Dr. Glen Smith, executive director of Christian Direction in Montreal and professor of urban theology and missiology; and Major Floyd Tidd, secretary for corps ministries, territorial headquarters, are the co-chairs of a task force in Montreal mandated by the territory and supported by the division to develop a vision for the future mission of The Salvation Army in Montreal. Task force members will look at corps and family service work, neighbourhood and community services and social service institutions to interact and support these ministries.On Monday, October 23, Dr. Smith presented the co-chair’s report to nearly fifty persons, including ministry leaders in Montreal, divisional staff and territorial cabinet members. The report applied to Greater Montreal, however, some of the findings will be helpful insights in many other communities in the territory.

The task force worked at answering what the mission of God looks like in Montreal. The church exists because of mission. What should the Army look like in the future of Montreal? It is an important question as 3.4 million people live in greater Montreal. That is nearly one half of Quebec’s population and over 75% of its economy.

Six Observations

The co-chairs made six observations that have impacted the six recommendations presented.

1. The culture of Montreal. God, the church and the Bible have been marginalized. Christendom is gone. Its citizens just don’t care about organized religion. It's not that they are atheists or agnostics, it’s that to them, the church is dead.

2. Spiritual and missional renewal is needed in the Montreal Salvation Army community. The structures of Salvation Army ministry don’t make it easy and don’t facilitate the mission in its present form. Too many processes are not transparent. Good efforts and commitment have not produced results, which have lead to discouragement.

3. Given the state of the five corps in Montreal, a fresh approach is necessary. Weak attendance and aging congregations mean declining contributions. Their presence in the city is scattered and insignificant with poor communication and support between them. Officers are forced to spend large amounts of time tending to buildings and structure, without clearly leading the Army’s mission and making disciples.

4. A lack of integration of ministry, leading to silos of operation that is discouraging to the people.

5. Review of the financial statement of the ministry units point to the gravity of the situation. There is a low level of local or corps income, resulting in a very high level of headquarters subsidy. The amount of subsidy is out of proportion to that amount of ministry activity that would be reflected in other parts of the territory.

6. The level of community awareness of the presence and work of The Salvation Army is very low and declining. Throughout Canada there is a 97% awareness of The Salvation Army with 55% of those having great respect for the organization. In Quebec, there is less than 3% recognition of The Salvation Army as a charity.

Six Recommendations

1. A serious “No-hands barred” approach needs to be undertaken on the missional structures that are required to sustain the Montreal ministry of the division. A clear strategic direction with key performance indicators are required to overcome the silos and bring a sense of shared mission. Key leadership is required.

2. That the five corps be completely re-tooled to combine their numerical strength of an average 215 persons per week to a central hub, with identified and intentional spokes of ministry into various and selected communities of ministry. This will require rethinking of property, location, budgeting, leadership deployment and other systems.

3. These proposals should not be viewed as retrenchment, rather openness for the Holy Spirit to renew the Army and to pursue its mission for God in the city. Several low income census tracts were identified in the city. The Army is not present in any of them and at one time the Army was in many. The spokes of ministry need to be intentionally sought out to bring the Army’s particular passion and ministry to those neighbourhoods.

4. Affirm the statement of the Montreal Community and Family Services sub-committee that social services be provided through the Booth Centre and L’Abri d’Espoir. However, better mission alignment so these units are contributing to the ministry vision of Montreal.

5. A Ministry Revitalization and Financial Recovery report was prepared in late 2005. This plan for financial recovery should be fully implemented.

6. That a focus on ministry to youth be emphasized in the hub. That ministry of youth is incorporated in the spoke ministries. The emerging generation’s interest in Incarnational ministry could be utilized. A model of a gap year of mission services by a small team offered in a bilingual context should be given consideration.

For more information of the details please contact the Quebec DHQ. Continue to pray for God’s wisdom and direction for leaders of ministry in Montreal. That the very aggressive discoveries and recommendations of this report will be implemented as God gives direction and opportunity.