rekindled!

Acts 4:33 says that: “The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all.”

In the words of General Bramwell Booth:

“It is the life of Jesus and the evidences of that life in us that are really all-important. No extent of worldly wisdom or historical testimony can finally establish for us the fact and power of Christ’s Resurrection, unless we have proof in ourselves of His presence there as a Living Spirit. That is the knowledge that cleanses the heart, destroys the strength of evil and brings in that true righteousness which is the power to do right. That is the greatest proof of the Resurrection.

No books, not even the Bible itself; no testimony, not even the testimony of those who were present on that first Easter Day, can be so good as this, the experimental proof. It is the most fitting and grateful, and adapts itself to every type of human experience. And it is beyond contradiction! What avail is it to contradict those who can answer, ‘we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit’?

I find Him in secret, I find Him in prayer, In sweet meditation He always is there; My constant Companion, we never will part; All glory to Jesus who reigns in my heart!”

(Trumpets of the Lord: Bramwell Booth speaks – daily readings selected by Catherine Bramwell-Booth April 13th)

May you today profess the HOPE that you have, so that others can know whose you are, and whom you follow! For through the resurrection accounts – HOPE is rekindled! And we will get through this.

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General’s Easter Message

Today’s Word of Encouragement comes from General Brian Peddle entitled ‘The Spirit of Sacrifice’.

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Transforming Our World: One Message

In the latest ‘The Officer’ magazine, the title of The General’s article is “Transforming Our World: One Message – The Message of Jesus, Bringing Freedom, Hope and Life”.

He starts off by saying; Many of the public respect The Salvation Army in the main because of our work in serving suffering humanity.

In a recent televised interview (The General – Andre Cox) was asked: ‘The Salvation Army is well known for its social services and humanitarian services. How is social work in The Salvation Army enhancing evangelism in Army ministry?’

His immediate response was that the question should have been put round the other way, or perhaps even asked differently: ‘How does our spiritual and God-given calling to preach the message of transformation in Christ impact The Salvation Army’s social work?’

We can never escape the reality that all that we are and all that motivates our service stems from our personal experience of, and relationship with, the risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If we ever deny that, we cease to be The Salvation Army!

Therefore, in all that we do, we will unashamedly communicate Christ.

He goes on to explore the personal encounter that Levi has with Jesus from Mark’s Gospel, Mark 2:13-17. The full article is available to download from here.

In closing the General says the following:

Jesus performed many miracles during his earthly ministry and he still performs miracles today through the transformation of our very human nature, motivations, thoughts and actions. Jesus has the power to change and transform our conscience and our heart. God is still in the business of transforming our world and that is the message that we are called to share faithfully with this generation!

In all we do, I (The General) pray that we will not be primarily concerned about the reputation of The Salvation Army; that we will not preach ourselves but instead work tirelessly to bring about positive change and transformation through the proclamation of the message of Jesus who alone brings freedom, hope and life.

He prays that our lives and actions will be clear signposts, leading people to discover a personal and living relationship with Jesus.

We know this stuff – right! We have territorial goals to remind us of the ‘main thing’, but the challenge is that we would communicate Christ unashamedly in everything that we do – not as an add on, or even when someone asks us. People need to know that we do … … … (you fill in the blanks) because of what He has done. They need to know that this is the predominate reason for our very being. We’ve been very good at the “walk”, we need to “walk and talk” it though.

Many people comment on our walk, they see the great work of The Salvation Army and they love us because of it; they give us sizable donations come Red Shield Appeal. But those I ask: “Do you know why we do what we do?” have no clue – sometimes because we haven’t told them.

Do you know why we do what we do?

The next time someone thanks you for the work that you do, at the Family Store; in Community Ministries; through the Bridge; as you give them a hot drink etc. Why not ask them the above question and then follow it up with another: “would you like to know why?” If they do and you have time, have a conversation, or even book a time with them over coffee and fill them in on the reason for our being…

After-all “We can never escape the reality that all that we are and all that motivates our service stems from our personal experience of, and relationship with, the risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If we ever deny that, we cease to be The Salvation Army!”

