Reinstatement Of Lieutenant Rank

On Thursday morning, Commissioner James Knaggs announced the following decision relating to lieutenancy received from the office of the General on 14 November 2007.

Following a long period of consideration and much discussion, the General has decided that, effective 1 March 2008, the rank of lieutenant will be reinstated into the officer rank structure of The Salvation Army, as the first commissioned officer rank. Thus, on and from that date, all cadets - including those who are currently in training - will be commissioned with the rank of lieutenant.

The use of an officer rank to describe the position of a non-officer worker in The Salvation Army has long been felt by many to be confusing. Reintroducing the rank of lieutenant as a commissioned officer rank will eliminate that confusion. It will also bring other benefits in terms of clearly identifying those officers who are newly commissioned or within their initial years of service, and will also assist in enabling a clearly defined target date to be set for the completion of post-commissioning studies.

The rank of lieutenant will be held for five years from the date of commissioning, thus facilitating once again the linking of a satisfactory five-year review with the possibility of promotion to the rank of captain. The insignia for an officer holding the rank of lieutenant will be as it was prior to the elimination of the rank from the rank structure - i.e. silver 'S' on a red patch on each lapel, and one star on a red background on each epaulet.

Chief of Staff's Minutes will be issued in due course, which will establish the changes to various Orders & Regulations that reflect this decision.

Commissioner Knaggs also stated that each territory/command is to come up with a suitable title for its non-commissioned personnel, offering his assurance that our territorial leadership would ensure the lieutenants' best interests would be at the heart of any decision.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) ~ "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."

New Captains Appointed

The following appointments were announced yesterday afternoon, effective January 2008.

CAPTS PHIL & CATHERINE ABRAM ~ Corps Officers (CO), Torquay Corps Plant, VIC
CAPTS DARREN & MEGAN AITKEN ~ CO, Kings Meadows Corps, TAS
CAPT RACHEL CASTLE ~ Chaplain, Prison Ministry, SA
CAPT ROWAN CASTLE ~ Divisonal Youth Secretary, SA
CAPTS GRACE CHOI & JOSEPH PARK ~ CO, Box Hill Korean Corps
CAPT DAVID COLLINSON ~ Territorial Youth Secretary, THQ
CAPT KYLIE COLLINSON ~ Assistant CO, Box Hill Corps, VIC
CAPT JASON DANNOCK ~ CO, Kingborough Corps, TAS (with Captain Sharon Dannock)
CAPTS MICHELLE & JASON DAVIES-KILDEA ~ CO, Brunswick Corps, VIC
CAPT DAVID DAVIS ~ Corps Officer, Sunbury Corps, VIC (with Captain Belinda Davis)
CAPTS CHRISTOPHER FOOTER ~ Assistant CO, Waverley Temple Corps, VIC
CAPTS ANNE & LANCE JEFFREY ~ CO, Rockingham Corps, WA
CAPTS ERICA & PETER JONES ~ Associate CO, Brunswick Corps, VIC
CAPT JUNE KNOP ~ CO, Box Hill Corps, VIC
CAPT PETER MCMASTER ~ CO, Beechworth Corps, VIC (following marriage to Captain Ainsley Fry)
CAPT GRANT PALMER ~ CO, Murray Bridge Corps, SA (with Captain Mel Palmer)
CAPTS HEATHER & MARTYN SCRIMSHAW ~ CO, Leongatha Corps, VIC
CAPTS KEN & LEANNE SMITH ~ Managers, Harry Hunter Rehabiliation Centre, WA
CAPTS JOHNMARK & NICOLE SNEAD ~ CO, Ararat Corps, VIC
CAPT HELEN ZHOU ~ CO, Richmond Corps, VIC

Move, Holy Spirit

More than 3,000 Salvationists and friends shared in spiritual connections at the Melbourne Convention Centre today for the Ordination and Commissioning of TSA's 29 new captains.

In a morning spirit of sacred contemplation, we witnessed the new officers being ordained as ministers of the gospel and commissioned to a lifetime of ministry and service. The afternoon meeting was one of praise and celebration as their new ministry roles were announced and we were each challenged and 'sent out' to carry the message of the gospel to the whosoever.

The whole day was evidence of God's Holy Spirit at work in the lives of Salvationists, urging us to live in His awesome and providential love.

Yes, "move, Holy Spirit, move in my life; make me like Christ"...

Social Justice C07

The Salvation Army's Social Justice Parade today could be summed up with Micah's words ~ "act justly... love mercy ...walk humbly with your God." A huge crowd gather at Federation Square to promote awareness of and foster action to cease contemporary social justice issues, such as human trafficking and sex slavery. The heat was on, in more ways than one!

The parade was also a great 'visual' opportunity for Salvos to not only voice their social justice concerns to the local community, but to actively promote our allegiance to Christ and witness to God's love at work in the wider world and our individual lives.

Micah 6:8 (MSG) ~ "It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don't take yourself too seriously ~ take God seriously."

Friendship Connections

The opportunity to 'reconnect' with friends is always a valued one, especially when we share a common faith and hope. To offer support and show appreciation to others is a privilege of friendship, as is experiencing the support and appreciation from others along our journey.

While connecting with friends is great, connecting with Christ is far greater. Joseph C Ludgate wrote these words about the ultimate friendship.

A friend when other friendships cease,
A friend when others fail,
A friend who gives me joy and peace,
A friend who will prevail.

Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine,
O what blessed sweet communion,
Jesus is a friend of mine!

Officer Connections

Today's spiritual meetings marked the commencement of CONNECTIONS 07 ~ and what a blessing it was! Throughout the morning and afternoon sessions of Officers Councils there was a real sense of the presence of God moving in the lives of His people. Commissioner Knaggs invited us all to "relax in God's presence and soak in His blessing and grace, as though we were in the lounge room." I came away from connecting with God convinced we were in His 'Love' room.

Tonight we were invited guests of Lieuts Martyn and Heather Scrimshaw and had the opportunity to connect with the cadets and lieutenants of the Heralds of the Good News session for their Recognition and Valedictory service. Being there to personally witness them receiving their ministry certificates in preparation for their ordination was "soul-inspiring".

What greater blessing does God have in store? Ask Him for something, and then come along and find out for yourself.

Matthew 6:14a (MSG) ~ "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do."

Heralds Of The Good News

The Training Principal, Major Frank Daniels, shares his strong conviction of ministry non-negotiables with the Heralds of the Good News cadets.

• Christ must be the focus
• Prayer must be central to life and ministry
• Christian character must be the foundation

Pray God's continued equipping and encouragement on their respective lives and service!

Lieutenants Phil and Catherine Abram

Cadets Darren and Megan Aitken

Lieutenants Rachel and Rowan Castle

Cadets Grace Choi and Joseph Park

Lieutenants David and Kylie Collinson

Cadet Jason Dannock

Lieutenants Jason and Michelle Davies-Kildea

Cadet David Davis

Cadet Chris Footer

Lieutenants Anne and Lance Jeffrey

Cadets Erica and Peter Jones

Cadet June Knop

Cadet Pete McMaster

Lieutenant Grant Palmer

Lieutenants Heather and Martyn Scrimshaw

Lieutenants Ken and Leanne Smith

Cadets Johnmark and Nicole Snead

Lieutenant Helen Zhou

Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) ~ "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."