Listen + Learn = Love
Representatives from The Salvation Army attended the Awaken Conference recently, to be part of the commitment to the ongoing conversation around diversity in a faith-based movement.
A beautifully diverse and vibrant kaleidoscope of people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, denominations, and expressions of gender and sexuality gathered in Christchurch for the Awaken Conference. Organised by Diverse Church New Zealand, Awaken 2023 took place over the weekend of March 17 to 19, and was hosted by Durham Street North Methodist Church. Reverend Philo Kinera declared to a full congregation on Sunday morning, ‘We have an opportunity to remember who we are as the church, where we have been, to notice where we are and to rediscover hope for the future on this journey toward inclusion and equality for all.’
With quality keynote speakers from Australia and an impressive line-up of theologically meaty and practical workshop topics, overall the conference provided a safe space for encouragement, worship, teaching, discussion, great food and connection for LGBTQIA+ people of faith and their allies.
‘We’ve had such a positive experience in Christchurch,’ says Craig Watson Diverse Church founder. ‘Coming out as a queer person of faith is not a small thing. As someone who struggled to find people like me, I know the spark of joy within that comes when you discover that there are others like you—people you can connect deeply with you on a spiritual level. Seeing people, especially younger people, make connections and form friendships is my highlight by far.’
Part of the organising team, Colin Daley (Cuba Street Salvation Army) says: ‘A highlight for me is seeing people encouraged and empowered in their personal spiritual journey. Being reminded that they have a Creator who loves them, cares for them and wants the best for them is so affirming. And when people are affirmed in their faith, not only do we become stronger, but then we are able to go out and empower others. We have renewed courage to be the light and voice and hands of Jesus in a hurting world.’
With the view that attending the Awaken Conference provided an opportunity to listen and learn, as well as show support, Major Christine De Maine, divisional secretary for Southern Māori Ministry/ Hēkēretari-ā-Wehenga Te Waipounamu, Manatū Māori, says, ‘Being a Māori woman and working within the context of The Salvation Army, I am becoming more aware of how important it is for tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti to partner with each other. In the same way, I want to be a good ally for those in our rainbow faith community. I realise that I have been a bystander rather than an ally and now is the time to learn and be an ally for our diverse church. I have also heard many people’s stories—their hurts and disappointments and I want to listen well, so I can be better at including all people. For me being a good ally means being kind and compassionate and treating our rainbow faith community with utmost respect and manaaki.’
Territorial Secretary for Mission Major Ian Gainsford also attended the conference and was a panelist for a workshop with other denominational leaders. ‘One of the striking features of the Awaken Conference is the passion of most in attendance to explore and express a vibrant faith in Jesus,’ observes Ian. ‘The Salvation Army has never been afraid of asking questions that challenge assumptions about the boundaries of church life. Catherine Booth’s reading of Scripture ran counter to almost universally held beliefs about female leadership, and the Army acted to subvert mainstream patriarchal interpretations. Internationally we are being encouraged to engage in genuine dialogue about how we can be one when we hold different views about sexuality—and to reflect deeply on what it means to say that we are all made in the image of God; especially when God appears to be at work outside of the boundaries we have traditionally observed. While this doesn’t signal an impending change, it should prompt us to engage lovingly and humbly with the experience of those who profess Jesus but have often felt excluded from the church.’
Alongside Ian, Colin and Christine were a small handful of Salvationists in attendance, as well as some ex-Salvationists. Delegates were pleased and excited to see The Salvation Army represented and actively engaging in the conference content, especially given our history. Many will know that The Salvation Army issued an official apology in 2006 regarding our opposition of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986 and that we also supported the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill in 2021. These actions signal positive steps towards inclusion and equality for all within the movement. The Salvation Army does not discriminate based on the gender or sexuality of our employees or the services we provide, and there are corps and centre increasingly determined to be safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people.
‘I see God at work in such a range of diverse people—God’s Spirit is at work and not waiting for systems to catch up,’ says Colin. I’m grateful that Salvation Army leadership enabled us to have Ian Gainsford on the panel of church leaders. But the key message for The Salvation Army is that the movement needs to be part of the ongoing conversation….’
