The Salvation Army in the Body of Christ- Part 1

The recently published statement "The Salvation Army in the Body of Chirst" makes excellent reading. Issued under the authority of the General and written in full consultation with The Doctrine Council and The International Management Council this is 'an eccelsiological statement' and makes some interesting, valid (and from my perspective) very encouraging statements. The document (which only costs £1.99) is too long to discuss in one sitting so I'm going to break it up into manageable sections and post quotes here.

I hope it leads to some good debate. The first section deals with TSA's definition of the word 'church' - as we debate, let's remember that this is an official TSA statement and reflects the Army's most up to date official line.

"WE BELIEVE that the Church, the Body of Christ on earth, often referred to in the New Testament as 'the saints' … includes all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing him as Saviour and Lord, and witnessing to that sacred commitment through loving mutual submission and sacrificial service...

WE DO NOT BELIEVE that the Church universal depends for its existence or validity upon any particular ecclesiastical structure, any particular form of worship, or any particular observance of ritual…

WE DO NOT BELIEVE that an adequate definition of the Body of Christ on earth, the Church universal, can be confined in terms of ecclesiastical structure, but must rather be stated in terms of a spiritual relationship of grace that must find expression in all ecclesiastical structures. Members of the Body are those who are incorporate in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1: 1) and therefore reconciled to God through his Son. All such are in a spiritual relationship one with the other, which begins and continues regardless of externals, according to the prayer of Jesus that those who are his may be one (John 17:23). These words of Jesus ask for a oneness as is found in the oneness of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This oneness IS spiritual, not organizational.

End of quote - Love and prayers A