The Times They Are A Changin'?!

I’ve got a couple of things to get on my soapbox about at the moment, so over the next week or so, I’m going to be exploring/venting/discussing these. I am interested in your opinions on it, but I’m saying at the outset that if you become abusive in any way shape or form towards anyone personally, your post will not be published.

So, let’s begin with The Salvation Army as it currently stands in worship on a Sunday. I (and many others) believe that the things that make The Salvation Army distinct and unique seem to be the very things many are fighting against and getting rid of.

For instance, let’s look at the Songsters – some of our Corps are busy trying to build the best worship band they can, at the cost of Songsters (or choir), with many of our songster groups closing down entirely. The same is happening with our brass bands, our timbrels and many other groups that have been successful ministries for many many years. And there is a rather loud group – which I’d like to think were in the minority, but are so loud they seem to be the majority – that say “good riddance! They’re irrelevant – let’s move on!”… But should we move on from what is tried and tested to work within our movement? Why are we getting rid of them? Is it because they are irrelevant? Or is it because they don’t seem to be as cool as what the church down the road has?

Now before we go on – I need to say that I am a great fan of modern worship songs – not such a great fan of the big mega-churches idea of worship songs – but a big fan of worship songs nonetheless. For instance – the work of the Soteira guys is brilliant – and Nathan Rowe and the team are an absolute asset to the Army. So as you continue to read, I ask you keep that in mind.

For those who argue our old ministries are irrelevant, I want to tell you a story about this weekend at my Corps. We were blessed by a visit from The Salvation Army Ringwood Corps Vocal Praise group (read songsters). This group sang many “oldie but goodie” songs, some of which had been arranged with a more contemporary feel, taking many of us back to some of our best Army memories. They also sang some great up-tempo gospel songs. And through their ministry, and that of their Corps Officers, Majors Colin & Di Corkery, a member of our congregation, a local man from our community, who has been battling the storms of life for some time now, was deeply moved. So deeply moved, he requested prayer and spent a large amount of time with our Officer praying and exploring faith issues. He joined the group for lunch and the afternoon concert where he enjoyed the ministry of the South Barwon Corps Band and the Ringwood Corps Vocal Praise group. Not relevant?! Seemed pretty relevant to him!

Whilst we’re on the “not relevant” bandwagon – let’s have a look at some trends in Australia & the Western world’s “non-church” cultures:

· With recent hit TV shows such as “Choir of Hard Knocks” & “Battle of the Choirs”, Community Choirs across Australia are experiencing an increase of numbers of people joining. So if the Songsters aren’t relevant, why aren’t Corps establishing a “Community Choir?” By merely changing the focus slightly from being a tool for enrichment in our meetings, they can become an Evangelistic tool, and in the same way continue to enrich our meetings!
· Each year, there is a National Brass Band Championships – this competition is not dying out with age! In fact bands such as the “Tramways Band” are seeing increasing numbers of young people join. Schools are using brass players in swing bands, orchestras and the likes. The Salvation Army once held the monopoly on the “best” brass players in the state, and perhaps even in the country – a monopoly that is lost now as more and more of our Corps Bands close. Kids are still learning brass at school, there is still the demand, but we’ve missed the boat. Not relevant?! Not appreciated more like it. Bring on the Melbourne Staff Band’s visit to South Barwon later in the year, I CAN’T WAIT!
· Timbrels – a hotly contended topic within The Salvation Army. My personal opinion for you Salvos out there is that unless you are a bando – or a former timbrel player – I’m not interested in your comments that Timbrels are irrelevant. Now there’s always been a “love/hate” relationship between the timbrels and band in our Corps – but even some of the most hardened “bando’s” who taunt that timbrel players are talent less and useless – will often when pushed admit it is in jest and that The Salvation Army has suffered a great loss by losing part of our culture. Interestingly enough, many of the “mainstream” churches are starting tambourine groups, some of which even call them “timbrel groups” and whenever I am out with friends and tell them I’m a Salvo, the first question I get asked is “Do you play the tambourine?”. Anzac Day – the old diggers in Geelong were teary when they saw the timbrel girls back. Not relevant?! Not appreciated.

Do we need to move with the times? Absolutely! Do we need to do church exactly the same way all the mega-churches and other local churches in our community model? Absolutely not!

It’s time we reclaimed some of our uniqueness and embraced it for what it is. It’s time we stopped trying to be cool in the eyes of whatever the latest church fad is (and let’s face it they change every two minutes!) and start doing what it is that we’ve done so well for so many years… let’s take back our culture and make it relevant. For if we don’t,… we’re no better than the other Community Churches out there… but that’s for another day!