In this particular case, I say it’s a religious decision and none of my business.

People who assert that the Salvation Army is a poorly run charity — or who naively think that they raise all of their funds through the red kettle drive — have not done their homework (and know very little about non-profit fundraising).

The Salvation Army is considered to be a very well-run charity… and has been for some time. The kettle drive is probably the most visible face of the Salvation Army’s fundraising, but they raise money from corporate donations and major gifts from individuals as well. The purpose of the kettle drive is marketing as much as anything.

Although Charity Navigator does not rate the Salvation Army (as a religious group, the SA is not required to file 990s from which Charity Navigator estimates costs to raise a dollar, etc), the Better Business Bureau found that the Salvation Army meets all 20 standards for accountability that it uses to evaluate charities. According to the most recent Annual Report that includes combined financial information for the Territorial Headquarters in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions.

And, back in ’87 when Paul Newman was evaluating charities worthy of his support, the Salvation Army was one of only a handful of social service organizations whose cost to raise a dollar performed better than Newman’s stringent standard of $0.15 (it was $0.14):

I don’t work for the Salvation Army, but I have worked in non-profit fundraising for several years. From what I could glean, based on a very quick internet search (conducted with an open mind), the Salvation Army is a well-run charity. I wonder if the folks on this thread who were so quick to criticize the Salvation Army are motivated by something other than the group’s quality as a charitable organization, or perhaps they are just too lazy to do some research before accusing this excellent group of being a shoddy organization.

Goddammit. GodDAMMIT. One of the last good charities.

MadisonConservative on December 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM

And they are still one of the last good charities.

Frankly, I’ve been saddened at the challenges the Salvation Army has faced in recent years at Christmastime. I love the bell ringers and was sad when Target Stores banned them. Let’s leave this group alone.

Y-not on December 6, 2008 at 11:34 PM

I agree completely.

Weird. I had no idea the “salvation army” was so formal. I always took the title loosely but apparently they’re a much more ridged organization that I would have ever dreamed.

Frankly, this turns me off on a lot of levels. One, I don’t know who they are obviously. Two, rules about who you can and can’t marry as it regards service is an infringement that I can’t support.

To me these were always just the guys ringing bells in front of malls and other stores.

Sigh… I just don’t see myself putting any more money in that bucket.

Karmashock on December 7, 2008 at 8:35 AM

First of all, most of the “guys” ringing those bells are not members of the Salvation Army. I have rang those bells. So have all my family. My granddaughter, who is in ROTC, and her entire squad, rang those bells. First you say you don’t know who they are and then that this perceived “infringement” is something you can’t support. Did you read this thread at all. Good grief. Allah, I am really disappointed in your attitude about the Salvation Army. You are way off base with this one.

I’m not a member of their “church” — I’m a Catholic. My priests (at least in the Latin rite) don’t marry, but, if they did, I would expect that they should be free to marry people who are not Catholics, as I was free to do (and did).

unclesmrgol on December 6, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Well, duh. A member of the SA is free to marry anyone who they want. However, they are not free to continue to serve as a minister. Just like in the Catholic church a priest can marry who they want but can not continue to be a priest.

So, yeah, you are a hypocrite.

Frankly, this turns me off on a lot of levels. One, I don’t know who they are obviously. Two, rules about who you can and can’t marry as it regards service is an infringement that I can’t support.

To me these were always just the guys ringing bells in front of malls and other stores.

Sigh… I just don’t see myself putting any more money in that bucket.

The logic of religious celibacy is that it frees the mind from earthly temptations the better to focus on God (theoretically), but what’s the logic of this? It smacks of keeping the bloodlines pure.

Allah,

This is none of our business. I wouldn’t dream of writing to the leaders of a church in order to comment on how they run their organization.

Membership in this organization is voluntary. Salvation Army officers are leaders in the organization who are ministers. It’s perfectly appropriate for the SA to establish codes of conduct for their leaders. The fellow in question knew the rules and the consequences. He made his choice.

Frankly, I’ve been saddened at the challenges the Salvation Army has faced in recent years at Christmastime. I love the bell ringers and was sad when Target Stores banned them. Let’s leave this group alone.

Joan of Argghh on December 6, 2008 at 7:08 AM

Your comments were very helpful. Thank you!

Pelayo on December 6, 2008 at 11:48 AM

Is your religion atheism or agnosticism?

The Holiness Movement led to the formation of several Christian groups, including:

* Free Holiness Church
* Wesleyan Church
* Free Methodist Church
* Church of the Nazarene
* Salvation Army
* Christian and Missionary Alliance
* Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
* Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
* Church of God (Holiness)
* Evangelical Methodist Church
* Conservative Holiness Movement
* World Gospel Mission
* Brunstad Christian Church, also known by some as “Smith’s Friends”
* Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
* The Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee)
* The Fellowship (Australia)
* Church of Daniel’s Band

They have Methodist roots.

And, unlike the Red Cross, you know exactly where your money goes, should you donate for a specific natural disaster.

And if dems da rules, DEMS da RULES. A lance corporal can’t marry a major in the Marine Corps, right? A Catholic priest can’t be married…unless he was previously an Episcopal priest, which is PATENTLY unfair to the single guys. But, dems da “rules”. And beating up on a fantastic group of selfless folks busting their asses EVERY single day in this country for a “rule”?

Please.

The Salvation Army has every right to set the standards for its ministers, and I have every right to not support those standards with my contributions, and there is not an ounce of hypocrisy in the mix.

You are, of course, free to contribute, and I’ll understand that too — after all, we do live in America.

unclesmrgol on December 6, 2008 at 11:22 AM

I absolutely agree with you. If one were to take the time and really look at the work this fine organization does, some here might be ashamed of some of things that are being said.

A religion is a large, well known cult.

The Salvation Army is a church. “Officers” are the ministers in the denomination. Other denominations set standards for their ministers, why won’t you let the Army set their standards?

What a pack of flaming hypocrites!!

pelajus on December 6, 2008 at 7:18 AM

No, not hypocrites. The SA asks us for donations every Christmas — I see the bell ringers everywhere I go, and, up to now, have donated a dollar or three every time I see one.

I’m not a member of their “church” — I’m a Catholic. My priests (at least in the Latin rite) don’t marry, but, if they did, I would expect that they should be free to marry people who are not Catholics, as I was free to do (and did).

Call it projection or whatever, but I can’t in good conscience put any further dollars in the kettle while Captain Johnny Harsh is drummed out. It’s like those Catholics who decided to leave the faith over pedophile priests — I can honestly understand their feelings, even as their departure hurts. But I’m far more forgiving to the transgressions of my Church than I am of another with which I have only a small emotional or faith connection.

The Salvation Army has every right to set the standards for its ministers, and I have every right to not support those standards with my contributions, and there is not an ounce of hypocrisy in the mix.

You are, of course, free to contribute, and I’ll understand that too — after all, we do live in America.

How dare the RC Church require priests to be unmarried? How dare Orthodox Jews not allow members to eat pork chops?