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Questions swirl as Salvation Army leader steps down

The following article was published on The Washington Times website on 20 June following the notification that the General of The Salvation Army has been given early retirement effective immediately. As the title states “Questions swirl as Salvation Army leader steps down” as is always the case when someone in high positions such as this is are in the public eye…

One of the world’s best-known charitable organizations — though not always  recognized for the global evangelical Christian church that it also is — suddenly  and unexpectedly finds itself needing a new global chief executive.

The 148-year-old Salvation Army, which  has its international headquarters in London, announced June 13 that General Linda Bond would retire immediately as  international leader. Word of the retirement of Miss Bond, who was elected in January 2011 and  assumed office four months later, sent shock waves through the Army’s  church community, a fellowship of 1.7 million members worldwide, including  approximately 130,000 adults, children and “adherents” in the United States.

The official announcement was direct, if a bit cryptic. It went out over the  name of Commissioner Andre Cox, a Swiss  Salvation Army officer who since earlier this year has served as the  organization’s second in command: “I write to inform you that General Linda  Bond is entering into retirement,” Mr. Cox  wrote. “Following a period of personal reflection and prayer, General Bond  has decided that she should relinquish” the office.

There are several reasons the news sparked concern in some Salvationist  precincts. One is that such midterm retirements are rare. Another is that Miss Bond had just returned to London after  several days in St. Louis, where she attended a rally with about 3,000 church  members. Reports from the event indicated a leader who was quite happy in her  role, who gave no hint of the pending announcement.

A chief element for concern is that Miss  Bond suddenly left a top administrative job once before: In August 2004,  after about two years as leader of the army’s USA  Western Territory, which covers 13 states and several U.S. Pacific island areas,  she resigned, citing “personal reasons” and without giving notice.

General John Larsson, the army’s  then-leader, “accepted her resignation with regret and acknowledged her  outstanding contributions during her officership,” according to a report in New  Frontier, a regional Salvation Army  periodical. Within a year, Miss Bond returned  to active service, eventually taking another “territorial command” in Australia  from which she was then elected to the top worldwide post.

Requests for additional information from the army’s international headquarters yielded little  additional information: “General Bond’s  retirement was an entirely personal matter,” spokesman Kevin Sims wrote. Major  Dean Pallant, another spokesman, stressed the “personal” nature of Miss  Bond’s decision but was unable to provide any further details.

This time, though, one thing is different: Miss  Bond’s retirement signals an end to her 44 years of active service as an  ordained minister in the Salvation Army  church; no return to service is contemplated or even seems possible. A “high  council” of international leaders, will convene near London on July 29 with 118  members — 64 women and 54 men — with an average age of 59, according to the army.

Days of prayer and speeches by those selected as candidates will follow,  along with a series of votes. No white smoke will appear as at a Vatican  conclave, but the winnowing process has some similarities.

Two Americans may well be among the leading candidates for the job, which  normally carries a five-year term. One is Commissioner Barry Swanson, who heads Salvation Army operations in the  northeastern United States, who was Miss  Bond’s second in command from May 2010 until February of this year. Another  is Commissioner James Knaggs, a veteran officer and leader of the USA Western  Territory once headed by Miss Bond.

Miss Bond’s sudden departure will likely  have little effect on the day-to-day operations of the Salvation  Army, either globally or in the United States. That said, the army’s  church members, clergy and many of its employees might well seek more in the way  of an answer than the catch-all of “personal reasons.” Given that the  organization’s world headquarters is a glass-walled building — “its glass  exterior communicates our transparency,” one leader said at its 2004 opening — some greater openness on this latest executive change would be welcome by  many.

About the Author

Mark A. Kellner is a religion columnist for The Washington Times.

He can be  reached at mkellner@washingtontimes.com.

For comments and/or further information refer to the following link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/20/kellner-questions-swirl-as-salvation-army-leader-s/#ixzz2WtXDm5ST

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