Church or movement

Lately there is a lot of discussion going on in the Salvation Army about the idea that the Salvation Army is a church. People say that this is not the case, because we are a movement. I would say that we are both or need to be both. Phil Needham puts it in his book 'Community in Mission' as follows:

"An inflexible and immobile Church is no Church at all; it is a religious relic." (Needham, 1987:55)

When we stop moving forward we stop being church.

Journeying Out - 03: Social Capital - the Big Idea

It took me a while but here is a short excerpt of the third chapter of Ann Morisy's book. This chapter is about Social Capital. Social Capital is simply the fact that people help others. The example given is about a lady with a buggy at the stairs of an underground station. There is always some bystander who sees her and helps her up the stairs.

There are a few comments to be made with regards to this subject:
First of all there are some distinctions to be made: Sometimes 'social capital' (helping others) can be limited to the 'own' network. Within the network it is all fine, but in this way 'social capital' works exclusively for the insiders, excluding everyone else. This type is called Bonding social capital.

When social capital bridges the gap between networks. it is called Bridging social capital.
A quote:

Bridging social capital leads to a broadening of people's identities because it requires journeying out to engage with the stranger. (2004:50)

According to Morisy this kind of social capital is diminishing and she also believes that there could be a task for the church in this matter.

A third version goes even further: Brave social capital. People that are involved with others on this level put themselves at a certain risk level. People that work with violent and sick people, perhaps in a dangerous area face a higher risk then others.

This last level is the most dangerous, but also the level where I would like to venture in more. But how do you do that, living in suburban holland and working in a relatively rich area?

Bibliography
MORISY, A. (2004) Journeying Out, Harrisburg, Morehouse.

Salvation

The Salvation Army is called Salvation Army, because it is in the business of saving people. But what is 'Salvation'? Is it simply helping people to a better standard of life? Is it the saving of people from their sins and eternal damnation? Bosch puts it like this in his book "Transforming Mission" (1991)

Those who know that God will one day wipe away all tears will not accept with resignation the tears of those who suffer and are opressed now. Anyone who knows that one day there will be no more disease can and must actively anticipate the conquest of disease in individuals ans society now. And anyone who believes that the enemy of God and humans will be vanquished will already opose him now in his machinations in family and society. For all of this has to do with salvation.

Strong and moving words that reflect the mission of the Salvation Army clearly. I believe that the act of salvation involves all of our lives. Leaving any aspect out of it is tempering with the Missio Dei: God's Mission.