My rant of the week is about Salvation Army Uniform.
I wear SA Uniform and yes, I’m proud to wear it. I have never really questioned why I wear it, there perhaps have been times when maybe I shouldn’t have worn it…and there possibly are times when I SHOULD wear it and don’t, but I have never resented putting it on.
Initially, I made a faith commitment becoming a Senior Soldier and the upshot of that was that I could wear uniform – an outward sign of my commitment to God and the SA. It also meant that I could be in the Songters and play in the band, and as this was something all my friends were doing then I wanted to as well.
I wanted to be seen to be belonging.
The questions in ‘this day and age’ seem to be:
Is the Uniform relevant?
Is it a barrier to people coming into our buildings and services?
Can I effectively work in Children’s Ministry in it?
Can I be actively involved in my Corps if I don’t wear it?
Am I a second class ‘citizen’ if I don’t wear it?
Thing is, I am not in the band and songsters anymore – my choice, I wasn’t ASKED to leave -so essentially I don’t HAVE to wear my uniform on a Sunday and I have nothing to prove to anybody in my Corps, but I still wear it.
Why?
Could it be due to the stigma attached to leaving it off?
a) One weekend I had inadvertently left my uniform in the cleaners and MORE people came to speak to me on that Sunday morning than usual. They wanted to know if I was ok? I explained that I was embarrassed, but that was about it. They thought something was wrong – that I had done something wrong or that someone had offended me SO much that I had decided to leave. I wondered why I might have turned up at the SA that day to prove that I had left? Very odd.
I had left my uniform in the cleaners, hardly a hellfire and brimstone offence.
b) Attention seeking?!
Could it be that I don’t have enough variety of smart casual clothes to wear to church, so I have no choice?
Mmmm, possibly!
Could it be that I am so programmed to put it on that it wouldn’t occur to me to leave it off?
Mmmm, possibly THAT too.
Could it be that I think I am being a super role model to the children and young people in the Corps?
I actually don’t know about that – I mean, why would the children and young people want to wear the same clothes as their parents?
Could it just be that I see it as part of my ‘duty’ ( naughty word) as a soldier ?
Oh, it’s all very confusing?
Here’s the thing:
Wear it or don’t , but don’t ever, ever treat it as a costume!
Call me old fashioned and sentimental if you like, but it is actually worth more that that.
6 comments:
Hi Liz, you probably already know from conversions with me that at one point in my life the uniform issue was a big one for me, and at times it still is. there are moments in the corps when things that people say- never in spite or with any intention- inadverntantly offend. The idea that i am somehow not committed, or not sure of my faith or not actually part of the corps really hurt me. I do not wear a uniform because i believe that to be a calling- one that i havent be called to. its not about my relationship with god somehow lacking- it prob does at times but not because of that. i have true respect for true soliders of the army, for devoted followers of God and i believe solidership has a place because some need it and are called to it. But i disagree that it is somehow normative, expected or used as a way in to band and songsters and i detest that without it i am not allowed in the sections- i am 'good' enough to go to practice but not to stand side by side on a sunday. I think when it comes to uniform the army has alot of growing up to do and people have to realise that it means alot- even to those who dont wear it!
Woah, massive issue Liz. I am sure there will be a multitude of opinion about this one. I think both you and Becks make very good points. Talking about it from personal experience is really interesting to read because so often you hear debates about this stuff from a theoretical point of view, and really you can argue that thill you’re blue in the face. But when someone says, actually – the comments I get when not wearing a uniform really hurt me – it makes it personal. Nobody can tell you that you didn’t feel that. You felt it, it was genuine, and that ought to be taken into consideration.
I am probably a bit of a hypocrite in some ways because I wear the uniform and yet I have some massive issues with it. I try to look at it from both angles because I can see its benefit and its place. I know people who became Christians because they saw a Salvationist in the town – recognised the uniform and went to speak to them. (Praise God! - not the uniform!)
However I am so conscious of the fact that when we go to Sunday meetings, we are there to glorify and worship God. I think the army is becoming a lot more aware of the need to change our focus from performance to worship, and that is a very good thing. However, I really don’t think that a ‘uniformed brigade’ supports that shift in emphasis. People say that they like it to look smart and to look the same, and I hear that, I really do, but why? Why is it nice that we all look the same and smart? What extra does it add? Maybe it’s a matter of opinion, and maybe (like with song styles) different people are blessed in different ways, but I honestly don’t feel any less blessed by the singing company now than I did when they all had to wear uniform. (Although if some people said they genuinely did, then fair play – I understand that we all experience things differently.)
