The current leadership of the Norwegian section of the inernational faith-based humanitarian organisation the Salvation Army believes homosexuality contradicts the word of God. This is why, according to themselves, they have removed a gay officer from his original functions within the organisation and given him other, less public relations-oriented tasks to deal with. (23-NOV-05)

This article is based on the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen?s coverage of the Salvation Army?s discriminatory attitude towards homosexuals.

For years, the Norwegian section of the Salvation Army has allowed gays to serve in their ranks, fully aware of their own potentially controversial stance on this issue. Now, with the removal of a 43 year old officer, the organisation?s new leadership clearly wants to change this practice.

-Change your mind, or you?re finished
-You?re finished, says communication adviser Elizabeth Hartmann, to the very same leadership. If at all you want to keep your high moral standing and remain one of the country?s most popular and very few real mass support organisations, you must make a 180 degrees turn on this issue. -This case has very clearly harmed the Salvation Army, supports Jan Størksen, who, until a year and a half ago worked as the Salvation Army?s market and communications manager.

-Our attitude will not change overnight
-In the short term, I fear that the outing of the Salvation Army?s position against gay co-habiting and also the removal of the gay officer from public tasks, that would have required of him to wear our uniform, has damaged the trust and general image the general public has of us. In the longer term, however, I hope that whatever damage has been done can be amended. What is clear, is that the Salvation Army?s negative opinion of gay cohabitation cannot be changed overnight. Hence, we cannot let gay employees serve in our uniform and thus publicly represent our organisation. We wish to communicate to the public that we are an open, tolerant organisation. We have many gay employees, but none, once agin, serving publicly for us.