21 January 2011

THE 17th High Council convened on Friday 21 January at Sunbury Court in London and elected Commissioner William Francis as President of the 2011 High Council of The Salvation Army. Commissioner Betty Matear was elected Vice-President..

Commissioner Francis, assisted by Commissioner Matear will guide the High Council through the procedures required to elect the Army’s 19th General. Commissioner Matear is the first married woman officer to be elected to the position of Vice-President of a High Council. Later in the day the High Council also elected Commissioner Max Feener to be Chaplain to the High Council.

The newly elected President immediately quoted Lamentations 3:22,23 as he encouraged the High Council members to trust in God, ‘whose mercies are new every morning’. The commissioner also cited an email he received prior to the 2006 High Council from Colonel Henry Gariepy O.F. (promoted to Glory in 2010) that emphasised the truths of 2 Corinthians 9:8. ‘And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’

Commissioner Francis noted that 65% of the High Council members; ‘are here for the first time’. He reminded the council members that, ‘We are here for one purpose only – to elect the next leader of The Salvation Army and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us’.

(Left: Commissioner William Francis; Centre: Commissioner Betty Matear; Right: Commissioner Max Feener)

The opening proceedings for the High Council, including the election of the President, were presided over by the Chief of the Staff Commissioner Barry C. Swanson. In a devotional period the Chief of the Staff drew out salient similarities between the election of a Salvation Army General and the selection of David as king of Israel. Commissioner Swanson said that while the High Council is not selecting a king there are common points between the account of David’s selection as recorded in 1 Samuel 16 and the election of the Army’s General.

‘God knew who he wanted to be the next king of Israel and he knows who he wants to be the next Salvation Army General. On both occasions God has chosen to use a human agency to select the leader. Samuel and Jesse had a part to play in the selection of David and at this time we all have a part to play in the election of the General.’

To conclude the devotional time the High Council members moved into small clusters for prayer.

After approving a number of recommendations from the 2006 High Council regarding support staff the members then moved on to the election of the President and Vice-President. In the lead up to the High Council, during the General’s Consultative Council (GCC) the Salvation Army leaders were afforded a reception in the State Apartments of the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the Rt. Hon. John Bercow M.P. The Speaker was effusive in his thankfulness for The Salvation Army. He welcomed the members of the GCC and said that the Army’s non-judgemental caring service to the community was much appreciated by the houses of parliament. He was visibly moved as he spoke of the Army’s compassionate ministry of love throughout the world throughout 146 years. He acknowledged that as the members of the High Council came to select a new world leader ‘you will have help from on high as you make the decision’. The speaker praised the Rt. Hon. the Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland, a Salvationist of 63 years standing, for his service as a politician and with The Salvation Army.

General Shaw Clifton thanked Mr Bercow for his encouragement and support of the Army. The General presented the Speaker with a copy of the 2011 Year Book of The Salvation Army that also includes a photograph of the speaker from a previous meeting with the General. The members of the GCC then sang, ‘I know the Lord will make a way for thee’ before returning to Sunbury Court.

Report by Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson
High Council Communications Officer

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

What would the week be without board meetings? Doesn’t look like I’m gonna find out for a while. Very important to the mission, the boards and councils formalize and legalize many issues that we face in our movement. In many aspects what we do would also be known as a business with major responsibilities and accountability.

Lord, help us to make the right decisions on your behalf. We have good people around the table to support the cause with expertise and integrity.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”- Matthew 5:11-12

Let’s face it, budgets can be boring. If you want to doze off, just pick up a file of budgets to review. I know there are those who turn on to such things, but you are in the minority. You’re fine, but you might also be known as a geek. This is not a bad term, simply a descriptor. You’ll be OK. There’s a place for you in the Kingdom of God as long as you’re saved.

For the rest of us, budgets don’t pulsate.

Today, however, we looked at a few that were teeming with evidence of the grace of God and His provision for us in large measure. We could see the deep faith of those who had worked on these to sort through the realistic income projections and carefully monitored expenditures. Definition: stewardship. Hallelujah!

OK. If that makes me a geek, then so be it. But let the record state that I’m a faith geek.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”- Romans 15:7

The annual Tri-Territorial Conference has begun, this year in Melbourne. The executive leadership of the two Australia Territories and the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory are meeting in conference to consider the coordination of ministries and mission. The Territorial Commander of PNG is here as well.

Please pray with us for the holy deliberations and the sacred considerations we need to make before the Lord. General Burrows is leading us tomorrow in Bible sessions on spiritual leadership. Her ministry among us is strong. We are fortunate to be with her.

Acts 4:31

While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.

Now entering into the 125th Anniversary of The Salvation Army in Tasmania, we enjoyed the opportunity to meet with many Advisory Board Members and their partners. His Excellency the Honourable Justice Ewan Crawford, Lt. Governor of Tasmania and Mrs. Crawford were in attendance and he spoke well about TSA in Tasmania.

Each of the guests were gracious in their appreciation for the work of the ‘Army’. As they work alongside us in the everyday issues of our mission, we will be well positioned to do our best for God. These board members are partners in the journey and will continue to be a big help as we advance.

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

In the world today, we seldom respond to orders, let alone follow them. Most environments and relationships are softer and filled with encouragement, affirmation and direction. None of these ring with the authority of orders.

In an Army, orders are common. We even have major texts and firm guidelines we call Orders and Regulations. Certainly, these were not the invention of a post-modern leader. I’m not being critical of such. They are actually quite helpful and mostly clear, not really open to interpretation.

We are accustomed to following orders and not minimised at all in the process, because the orders are expected and understood as from authority.

If we look in the Word of God we will find what some in another generation would have called orders. We will always do well to follow orders from the Lord.

Mark 1:27
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”