The day started with the recognition of the Ford Motor Company for their support of Bambara a camp located in Clonbinane, Victoria and operated by Westcare. Thank you, John Avent for your ministry and the work that takes place at Bambara. Whilst we were standing there talking about the programme, we were pleasantly surprised by a Koala who decided to join us.
The second stop was an all afternoon meeting with a Public relations firm that is supporting our efforts with Connections '07. It's a blessing to have such a professional team on our side.
The third was an evening meeting with a city Councilman to discuss the realities of homelessness and affordable housing. His plans are solid and will be easy to support. There is much to do on this subject. Can we eliminate homelessness? I think we should try.
Philippians 4:4 (MSG)
4 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
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14 comments:
There has been some talk and concern about what Connections is costing. Is is true that the event will cost between 2 & 3 million dollars. If not then how much is going to spent.
Graham
No, Graham, not that much. There's no denying that it will cost money. It's not rocket science. Know that we maintain an annual budget for the costs of Commissioning and special congresses when the General comes. I've always found it to be worth the cost.
I'd be happy to meet with you if this is troubling you.
As a Salvationist and employee (and former officer) of The Salvation Army, I have always been sensitive about the issue of how the organization spends its money, particularly the funds that are raised from the general public. I can't speak about the situation in Australia, but I know that in the USA and Canada, the organization is very dependent on the goodwill of the public. I believe we should be strictly and transparently accountable to the public about how we spend the funds they entrust to us.
The Salvation Army's dilemma is that it is both a worship community and a social service organization. It's not always easy to distinguish between those two aspects of its identity, nor is it always desirable to make such a distinction.
If we can support Commissionings, Congresses - evangelistic and worship events - with funds raised from within our congregations and worship communities, then I have no ethical problem with having such events, as they do advance the Army's spiritual mission. If we were to siphon off publicly donated funds to support discipleship and worship ministries, then I would have a huge ethical problem with that.
No, not that much and rocket science really did answer the question. How much is not that much? As a Christian organization we are accountable to a large degree to indivisuals and corps whose generosity funds our work and pays our way. People from both our corps and the general public have given sacrificiallywhich means we are called to exercise a careful stewardship. We are accountable, that having received such generous gifts that we live and act with responsible and transparent stewardship.
Graham
Graham - Your point is absolutely right. Would you call me?
I am curious commissioner why you are unwilling to answer Graham's question in the public sphere?
I agree that we need to celebrate significant events in the life of our movement and the commissioning of officers, the visit of the General and the coming together of Salvationists from around our territory sure is a significant event.
If the territory maintains an annual budget for commissioning and a special budget for the visit of the General then it should not be difficult to present that information in a professional and well documented manner.
It costs money to put on an event, and understandably some people might not understand the full extent of the costs, but surely we must try and communicate how we as an organisation are spending the money that God has entrusted to us.
Celebrations are an important part of the Christian faith, coming together to strategise and be challenged is also important.
But the question remains, at what cost?
I'm intrigued by the discussion on the cost of the connections event?? If the leadership of the territory has taken a decision to invest in motivating, educating, inspiring.......... and connecting those within the organisation, and inviting those outside the organisation to be part of that - isn't that an investment in the mission? How is spending money on motivating the workers and the members any different to decisions leadership takes every day on other missional activities like sheltering the abused, advocating for the marginalised, making disciples, supporting education of employees.................. do we not trust the judgement and decision making of the leadership? I figure we invest trust in our leadership and the decisions they take to steward all monies - public and other. I for one am trusting the TC on the vision for Connections as I understand it, and believing God is going to do great things in and through The Salvation Army and in and through us as individuals. Keep going TC - you decide what and how we invest - and lets keep praying for the harvest!
You make a good point.
However noone has questioned the decision to invest in the event.
Yes the Leadership makes decisions on how to spend the territory's money, but that money is accounted for and every year the Salvation Army produces an annual report to show the budgeting of the organisation. That report is a public document and is provided so that the organisation's financial dealings are transparent.
The simple question of how much is Connections going to cost was asked in a public forum.
It wasn't a cynical question (as far as I read it).
