Salvation Army Corps Ministry Restructured in Halifax

On March 18, 2021, Major Wade Budgell, divisional commander, Maritime Division, announced a plan for the restructuring of Salvation Army corps ministry in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Implementation will commence concurrently with the 2021 officer personnel change.

Key components of the plan include the closure of all five corps located in the HRM by mid June, including Spryfield Community Church, Fairview Citadel, Sackville Citadel Corps, Halifax Citadel Community Church and Dartmouth Community Church. Two new corps will open in July and carry the temporary names of Halifax East Community Church and Halifax West Community Church until official names are identified.

Effective July 2, Captains Brent and Melissa Haas, currently serving as the corps officers of Fairview Citadel, will assume leadership of Halifax East Community Church. Majors Terence and Jennifer Hale, currently serving as the territorial youth secretary and territorial secretary for candidates, respectively, will assume leadership of Halifax West Community Church on the same date.

“Salvationists are encouraged to reflect upon and pray about these significant changes, and where they will devote their time, talents and energies in support of the mission as we partner together in this next chapter of Salvation Army ministry and service in the City of Halifax,” says Major Budgell.

Halifax East Community Church will operate out of the current Sackville and Dartmouth buildings, with a view to securing permanent meeting space in Bedford and retaining current locations for community and family services ministries. Halifax West Community Church will be primarily based at the former Fairview Citadel location. Other community and family services in the HRM will also remain in their current locations with no change to day-to-day operations.

“Although these two new corps will have official corps status as of July 2,” Major Budgell explains, “the summer will be a transition period leading to a September 2021 launch under the leadership of the new officers.” With the exceptions of Sunday worship and CFS, all programming will be suspended throughout the summer. One in-person weekly worship service will be offered at a single location during this time with an online streaming option to be explored.

Staffing components have been built into budgets to help support and position the corps for effective mission. There will be no job loss associated with the restructuring.

A meeting will be held in due course to allow divisional headquarters personnel to present the go-forward vision and plan for the restructuring. It is anticipated that both an in-person and online option will be provided for attendance and that registration will be required to comply with public health requirements.

“The Christian journey is a faith journey,” concludes Major Budgell. “I am asking Salvationists to believe and pray for success as we seek to be ‘inspired for mission—positioned for growth.’ ”

Comment

On Monday, November 13, 2023, John Lucas said:

Missing Major Mark’s Sunday ministry. Is he O.K.?

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, Iain Trainor said:

I am sure much thought and prayer has gone into this restructuring. However in my experience no amalgamation has ever resulted in growth. Division and new plants seem to work, cells dividing generate growth. Be assured I am devastated that the very vibrant Salvation Army in Halifax that I served in has come to this. I will continue to pray that the Spirit will use this change to revitalise our army. Blessings

On Thursday, April 8, 2021, Major Corey Vincent said:

I am so proud of our Divisional Leadership for listening to the Spirit’s leading and making this bold move. The death of any church, organization or business is caused by the act of self preservation. When we see declining numbers, aging congregations, lack of resources, absence of youth and very little community engagement, we know that the writing is on the wall for any ministry unit. Rather than do something about it, we get our backs up and retreat to a place of self preservation/survival mode. God didn’t call us to just survive or to self preservation. God has called us to thrive and have abundant life. Change requires fearless, Spirit inspired leadership. I am praying that this is just the beginning for our Army. For new life to flourish, we have to sometimes prune. Again, I am grateful for our Maritime Divisional leadership team who made this bold decision to try something new with faith believing.

On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, Shayne Stanton said:

Having been a member of both Spryfield and Lower Sackville, I think this will be an interesting move but may make it a little harder for those to attend who do not drive and rely on Halifax Transit. But having met Majors Terence and Jennifer during this past Officership information weekend, I know Halifax is getting some great people and I pray for their leadership there.

On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, K. said:

I applaud all those gone before, those to come and the courage it has taken to make such a bold move to support a more sustainable move and approach forward in ministry in the HRM, and believe that this is an opportunity for other divisions to follow its example.