I don’t necessarily think that the uniform stops us from being able to worship God fully, (although having said that, it is kind of restrictive – and not particularly comfortable!) but I don’t think it benefits it either. And if uniform is going to make people feel like they don’t belong, like they could never belong unless they wear the uniform, like they aren’t allowed to be part of the corps until they choose to adopt the uniform, and if people are going to feel uncomfortable in worship because they look different then I think we have a serious issue that needs to be addressed. I know people say that nobody thinks that people don’t belong if they don’t wear the uniform, but people I know, some of my closest friends have hated coming to worship at the army simply because they felt ‘different’ and conspicuous. That was an immediate feeling upon entering the hall - not a good way to start!
Like I said, I think it has its place – (maybe not in such a formal style, and CERTAINLY not at the expense it is – another reason for why it is so exclusivist!) but maybe it is not necessary for everyone who wants to be in the sections to wear it, or even for general Sunday worship. And I most of all think that people should not be made to feel that they are somehow inferior because they choose not (or have not been called) to wear it.
Hey, guys. Thank you for these comments.I can honestly see, know, feel it from all sides. As you know, I'm married to a guy who has struggled with this 'need to conform' and has been honest enough with himself, me and God to not be persuaded just because it would 'make life easier for him'and would make other people happy to see a tidy 'Army' family!
I think my passion in this issue at this point in time comes from the amazing respect Keith has, initially through his relationship with me,for the SA, and what it stands for, which,whether we like it or not, does seem to be epitimised in 'The Uniform'.I think this is different to his Christian faith.
Becs says she believes the issue of Senior Soldiership and uniform wearing to be calling...and would dearly love to be included in a section
...and so, when I see an SA Uniform blatently being used to 'make things look good' and 'make up the numbers', I find myself to be more angry, maybe irrationally so,than I thought possible.
An opportunity to show the world - well Havering- that we are an inclusive Church was missed, for the sake of looking good.
Would Keith be invited to wear a tunic to make the platform look tidy when he does a bible reading next?
This is an emotive issue for me and very yellow, red and blue blog, but I'm not sorry about that.
We just have to be more careful with each other, the things we say and the decisions we make - don't you think?
Liz you say;
"When I see an SA Uniform blatently being used to 'make things look good' and 'make up the numbers'"
and
"An opportunity to show the world -well Havering- that we are an inclusive Church was missed, for the sake of looking good."
I completely agree. It seems such a shame...
Can I ask though what you meant by your last paragraph:
"We just have to be more careful with each other, the things we say and the decisions we make - don't you think?"
In what ways do you think we need to do this? - is this army wide, and is it specifically what we say so that people don't feel that they don't belong? No deepness in here - I was just wondering!
I think my comments here relate to me and my world, but possibly it IS army wide.
You know, the thing is, we are all human and have our own agendas don't we? I am an impulsive person by nature, and I know that I make decisions that reflect my agenda sometimes, but don't include the feelings of other people. I don't mean to, I just do. I am SURE that whoever made the decision on Sunday didn't do it to upset or offend anyone, it just suited their agenda.
I don't think my thoughts here are specifically about being inclusive although it is a mega issue and my final comment on my initial posting reflects this - wear uniform or don't, but don't treat it like a costume - as it does have inherant meaning for some people - not that I worship my uniform, I don't and I would be more that happy to leave it off, but that would then mean that the times I did wear it, I would be using it as a tool - so would that be right??
I agree with Becks when she says that the SA has a really long way to go in terms of this issue. Some Corps are making their own decisions and are really changing shape and REALLY impacting their community.
Membership, soldiership, belonging, believing, ownership, discipleship, worship etc.
I guess it has to be purpose driven, not performance driven, and until 'performance' is not patronised by top level leadership, the SA will, I think, NEVER be purpose driven.
Oh there IS so much more, but it's all a blur and I feel frustrated by it all really.
I need to make my own personal decision as part of the bigger picture I guess...it will run and run!
I'll be wearing MY uniform on Monday, without question, as a mark of respect to my Grandma, her faith and all that being a soldier 'saved to serve' meant to her.
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