Salvation Army

[GinisLife]

I'm not religious (though was brought up CofE). My Dad really didn't like the church in general - thought they were all hypocrites - but he always had time for the SA and would donate. I've just seen an advert for them for homeless etc. What's people's thoughts on them before I donate in my Dads memory please.

I think they are very good . They help a lot in my area

I think they are amazing, the bands playing at Christmas always make me cry

I hate a lot about them. No different than other churches for covering up abuse.. Personal experience.

As an institution they have lots of faults. On the other hand they do a lot of good for homeless and many individual membership are great. I grew up as a member...

Members not membership..

They are the only religious group I have time for.

Yes, they have their faults, but their work with the homeless/helpless/etc and the practical support they provide for emergency workers when there are major incidents (they bring food & drink trucks to keep everyone working fed & watered) is priceless

They do great work

I think the gods army thing is wonderfully kind but I think it is quite rigid with its members as a pp said a friends family wete in it and I can remember her not being allowed to do things with us as teenagers.

They do a lot of good work but are homophobic and as such I can’t support them as a charity.

I worked in a deprived area of our town and the S A were right in the heart of the community they had meals and clothes banks debt advisors all free and with no judgement.

I love the work they do but hate them as an organization (it's a lot more cult like than traditional churches and have at least just as much abuse etc. issues as them), so I would never donate to them. The same as I would donate to a cause, no matter how good, if it was run by the church of Scientology.

• wouldn't

They have rules for their members (like most churches!) and obviously members make their own choice whether to sign up to these rules or not. (Things like abstaining from alcohol) and unfortunately they are behind the times with including LGBT members of the community as full church members, though this is start to change and is moving in the right direction.

But just to put some of the usual accusations straight, when it comes to helping vulnerable people they absolutely do not discriminate in any way and will help anyone in need regardless of faith or sexuality or anything. They do not try to convert people before helping, and members and ministers give an awful lot of time and energy with very little reward. They do not waste their money and are very good at making sure almost all donations go directly to the vulnerable rather than getting swallowed up in admin fees.

I only have experience of knowing one Salvation Army member. He gave up a good deal of time at soup kitchens but was the most judgemental, homophobic, sexist bigot I have ever encountered.
May be just him though.
His wife and children were not allowed an opinion.

Paul Ogrady did a 3 part programme about them he was always fascinated by them and in the final programme he addressed their stance on homosexuality if anybody is interested it will be on iplayer.

Oh it is off iplayer

They do a lot of good in the community for sure. However I strongly disagree with their habit of collecting money in pubs.

I donate to them at Christmas in memory of my Nan who was religious and grew up in the Salvation Army. She was a baptist in later life- but I like the Salvation Army ethos of helping people in crisis. They have their major flaws like all the other organised religions...but nan always loved the bands.

The UK lot? Not the worst charity to support. Their US lot though? Nasty judgemental POS. My friend wrote a FB status about a local family to her that had lost everything in a fire. The SA had organised a huge donation drive of good to replace everything they had lost. Until they discovered it was a dad, three children and another dad. They pulled all the support and retained everything donated for that family because they were gay dads.

I don't give them money because they're homophobic but they run a winter shelter here so I donate things (food, hats, warm socks etc) to that. I don't talk to them - just drop the stuff off, say merry Christmas and leave.

It's the only organisation I donate to - 200.00 each christmas(assuming I'm flush that year)
I've personal knowledge of how they traced a missing person to another country and contacted them to relay a message.No further involvement from them,certainly no pressure for the person to act on the message.
Otherwise I always put something in their bucket when they're playing their oomp-a music in the city centre. How can I refuse?

I know a woman who was in care from age six. She had a terrible time in homes until she was placed in a SA home, this is years ago so no idea if they still run children’s homes. They treated her with humanity and love, she is an atheist to this day but adores them. Her stories really touched me.