12 April 2006

'I have a vision,' declared General Shaw Clifton in his first public message as world leader of The Salvation Army. 'It is a vision of the whole Army kneeling together at the feet of Christ ... all asking for the same thing.' The General spoke of his vision at the close of his Welcome and Dedication Meeting in London's Kensington Town Hall on Saturday 8 April 2006. Moments later it was made manifest in microcosm as scores of Salvationists and friends moved from their places in the packed auditorium and knelt in rededication at the mercy seat.

The tone of the meeting – during which General Clifton and World President of Women's Ministries Commissioner Helen Clifton were welcomed as the Army's new international leaders, each holding only a copy of the Scriptures, and Commissioner Robin Dunster was greeted as the new Chief of the Staff – was set by the opening and closing congregational songs, which appropriately encompassed the Army's twofold focus of holiness and salvation.

A classic Salvation Army holiness song 'I Would Be Thy Holy Temple' was sung meditatively by the congregation as the Army's new international leaders entered the auditorium behind the flag of International Headquarters, and the Founder's Song, 'O Boundless Salvation!', provided a triumphant conclusion.

Pre-meeting music by the International Staff Band, Portsmouth Citadel Songsters and a contemporary music group led by Alvin Allison prepared the large and enthusiastic congregation for the Saturday afternoon event presided over by USA National Commander (Designate) Commissioner Israel L. Gaither.

Following Colonel Boon's great holiness hymn, Commissioner Gaither greeted those who had gathered, and all those watching via the webcast of the event, declaring: 'Tomorrow has arrived. The next chapter of our collective history of mission begins to be written.'

Upbeat congregational singing of 'Jesus Shall Conquer' and the gentle 'Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour' then preceded prayer by Commissioner Eva D. Gaither, USA National President of Women's Ministries (Designate), in which she asked God's blessing on the Army's new leaders.

Because the gathering was doubling as a public farewell to the Cliftons from their leadership of the UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland the next part of the meeting took the form of a Farewell Salute, with a warm tribute to them being paid by Chief Secretary Lieut-Colonel Vic Poke.

The then Commissioners Shaw and Helen Clifton, he said, had correctly identified, and met, the territory's need for consolidation, but they had done much more than that. They had invested themselves richly in the leadership of the territory – leadership characterised by their teaching ministry, by their redesign of the Territorial Advisory Council, their special concern for Scotland's Salvationists, by wise business acumen, strong prayer and Bible study. The colonel also paid tribute to their humility and strong faith.

Two songs – 'God Of My Praise' and 'With Wings As Eagles' - from Portsmouth Citadel Songsters and further congregational singing led to a section of the meeting titled New Beginnings.

Commissioner Makoto Yoshida, International Secretary for South Pacific and East Asia, introduced the new Chief of the Staff, highlighting the way in which her officer service revealed how she had made herself totally available to God. Commissioner Dunster, he said, was the Army's first woman Chief of the Staff, but she had been chosen not for her gender but for her suitability and worthiness. From his own experience he assured the congregation that the new Chief was someone who when convinced of the need for something to be done, did it.

The Chief, in response, spoke of her willingness to be thought 'abnormal' in the eyes of the world if that was the consequence of following the teaching of Jesus. God requires our obedience, she said.

Commissioner Rosemary Makina, Zonal Secretary for Women's Ministries, Africa, read from the Scriptures before – at the request of the General – the International Staff Band played Kenneth Downie's 'Silent Vigil' – a setting of the song, 'How can I better serve thee, Lord?' with its words:

How can I better serve thee, Lord,
Thou who hast done so much for me?
Faltering and weak my labour has been;
O that my life may tell for thee!

Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need;
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

Written greetings from Retired Generals Eva Burrows, Bramwell Tillsley, Paul A. Rader, John Gowans and John Larsson, read by IHQ commissioners, paid warm tributes to the Cliftons before 'Children of the World', in the form of children of overseas officers serving at IHQ, presented flowers and cards to the new leaders and the Gaithers.

Commissioner Berit Odegaard, Secretary for Mission Product Development and Marketing, then welcomed General and Commissioner Clifton, commenting that, because of their past service on five continents, 'As every new dawn breaks around the world someone will be praying for you.'

In her response Commissioner Clifton spoke of how her every childhood and youthful experience, and all her past service, had prepared her for the present moment. Her 'long walk' with God had all been part of his plan for her life.

While she had a strong love for young people, she declared, women's ministry was a passion for her, believing as she did in the need for women to offer their distinctive gifts to God. Encouraging this would be a feature of her future service.

Then followed the Dedication ceremony during which Commissioner Israel Gaither thanked God for his 'gift' of General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton to the Army, and prayed that God would do a perfect thing in them and in the Army through them. 'Multiply its influence! Sanctify its soldiers!' he prayed.

Then came General Clifton's first public address as the Army's world leader, which he began with words of appreciation for all who had facilitated the transition of leadership and all who had sent messages of encouragement. The General acknowledged warmly ecumenical and inter-faith friends in the congregation.

Reflecting on his feelings of unworthiness and initial reluctance when the result of the High Council became apparent, the General said there had since come a deeper peace to his soul and a clear knowledge of the sustaining, prayerful love of God's people.

Turning to the new Chief of the Staff, the General paid tribute to Commissioner Dunster's 'giftedness, wide experience, independent judgment, poise and gravitas'.

General Clifton then revealed to the congregation that when he was formally asked, as the High Council drew to a close, if he was willing to accept the Generalship of the Army his reply was: 'Under God, I am willing.'

The words 'under God', he said, were crucial. 'The Army has been raised up by God. We are sustained as an Army by God. The Army belongs to God. Your new General is under God. There is no other place to be.'

Said the General: 'I want every person listening, especially every Salvationist, to know that the new General knows his place. That place is “under God”. I am a servant of God. I am also your servant. I am subservient ... surrendered, and yielded, fully given up to God for the salvation of the world.'

Declared the General: 'We are to be under God. We are to be under Christ's feet. You cannot be under Christ's feet and still be proud ... full of self ... disobedient to God. You cannot be under Christ's feet and go on sinning. You cannot be under Christ's feet and be relying on your own puny, human strength.'

The challenge next issued by the General was, as an Army: 'Are we under Christ's feet? In everything? Nothing held back? Everything surrendered?'

The General then described his vision of the whole Army kneeling at the feet of Christ, 'asking, pleading with God for forgiveness for all we have done wrong and for all we have omitted to do ... Pleading for more faith, more wisdom, more holy courage, a closer walk with him, more of his Holy Spirit ... more of his power.'

When the General extended an invitation to the congregation to kneel at the improvised mercy seat the response began before he had completed his first sentence. Soon the mercy seat was overflowing as – singly, in pairs and in groups – Salvationists and friends made their way purposefully to the place of prayer to kneel in rededication.

Scores came – officers, soldiers, young people. The General and Commissioner Clifton knelt. The Chief knelt. Commissioners and songsters, headquarters employees. Parents with children. Voices were raised in prayer in different languages – Japanese and Shona. These were sacred moments.

Then came the triumphant conclusion of the meeting as, to the rousing accompaniment of the International Staff Band, the congregation joined in 'The Founder's Song' – 'O Boundless Salvation!' – with the General waving the IHQ flag aloft to the delight of all.

A prayer of benediction from Commissioner Lalkiamlova, International Secretary for South Asia, finally brought to a conclusion a memorable meeting which had well-earned its place in Salvation Army history.

 

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