Moral & Social Issues Council

Functions of the Moral & Social Issues Council (MASIC):

• Bringing Current Moral & Social Issues to the attention of the Territorial Commander.
• Compiling new Positional Statements for consideration & approval of Cabinet and International Headquarters.
• Reviewing existing Positional Statements & proposing revisions as deemed necessary.
• Conducting (when invited) Territorial Seminars/Lectures dealing with moral & social issues.
• Representing The Salvation Army at other Seminars/Lectures dealing with moral & social issues.
• Networking with other bodies/organizations on moral and social issues.
• Facilitating the internal & external distribution of approved Positional Statements.
• Contributing, where required, to press releases dealing with moral and Social issues through the Public Relations Department, Media & Marketing Committee and Quo Vadis.

Positional Statements

A positional statement describes the official position taken by The Salvation Army regarding a specific issue. It has an official character, and therefore has to be approved by both territorial and international leadership. Whenever an Officer or a Soldier makes an official statement on a certain issue, it needs to be in line with the positional statement on that issue. On the other hand, a positional statement is not as binding as Orders and Regulations. A Salvationist may therefore have a personal opinion that differs from the positional statement.

Positional statements are regularly reviewed and updated, and have to be submitted and approved by Territorial leardership, the International Moral and Social Issues Council, and the General of The Salvation Army.

MASIC: The work in progress

The members of MASIC are all ordinary Salvationists (Officers and Soldiers) who, in addition to their everyday employment and ministry, have been given the task of talking about, and reflecting upon, the social and moral issues of significance to the Southern Africa Territory. In order to achieve this task, they meet together for two days, four times per year. One of these sessions takes the form of an extended three day session, enabling the corresponding members to join into the conversation.

During these sessions, research is presented, speakers are sometimes invited, and much extensive discussion takes place. Members are required to study current issues, gathering as much as possible information on all sides of the debate, maintaining Scripture, the Spirit and the nature of God, at all times as a central point of focus.

Positional Statements for viewing:

• Abortion
• Alcohol in Society
• Caring for the Environment
• Euthanasia
• Gambling
• Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
• Pornography
• Sabbath Observance
• Peacemaking
• Corruption
• Suicide Prevention
• Ancestral Worship
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• International Positional Statement on Racism
• The Salvation Army & the State
• The Use of Power

Click Here to visit The Salvation Army’s International Positional Statements and IMASIC page.

We would welcome your comments and input regarding The Salvation Army Positional Statements. Do you think that The Salvation Army should have a Positional Statement on a matter not yet addressed ? Why do you do believe this to be a moral or social issue that needs to be addressed? Please click here to contact the Moral & Social Issues Council of the Southern Africa Territory: