I had a well-renowned professor in my second seminary say to me about a year and a half ago that the Army we operate is a "mission station" and not a "church." This was in context in trying to explain what we do and the demographics of our unrefined, yet extremely lovable, congregation of 35 folks (on a good day). I explained in a class presentation some of the functions of the "church" side of the Army and how we operate, in a lot of ways, like a typical church. But then I got to explaining some of the pastoral duties that engulf our time that are not like a typical church. Things like: driving congregation members to doctor's appointments, making sure they are fed (often by cooking for them myself), visiting them in jail, going to court, making sure they are checking their sugar and taking their medication, helping to read legal documents about child support and custody, accompanying them to job interviews, meeting with guidance counselors, doing financial aid paperwork for them to get into college successfully, driving them to rehab, putting together a budget for them,helping them locate non-Army shelter (or letting them stay with us--shhhh.....don't tell on me!), meeting with mortgage lenders, etc, etc, etc. He told me that this goes beyond the call of duty of a pastor in a typical church. Instead, what we have going, is a mission station and are to be commended for it.
Thanks, I think?
Before that day I just thought what we were trying to do was live life with people and to disciple. You know, how I think Jesus modeled for us. To me, or so I thought, what the real Church should be. My mind got confused with the terminology but my heart was solid and peaceful. Mission station or church, we were doing God's work. And still are. At least I pray to that end every day.
So I started referring to non-Army people that we operate a sort of mission station. In our local context it feels like the church aspect of what we do is almost an afterthought as we have had trials and obstacles to sort through that most of our church people will never need to know about. As we pack up to move to another location I am hopeful that the officers following us will take the time to invest in what we have not been truly able to...in building the mission station? In building the church? See, now I'm confused...
But I think I was wrong in some ways by referring what we do as a mission station. There has been MUCH debate as to whether or not the Army is "the Church." Generals disagree as to whether or not the Army is a church. Many refer to it as a "movement of God" and other terms that are all great, but still have left me confused!
Who are we? Who Are These Salvationists was helpful to read ten years ago or so.
The International Theological Council responds... but in the praxis of ministry, who are we?
http://s3.amazonaws.com/cache.salvationarmy.org/a33bb181-9797-44a2-bf8b-529efb591649_The%20Church%20-%20TSA%20response.pdf
