It’s no secret that I think the Doctrines of The Salvation
Army should be updated. I’ve written on that topic before and I’m definitely
not one who thinks of them as somehow beyond the need of revision. Whilst they
are historically significant, and the “Truth” that they point to is definitely
something (or should I say “someone”) that my faith is built upon, the actual
wording itself is cultural formed and so this in itself demands frequent
updating over time to ensure that they are doing their job in the best way they
can.
Having said that, I also take my Officer’s covenant
seriously and it includes the following line.
“…to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army…”
How do I reconcile a belief that the doctrines will always
require ongoing revisioning with a covenantal promise to “maintain” those very
doctrines?