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Salvation Army looks at new ways of expressing itself (Part 1)

22 January 2013
Salvation Army looks at new ways of expressing itself (Part 1)

With less than 10 per cent of the Australian population attending church it’s time for a “new church for a new day”, according to The Salvation Army’s Australia Eastern Territory leadership.

The territory’s Program Secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Miriam Gluyas, says while The Salvation Army is brimming with mission opportunities, the real challenge is how to turn them into discipleship opportunities and create healthy worshipping communities.

“People are starting to wrestle with this … and especially our young people who are saying: ‘ok, what is the new deal?’” says Lieut-Colonel Gluyas.

The “new deal” is being called New Expressions Of… (NEOs) and a number of them have sprung up over the past six months, connected with Salvation Army hubs.

“NEOs – it’s a New Expression Of… whatever,” says Lieut-Colonel Gluyas. “And I kind of like that because it says it’s not just [based on one]… particular model, it could be anything that God raises up to use for mission and then it can either stay as a mission or it could become a worshipping community or it could integrate [with an existing worshipping community].”

So rather than spending a lot of time and resources “planting” a church, Army leadership and Salvationists on the ground are trialling NEOs. Mission houses are being set up with residents who are passionate about creating a “grace community” in their home – a place that epitomises “unconditional love, complete acceptance and empowerment by the Holy Spirit for mission and life. Safe places for absolutely anyone to belong”.

Lieut-Colonel Gluyas says these houses could look like #47 in MacquariePark, where Craig and Danni Stephens have lived for the past 12 years and developed strong bonds with their neighbours. Graduates of The Salvation Army’s School for Youth Leadership or the Edify Program would be approached to be part of the emerging NEOs.

“I think it’s probably the next wave of planting for us,” she says. “I think we still need to do some more traditional types of plants where we are deliberately going to an area and raising up a team and doing what we need to do, but I think this other way might be the way that God is leading us into the future.”


Log on to my.salvos tomorrow for Part 2 in this series about The Salvation Army’s New Expressions Of… where we hear about how corps and hubs are being prepared to work alongside NEOs.

Comments

  1. This Article is a personal opinion of the writer ,who in a sense Loves the work of the orgaisation , and in moving in a ministry role listens to people who also respect the Salvos role and commitment to society, alas with questions and misgivings in several areas, some of these probl;ems are shared with this writer, (1)on a weekly basis one is confronted with caustic remwrks re. the Salvo Store retail arm, these remarks are never in the priceing of goods within the store situation, BUT the service and donating pickup situations where the public is handled ,if 10% of the stories are true, the situation is shameful, showing the Salvation Army in the poorest of light, (2) somewhere along the way the same public has the message that we(the Salvos ) have changed our uniforms to T-Shirts , Tracksuit Pants and Peak Baseball Caps,an advertising Rep, remarked to this writer that we(the Salvos)have gone from Turkey Dinner to Fish and Chips, his question was why?????, the Army has of late gone away from the Traditional Hall and meeting place , with a big is better building style, makeing for a security guard on the door, so for the average person to gain access to the Salvation Army help and comfort, they must first run the dreaded gauntlet of explaining to a security guard or minder of the door, there problem so to gain admission , (in the opinion of this writer , not quite in the teaching of William Booth)sure makes for a wonderful showcase of Love and Care!!!!, these situations are just the surface of the problems faceing the organisation in the year 2013, alas if people can only communicate on sundays , this writer now see's why people who are different and speak there minds , are sent to Coventry and left to there own devices, the use of the Coventry sentence becomes the valued tool of those without an answer for the problems of life, this writer rests his case!!!

  2. Dear Denis,
    I represent a group whom feel very much as you do. The southern Territory have adopted this new direction some time ago. It appears the Eastern Territory is adopting the same direction. Your response is the same as many from this territory, and I invite you to contact us at; don.churchresources@hotmail.com.
    Regards, Don. Hope to hear from you. God Bless.

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.