I’ve read a number of news stories, blogs and opinion pieces on General Bond and her subsequent retirement. I’ve re-posted some here on my blog as well as commented on others. I’ve even discussed this topic with other Officers ‘out there’…it’s fodder, news and it all effects us in some small way.
It’s common to speculate on the sudden departure of General Bond. It was certainly not something anyone would have anticipated until next year at her ‘scheduled’ retirement date. However, that being said I do think that simply stating ‘personal reasons’ should be respected. We may wish to know more. We may yearn to understand why our primary leader within The Salvation Army suddenly retired, but I seriously doubt that our queries and questions with get answered. Do I wish there had been more information released from IHQ or from General Bond herself? Of course I do. But I also feel that if someone wishes to keep private matters private then we ought to respect those wishes.
Obviously one who is in Authority, as General Bond was, could have helped the Army world understand and even accept her sudden departure had more information been included instead the seemingly cryptic notice. I believe this would have staved off all of this idle speculation. But what’s done is done. We as an Army march on! We still have a war to engage and so engage we will!
Secondly, I do not think it wrong to question our authority from time to time. Even authority within our Army needs sharpening. But we should also temper our questioning with wisdom, prayer and godly prudence. After all, every authority regardless if it is the General, Commissioner, Colonel, Major, Captain or Lieutenant are all people fallible and imperfect. But as I say this I also interject that if we are a holiness movement our actions, respect and love ought to permeate even these dialogues and ponderings.
That being said, I pray for the upcoming proceedings as Commissioners from around the world gather at the High Council in July.
Month Long Prayer Intiative:
I also petition that until then (June 21st – July 29th just over a month) that we as an Army enter a season of prayer. As we pray; lift up our leaders and Retired General Linda Bond, pray for fellow Officers on the field, pray for the Soldiers around the world, this Mission God has placed us in.
We march on as One Army, but first let’s gather on our knees in prayer!
Sincerely,
Scott Strissel, Captain.
Pastor's Ponderings 
Regardless of whether or not we know the reasons behind Gen. Bond’s retirement, we have to trust that God was in both her decision to retire early, and in IHQ not giving full disclosure of the details behind her decision. That said, I wholeheartedly agree with your call to prayer. When the High Council meets to elect the next General, they will also be [in a way] setting the course for the Army over the next 3 to 5 years.
You have put into words many of my thoughts from the past week. I feel it important that we include in our prayers Chief of Staff Andre Cox.
God moves in mysterious ways and we should understand that time will reveal all things. Let’s trust God.