Category: News and Views
www. wausaudailyherald. com/article/20081204/WDH0101/312040042/1981
Engagement to woman not affiliated with organization violated rules
By Doug Zellmer • of the Northwestern • December 4, 2008
Capt. Johnny Harsh, who has led the Oshkosh Salvation Army for more than three years, has been suspended for disobeying orders and could soon be terminated from the agency.
Harsh, whose wife, Capt. Yalanda "Yoley" Harsh, died unexpectedly in June, said he violated a Salvation Army rule that an officer in the agency may only marry another officer of the organization. Harsh is engaged to a woman who is not affiliated with the Salvation Army. He said they plan to marry in June.
The suspension and likely termination did not come as a surprise to Harsh, who along with his wife, came to Oshkosh in June of 2005 to take over the reigns of the local Salvation Army.
"I knew the rule and that this was coming and that I would be let go," he said Wednesday. "But for the Salvation Army to let me go because I will marry outside of the (Salvation) Army, I think is wrong. I pray that people will write letters and call the Salvation Army to change this ruling. It wouldn't be for my benefit, but for future officers.
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Harsh, a spiritual leader for the Oshkosh Salvation Army located on Algoma Boulevard, said another factor that could hasten his dismissal from the agency is warning letters he received from agency officials informing him that his fiancée could not stay at his residence. Harsh said the Salvation Army provides some of his housing expenses.
"I was told she was to stay in a hotel, but she stayed in the guest room in the house. I told them (Salvation Army officials) as long as I live in that house I can have anyone there that I want. In my 14 years with the Salvation Army my wife, Yoley, and I had prostitutes, drug users, homeless people and abused women and their children stay at our house," he said. "However, I signed a covenant to obey my Salvation Army leaders and I have failed to obey my leaders.
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Harsh said his fiancée has filled a void not only for himself, but also for his daughters following the death of his wife, who died June 28 at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee due to complications associated with a heart attack.
"My fiancée saved my life," Harsh said. "She has just made a big difference in my life and the life of my daughters.
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Helen Lord Burr, a member of the Oshkosh Salvation Army Advisory Board, said the Salvation Army has specific rules and they're the same all over the world.
"Unfortunately, Johnny lost his life partner, his wife, Yoley, and his life changed at that time," she. "We will miss him.
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Major Robert Thomson, Salvation Army Divisional Commander for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, said it's a personnel matter and "highly confidential" concerning Johnny Harsh.
"I cannot comment on any of that at this time," said Thomson, whose office is in Wauwatosa.
Harsh said he met Tuesday with his divisional commander and secretary of personnel. He said they informed him after an hour-long meeting that he was suspended from his duties.
He said a Salvation Army Territorial Officers Board meeting sometime next week in Chicago could seal his fate with the agency.
"I would be very, very surprised if they changed their minds," Harsh said.
Harsh expected to conclude his work Wednesday with the red kettle bell ringing campaign, conduct a scheduled prayer meeting and Bible study and then relinquish his duties.
Although joyous that he helped build the Salvation Army in Oshkosh, including bringing back Sunday worship services, Harsh said there were challenging times. In addition to losing his wife, Harsh had brain surgery three times while in Oshkosh.
"Yoley's death was completely unforeseen," he said. "It's been hard on my daughters, myself and our Salvation Army family.
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Harsh said he'll move to Waukesha and start a non-denominational church if he is dismissed from the Salvation Army.
I first heard about this injustice on Inside Edition and immediately thought of doing something to help. I encourage everyone to send an e-mail to the Salvation Army in protest, and I ask that you pass this on.
This is an excellent example of a conflicting belief of mine. I believe, to an extent, in freedom of religion, but when the oppressive rules of a religion result in things like this, I take offense. I am floored and disgusted by the knowledge that the Salvation Army, which supposedly helps people, would see one of its own out on the street (along with his teenage daughters), in the bitter cold, in these troubled times, not knowing from where their next meal will come--simply because he is engaged to someone he loves.
And these are the people who believe in showing love to all their creator's people? Seems a bit hypocritical, eh?
Besides spreading the word and e-mailing the Salvation army, I think a boycott of the Salvation Army is in order. I also think it would be a great idea to start a fund for Captain Harsh and his family, since his SA "family" has turned their back on him. If anyone would like or knows someone who would like to get involved, please get in touch.
Namaste,
Becky
That is really sad Becky. And its so true, really hippocritical, lol
boycotting the salvation army, isn't going to help him, it's gong to hurt the people that really need the help. I don't agree with any of this, but i don't think trying to get people to boycott the salvation army is very cool either.