It was a question to dispel rumour mongering. The way to prevent rumours is to be open and honest. The sad fact is that the Salvation Army can tend to be a hive of rumours. A professional costing of the conference (which the TC would obviously have) is the easiest way to prevent rumours flying about the cost of the conference. It would also be an opportunity for the TC to share what other organisations are supporting Connections by providing in-kind support for our event, which is a value beyond dollars.
The question was asked in a public forum and should, for transparency's sake be answered in the public forum. It would also help in dispelling the rumours that are distracting from the positive event that Connections will be.
What an interesting topic of discussion has sprung up recently regarding Connections.
In the past, I have been concerned that we as a Salvation Army have not spent our money wisely.
However, in the lead up to Connections, and hearing the vision for this Conference, I do not believe that this is a questionable way in which to spend our finances.
I've found recently, the same people who are complaining about how much this is going to cost (and I'm not saying it's the people commenting on here, but certainly the people I've spoken to), are the people who whinge and complain that our social services are now being run by non-Christians... and yet I know a fair few of our Non-Christian (or not-yet christian as I like to call them) co-workers will be attending certain days of Connections - what an opportunity to share our journey with them, and to hear how our money (and the money given to us by the public) is being spent in our day to day ministry.
This is the first Conference The Salvation Army has had (in my life time) that some of our social services staff have felt welcome, and inspired to attend - beyond a Commissioning and an insular conference, this is an attempt to get Salvationists moving and learning, and inspired, and inspiring others - I applaud the Commissioner and the Connections team, and am praying that the critics shall be silenced as they watch the Army reap the benefits of this one weekend in our journey!
And as for you not answering the question Commissioner - to be honest, you are the first Commissioner (again in my memory) to ever be so open about things and to have an open communication- or offer to speak in person with those who have questions. I admire you for such honesty and integrity. Keep up the great work!
There is no other way to cast the vision than in this forum.
We have been too long the sleeping giant - this is the opportunity to awaken and be a powerful force for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Please dont let the issues behind the scenes become the main thing. Let us keep our eyes focused upon God and what he is doing in and through us as a people.
It is those who cannot see the bigger picture that often hamper the big picture from coming into reality.
Trust the leaders - enjoy the results be amazed by what God can do through your lives...
GM
He (or she) who casts the vision must be prepared to hear the feedback.
I have not heard any negative feedback regarding connections so far in this discussion. The issue, as I see it, relates to being asked a question in public (how much will it cost?) and wishing to respond in private (please call me).
A blog is a public forum, I want to thank the TC for his contributions, but to also remind everyone that a forum is to hear from all views, even those which are divergent from our own.
No one in this discussion is questioning the motives or the significance of Connections and their questions should not be read as such.
Do we really want to be a movement where people who ask a question of clarification are seen as evil nay-sayers who are the root of all the problems within our organisation?
I agree with Sarah that Connections has the potential for great things, getting people together for open discussion and dialogue can only be a positive step.
This sounds simple but I'm not convinced that just quoting a $ figure here is wise. Whilst I'm all for transparency and accountability, the place for this is surely in a fuller context than can be adequately contained in blog comments. It would be easy for those who are already poised to criticise to take a $ figure out of context and leave The Salvation Army having to take a defensive stance in the media. As has already been pointed out, there are already public docs such as the annual Financial Report which account for our finances.
My dear friends,
There remains a question about the cost of Connections '07. It has been my decision not to publish such information here. The value of Connections will be seen there, and I believe, into eternity.
Some find it difficult to support these events for many reasons, not the least of these is cost. It is a healthy concern and not taken lightly by me or the decision makers in the territory.
Why not publish the actual costs here? This is a limited form of communication and will not do justice to our overall mission to reduce the value of Connections to a dollar amount. If it were possible, we wouldn't be doing the event. There is a time to spend money for Jesus as is He taught us in John 12.
That's how I see it.
Well Put TC!!!
Whats the cost to our Territory if we don't hold an event like Connections....this is incorporating the whole sphere of the Army's work....and I for one am excited about seeing God work through these areas....and I know hearts and souls will be won for him this weekend....how can we put a price on that....See you at Connections!
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