Colonels Donald and Ann Copple, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women's ministries, officially retire from active service on February 26, 2010. They spoke with John McAlister, senior editor, about their years of ministry.

What led you to become Salvation Army officers?

Don: When I was young, I was challenged by the example of Salvation Army officers stationed at the small corps I attended. I was inspired by how hard they worked and how they were all-embracing for the people in the community.

Ann: When I was 14, I came home from school one day and suddenly saw the value of church life and the benefits of being a foster child. I had been a rebellious teenager and had been bitter about my family situation. I knelt down in the living room, gave the Lord my life and thanked him for the home I had. I went to youth councils a year later, and during a call to officership, I felt tears streaming down my face and I knew that I needed to go forward.

After 46 (47 for Ann) years of active service, you are currently the longest-serving officers in the territory. How have you seen the Army change over the years?

Ann: Years ago, church used to be the centre of life, while today it is just one aspect. There are so many other things now that compete for our attention. For women, we used to have physical stress, while today a lot of the stress is emotional. Society has changed dramatically, and we have had to learn to adapt to the needs of our society. There are now phenomenal opportunities for ministry to women and for developing women in leadership. While the four-fold component of the women's ministries program hasn't changed—fellowship, service, education and spiritual—all our programs can still reflect those things today but in different ways according to the communities we are in. It is important to reach out to young girls in creative and meaningful ways that nurture their spirits and permit them to realize their full potential as women created in the image of God.

Don: Forty-seven years ago, if you went to the Army in Canada, Great Britain or South Africa, you knew that you were in The Salvation Army. The people looked the same, they sang the same songs and the order of service was the same. Today, every Army corps has its own style of worship that is particular—and sometimes peculiar—to its setting. There is more freedom of worship. Perhaps as Canada has come of age, so, too, has the Army. We are also more reflective of the multicultural nature of the communities in which we live. In addition, our social service entities have become highly professionalized in the delivery of their services.

What are some significant memories from your officership?

Don: Although I've never had a social service appointment, I've always resonated with the work we do with the poor and marginalized. I believe that the Army is called to be the church of the poor and marginalized. I feel very comfortable in hostel and shelter settings, and I have tried to celebrate this work and make it a significant part of the Army and my ministry. In contrast to that, the years we spent as corps officers at Mississauga Temple and Scarborough Citadel in Toronto were important to us because we saw the value added by second-, third- and fourth-generation Salvationists—people who had experienced huge socio-economic lift as a result of the decisions made by their parents and grandparents.

Ann: It's been a privilege to see so many places in the territory. While most of our officership was spent in Ontario, we had the opportunity to serve in Newfoundland and British Columbia and see the unique differences in how the Army is reflected. As a very young officer, I was stretched in every new challenge and opportunity to become the person I am today. Throughout my officership, I've learned that it's not about me, but about the God who called me and to whom I committed my life. Everything goes back to my calling: he called me, and will work through me, as long as I am willing to learn. As well, I think of the many people who have mentored, coached and encouraged me, often without realizing it. My work at The Homestead, a centre for women with addictions in Toronto, was a particular highlight for me.

Whether in corps work or administration, what values and essentials have kept you grounded or defined your ministry?

Don: The duality of Army ministry has been important to me. Is the Army a church or a social service entity? Can it be both? My sense is that it can't be both because the two are inseparable—one flows out of the other. One serves the poor because one is Christian, and one is Christian because the gospel has a strong appeal to the poor. I would have had a great deal of difficulty settling in a church that didn't have a strong affinity with the poor and marginalized. As well, I would have had a similar problem working as a social worker if there wasn't a spiritual component. The genius of the Army is the marriage of these two aspects of ministry.

Ann: I've valued my calling as an officer. I've learned the importance of integrity and honesty in being who I am, rather than trying to be someone I think I'm expected to be. And also the value of seeing everything in its possibility and potential. It's important to see the value in each person. Who are they in Christ? Who can they be in Christ?

As you retire, what message do you want to convey to Salvationists?

Ann: We need to allow God to work through us. The greatest opportunities are found not in our own security or agendas, but in God's will and direction. We need to stop, look and listen. Stop and spend time in prayer and meditation. Look around and ask God to give you eyes to see the needs. Listen to what people are saying. This will open many doors to reach people for Christ, to mentor, coach others and serve suffering humanity.

Don: I believe the Army is stronger today than it has ever been in our history. We have more people worshipping in Army centres than have done so in the past. This isn't validated by statistics, but that's because people attend worship services every second or third week as opposed to every week as in the past. Our total constituency is larger even though our attendance appears to be smaller. We are reaching more people than in the past and we have a unique opportunity to minister in today's culture because we are an international organization. Wherever people have migrated from, many of them have some understanding of what the Army is so we can appeal to the multicultural nature of our cities.
The Army must remain adaptable. The degree to which we formalize things or try to regiment things is the degree to which we will fail. There is a sense in which our people have to be freed up in ministry. The Army in rural or northern locations shouldn't have to look like the Army in large urban centres. There needs to be this ability to adapt and adjust to the local culture.

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Career Profile

Colonel Donald Copple entered training from Flin Flon, Man., in 1962 as part of the Heroes of the Faith Session. Initially appointed to Port Colborne, Ont., he then served in a series of corps appointments, including Chatham and Sarnia, Ont. These assignments were followed by an appointment at the College for Officer Training as the field co-ordinator. Subsequent corps appointments included Mississauga Temple, Ont., and Toronto's Scarborough Citadel.

Recent appointments have been to divisional and territorial headquarters as divisional secretary, divisional secretary for business administration, divisional secretary for program and as assistant property secretary, property secretary, assistant chief secretary and divisional commander for the British Columbia Division prior to his appointment as divisional commander for the Ontario East-Central Division. Colonel Copple also served as executive officer to the Canadian Staff Band.

Colonel Ann Copple entered training in 1961 as part of the Servants of Christ Session from Point St. Charles Corps in Montreal. She was appointed first to assist at the corps in Napanee, Ont., then Byersville in Peterborough, Ont. Prior to her marriage to Donald in 1965, she was the corps officer at Mimico Corps in Toronto.

Colonel Ann Copple has specialized in ministries to women. She has successfully implemented a number of ongoing women's groups in her various corps appointments. For a period of time, she shared an appointment with her husband at the College for Officer Training, where she held responsibilities as a sectional officer. She served as divisional director of women's ministries (DDWM) for the Central Newfoundland Division and then as assistant to the territorial women's ministries secretary. Subsequent divisional appointments included serving as DDWM for the British Columbia Division and then DDWM for the Ontario Central-East Division (also serving as chaplain at Toronto's Homestead).

In March 1, 2008, Colonels Donald and Ann Copple were appointed as chief secretary and territorial secretary for women's ministries.

They have two daughters, a foster daughter and seven grandchildren.