I think what we all have to remember, is that it is not as cut and dry as we think it is and I don’t envy the personnel office at all. There are many factors in the decision making. We tend to get upset when a move affects us and rightly so, but we also have to remember that THQ has to consider and try to do what is best for the army in Canada as a whole. Sometimes they make mistakes and sometimes the moves we dreaded most, become big blessings.

Nancy, to answer one of your points I think it is better when the officer is moved a further distance from the appointment they are being moved from because when they remain too close (especially if they liked the appointment) they can tend to not let go…which is problematic for 2 reasons 1: the new officer will have a hard time “breaking into” the appointment…and 2: if you’re hung up on a former appointment then the one served currently is not getting your attention.

Having said all this, I have faith that God is still in charge of the army and if everyone affected by moves, even the hard ones, tries to see how God is working and work with it the best they can they they will see God do mighty things!

General William Booth of The Salvation Army decided in 1882 that the practice of the ordinances of water Baptism should be discontinued. It is hard for people not to feel that omitting Christ’s “standing orders” to baptize in water is an act of insubordination to the Commander-in-Chief.

But another point about the soldiers covenant is manmade laws, which Jesus himself rejected in his teaching – e.g. smoking ban, jewelry ban etc. Of course it isn’t healthy to smoke, but it isn’t a sin either; except if it becomes an idol. And of course you shouldn’t smoke when wearing the uniform. One trouble is that the smoking ban isn’t even enforced in all territories. Also you shouldn’t wear jewelries or makeup when wearing uniform, in a way that you look like a christmas tree, but I have also seen meaninglessness and abuse of power in connection with officers upholding a strict jewelry/makeup ban. I won’t argue against the alcohol/drug ban itself because it makes sense! – even tough it is not a sin to drink a beer or enjoy a glass of wine occasionally (of course drunkenness is lowering the defense against sin), it is obvious, that we must be an example when helping alcoholics and drug abusers, and we must avoid leading others into temptation. But the question is wether it should specifically be in the covenant, or wether it should simply be standards for the salvationists life. E.g. the covenant could state: >>With God’s help, I will strive to uphold the salvationist standards in my christian life!<< Of course the standards of the salvationists life must be a compulsory topic in soldier class before being sworn in as Senior Soldier. To clarify my position, I think it is sad that there is salvationist out there, who cannot serve in their corps or take up soldiership simply because they can't quit smoking. And even if we only speak of a handful in each corps – probably we speak abouth tenthousands globally – what a difference they could do – especially in countries where the army is on retreat!

I do however see the benefit of having the songs on Power Point because there are times in my little corps when visitors come and we don’t have enough songbooks or chorus books. For me I prefer a black background (or if there is a picture for it to be kept quite simple).

The other benefit to technology is when I am making a sermon illustration it is sometimes more helpful to show a video clip than to describe what I am thinking, because the reality is attention spans are much shorter than they once were and there may be a scene in a video that says the point I am getting across more effectively.

I am torn on this issue though, my corps currently has no projector/screen…we’re looking into getting one but I think they key will be remembering to balance it’s use in worship. It can be effective even in drawing people into a connection with the divine, but I also don’t want my folks arriving at church with the same cynicism I used to wondering what movie we’ll be watching today, and why are they not serving popcorn”

In the Toronto Sun article of Wednesday May 2, 2012 entitled “Mental Illness linked to poverty:Report”, Commissioner Brian Peddle briefly discusses a Salvation Army authored report entitled “Canada Speaks 2012: Mental Health,Addictions, and the Roots of Poverty” and said The Army is interested in mental health and addiction because many of the people who come to it for help struggle with those problems.

I trust the omission was just an unfortunate oversight.