DC Installs Majors Stuart and Gillian Dicker as COs

10 August 2008

Divisional Commander Major Mike Highton made a welcome return to Hadleigh Temple to install Majors Stuart and Gillian Dicker as the Commanding Officers. He said how good it was be at Hadleigh Temple, among a group of people feeling God's hand leading them.

Referring to appropriate scripture each time, Major Highton charged the new COs on various counts to which they responded with a promise:

• To be true to the doctrines of The Salvation Army
• To be shepherds of those inside and outside of the fellowship at Hadleigh
• To direct their efforts to saving of souls
• To preach and teach the Word of God

The DC then charged everyone present to be faithful, to be loyal to God and the new COs.

As the DC re-took his seat, Major Gillian stepped forward to prolonged warm applause indicating the strength of love and welcome in the hearts of the Hadleigh Temple fellowship. in acknowledging the applause, Major Gillian said she already felt very much at home in Hadleigh and shared the hope that it be God's will for them to remain many years. Confessing human weaknesses, but promising to work hard she said, "We have no magic wand, but we will do our best and leave the rest to God."

Swapping an Irish accent for a Dorset one

Major Stuart reiterated his wife's thanks for the warm welcome confirming that they do not feel like strangers at all. He says, "It's wonderful to know how God us brought us together." Confessing that at first he felt dumbstruck to be appointed to Hadleigh Temple, he was very pleased to be here, and had been looking forward greatly to coming as it was to a division he had previously been appointed to and an area he knows.. Officially being known as "corps leaders" doesn't sit too comfortably with Major Stuart. He says "We are fellow workers and part of the family of fellowship. He continued to say the Lord has blessed their service over the last 5 years, before turning his focus to the feelings of the Hadleigh Temple fellowship, commenting "You are swapping an Irish accent for a Dorset one. We may be different, but we serve the same God." His hopes for the future were threefold: to work together, grow God's Kingdom and glorify God. In terms how they should be addressed, he said they would respond to anything but suggested that "Major Stuart" and "Major Gillian" might be appropriate as it includes the rank but is not too formal.

The chosen scripture portion was Joshua chapter 1 where there is a change of leadership for the Israelites as Joshua succeeds Moses. Drawing parallels between Bible account and the current experience at Hadleigh, Major Stuart referred to us all being on a journey. Pointing out that Moses' plans had not been discarded as they were God's plans, he reminded the congregation that although there has been a change of leader, God was still with them. In the words of Joshua, he charged the fellowship to be strong and courageous, emphasising that obedience to the Word of God is important to all of us.

Paying tribute to the fine Bible teaching of his predecessor, Major Stuart commented that the foundation for moving forward had been laid and urged the corps members to "get stuck in and move on", acknowledging that there may arise difficulties, but they can be overcome.