Shea, I see what you're trying to say, but I can't, in good conscience, give any support to an organization that would do this to one of its own. If the Salvation Army would throw one of its supposed family onto the street for this, what's to stop them from refusing services to people who really need help but do not follow their beliefs, such as a gay couple, a Muslim, etc.? Disadvantaged people would do better to seek help somewhere else.
Namaste,
Becky
He clearly stated he knew what was going to happen to him. So in a sence he threw himself out on the street. Directors of those centers make pretty good money and I am sure he will find something else to do! I go to a salvation army to help with a alcohol support group every Wed. That place does some good work and they are strict! You have to be when you got a room full of guys from jail and the street. If someone makes a choice not to go there, fine but it's getting offly cold out side!
There are so many things going on these days, both at home and abroad. That poor gentleman who only wants to marry outside of his religion to a girl who clearly makes him and his family happy; The opression of various races by other races for political or religious reasons; cruelty to animals and children on an almost worldwide scale; it's almost impossible to know where to start.
It almost seems to me to be like sheltering under a plastic grocery bag in a hurracaine. While the plastic bag may keep the rain off for a little while, it's only a matter of time before more rain and wind comes to blow the bag away until you're left with nothing and are left to battle the elements with nothing to battle them with.
So, while I agree, what is happening to that gentleman is a violation of his rights as a human being, those of us who would want to do something to help are fighting against a very big organization. They don't call themselves an army for nothing.
Reform of course, does happen. the end of apartheid in South Africa, black civil rights in America, and so on, and so on. The question is how does reform happen. I so wish I had the answer to that question.
I used to think that the answer lay in getting the troops together, telling people about it, the more who knew, the more who would be on the side of the oppressed and fighting for them. This, as far as my experience goes, isn't the case unfortunately. What I am seeing is quite the opposite to that, a general sense of apathy about the whole thing. It seems to me the more people see of such things, the more they turn their backs on them. Sure, you may get one or two who will say a few words of disgust, but the majority will just turn and walk away, getting on with their own lives, thanking whatever deity they believe in that it isn't them who are in that situation.
As far as what to do to either combat that or find another way to change things, I only wish I knew, I really do. Believe me, the minute I know the answer, I'll be in their fighting. Whichever way you look at it though it's a long, hard fight, all the way. While it may not be completely accurate to say "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", that old dog has got to be made to listen first before he'll be tought and it's that, that is the hard part.
Simon, I must disagree with you there. Reform is likely one of the most difficult processes in existance, but it *can* be achieved. It just takes a lot of passion and tenacity. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's worth it when it does happen.
As for Captain Harsh knowing what he was getting into, that's not the point. If the Salvation Army were a fair organization, he wouldn't be in this situation at all.
Namaste,
Becky
That has to be the dumbest rule I've ever heard of. I don't know where the Salvation Army originated (wich may be a stupid thing to say), but if it's in America, I'll just see it as another sign of the nation's decay. Can't marry outside the salvation army? That's just stupid.
Oh indeed Becky, I'm certainly not saying that reform cannot happen, just as you yourself said it's not something that happens over night and it takes something really big to change things. What I'm also saying is that in this, and many other cases, I'm not sure what it'll take to bring about such changes.
Iyana, I'm not sure it has anything to do with a nation. This is a set of religious ideals irrespective of what country it is in. Someone has an idea, gets a following, that following grows and before you know it you have formed another denomination. It seems to be that way with many if not all revealed religions. So in this case, as Becky has said, it's more pertinant to be apalled at the religious group who hold these values and not the nation within which it originated or operates.
I agree with Inu-Princess2006. I won't support an organisation that turns out it's own just because he married outside of it. I could understand if he'd committed a serious crime or something but how can a group that's supposed to believe in love and giving turn on someone who obviously found someone to satisfy him, especially when he had three brain surgeries and children?
The Salvation Army is there to help people, and by boycotting it, we're basically dismissing the help this country so desperately needs; particularly concerning those who have been devastated by the economic decline. It's a very stupid rule, I know, but there could be something more proactive and less volatile that could be done to fix the situation. It could just be that this man and his future wife will have to find some other means of employment until everything can be figured out. Who knows.
Boycotting the Salvation Army wouldn't be such an intelligent idea, as has been said. But it is highly hipocritical for an organization that supports giving and helping the needy to cast out one of their own on to the street. Those are some strict rules, but the guy knew he had it coming.
And it has nothing to do with the decay of any nation. Many people in general are controlling and hipocritical for the most part. They try so desperately to create as many rules and restrictions as possible because they fear what they can't control and must have everything go their way to ensure order.