Denominational Ecumenical Officer (DEO) for the Salvation Army appointed to national role
Major (Dr) Paul Robinson from the Norwich Mile Cross Corps, who currently serves as a voluntary prison chaplain and the DEO for Norfolk and Waveney, has been appointed to the role of National Ecumenical Officer for the Salvation Army.
As a champion of ecumenism Major (Dr) Paul Robinson has been a fantastic servant to the Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney’s (NWCT) DEO committee. At the end of June he is moving from Norwich to take up a new challenge as the National Ecumenical Officer for the Salvation Army. Before he departs from our wonderful county to pastures new, Dr Ian Watson, County Ecumenical Officer for NWCT, asked Paul to reflect on what ecumenism and Church Unity means to him. Ian says:
“Paul has made a marvellous contribution to the work of ecumenism, not only in Norwich while undertaking his pastoral responsibilities as a minister and soldier in the Salvation Army, but as a key member of the DEO committee for Norfolk and Waveney. His love of Jesus and desire to support and work with other church traditions consistently shines through and is an example to us all. It is no surprise that the Salvation Army wish to appoint him to their National Ecumenical Officer role. He will be sadly missed by us all. We thank him for his service and ministry and wish him and his wife Susan (also a Major at Mile Cross in Norwich who will also be relocating and taking up a new role herself) well and every success for the future.”
My reflections on ecumenism by Major (Dr) Paul Robinson
The Lord has a way of encouraging His people to see things His way. Sometimes, we are slow, and other times, we are disobedient, yet His way is always best.
I love the way Jesus tells His stories, how He interacts with individuals, and how He just draws alongside those He needs Him most. However, there are things that still surprise me. Take, for instance, His prayer in John chapter 17: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. [1]
Why does it matter to Jesus that Christians are one, united together in bringing the world to Him? Can't we do our own thing? Yes and no. There are lots of things we can do, but being one means connecting with Him first.
I grew up, first in the Methodist Church and later as a soldier in The Salvation Army. The love and support of fellow Christians have always been important to me.
As a teenager, following a busy day of worship, I would stand with a group of Christians holding an open-air service at the local bus station. It was quite simple: a group of fellow believers taking turns reading God’s Word, proclaiming unity around the Bible.
I remember sharing fellowship with a youth group from the Church of the Nazarene; there was a sense of them and us until they explained their beliefs. We could have recited each other’s easily, as they matched perfectly. It taught me that there is far more that unites Christians than separates us.
During one united service, a Roman Catholic teenager gave her testimony. She was very brave standing up in front of such a crowd, yet she explained that she loved Jesus, she enjoyed being part of the church, and her faith had brought meaning and purpose to her. You could sense the atmosphere in that service, people were drawn to Jesus by a young person who was loved by Jesus and wanted to share that love with others.
When Susan and I were stationed at our first appointment, in a rural Lincolnshire town, the government asked the Army to help distribute the EU’s butter, beef, and cheese mountains to certain people. In our case, we were expected to share this food with at least 8,000 people. Only the food was in a refrigerated warehouse forty miles away.
This was an impossible task; we had no resources to make this happen. However, what we did have was the ministers’ fellowship. Every month, all the town’s ministers would share in a denominational service at 7.00 am. That way, each minister became familiar with the liturgy of other churches. This was followed by breakfast. It was a great way to start the day. But it was a great start to enjoying personal friendships with fellow believers.
Once we had decided we could not be involved with this food distribution, we discussed it at one of the ministers' meetings. Every minister and every church said the same thing, “It would be great if this could be done.” But none of the churches could see it happening.
Then the vicar said a strange thing, “I can’t do anything. But I have a friend who is a lorry driver and has his own refrigerated lorry.” We just looked at him, he can’t do anything, but he could transport food for 8,000 people for free. That was more than we could imagine. Then the Roman Catholic Church and the Methodist Church, announced that they could not do anything, but they had spare rooms where we could store the food. Then other churches said they could not do anything, but we have ladies' groups that would love to help with the admin and distribution. Bit by bit, this food distribution took shape. This was not an organised event; this was a group of Christians who met regularly for worship and fellowship and who cared for each other and for their community. It is a bit like the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus, who went on to share it with 5,000 men. When we place ourselves into the Lord’s hands, anything is possible.
Through the years, I have seen time and again, the beauty of Jesus be seen in the hearts and lives of Christians of all denominations. Yes, there is much that separates, but so much that unites. The message paraphrase reminds us how wonderful it is when brothers and sisters get along! [2]
Some of the struggles faced by one church are faced by all. In one town we served in, Churches Together brought all the churches together and lived in covenant for witness, worship, and unity. No church had sufficient young people or adults to run a youth club, so each church provided youngsters and adults, and we had a great time. No one felt the need to ask which church people attended, the need was to see Jesus in each church and in each person.
It was agreed that when conducting school assemblies, two ministers from different denominations led together, representing all the churches, alternating as appropriate. So, at the end of the school year, when all the clergy gave a book to all school leavers, they understood that the church stood together. And when they went to any of the churches, they already knew at least one person.
I do not know about you, but I think I am a bit nosey. So, when there is something that I do not understand about another church, the way they do things, etc., I ask, I learn, and I enjoy. We do not have to be uniform to be united. At school, I remember, there was one Christian Union to which we all belonged. We all prayed for each other, and with each other, and we all had time for each other.
As a minister, visiting a hospital or care home, you tend not just to visit the person you are visiting, there are brothers and sisters who would value the Word of God being shared, or a blessing being prayed, and I have known it, a song being sung (although my singing may not be such a blessing).
Have you considered why Jesus prayed for us to be one? When He imagines a fellow Christian, He imagines you as their friend, their support, their encourager. The world is full of people doing their own thing, and we see the Lord praying that we would do His thing. It is beautiful, meaningful, and family.
I have learnt much from the church in Norwich; I have received much from fellow chaplains at HMP Norwich, where I volunteer; I am excited when the local Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney work and serve together. We are blessed with a host of cathedrals, churches, chapels, prayer rooms and spaces, yet it is the people who make the difference. I am grateful for the fellowship this role has allowed me to enjoy, and I believe that in our unity, the Kingdom will grow and continue to be a blessing. Not because I hope so, but because our risen Lord has asked our Father to be shown in us.
As I take on a national ecumenical role, it will be very different in terms of personnel and geography, but one I have seen work in this community. Thank you for your inspirational ministry and witness.
God bless you.
[1] John 17:20-21 (NLT)
[2] Psalm 133:1 (MSG)
Paul Robinson
Major (Dr)
Pastor
Denominational Ecumenical Officer for Norfolk and Waveney
Prison Chaplain
The Salvation Army
Norwich Mile Cross Corps
24 Boundary Road
Norwich
NR6 5HT
Photo courtesy of Salvation Army