Holiness teaching at the core of revived Brengle Institute

Major Emma Moore presents her session on the topic of ‘Holiness and Love’ at Brengle Institute.

BY MAJOR SANDY MACDONALD

Twenty delegates from all Salvation Army divisions in Australia, plus two delegates from New Zealand, gathered at Eva Burrows College in Ringwood, Melbourne, in August for the 71st Australian Brengle Institute.

Brengle Institutes are a time focused on holiness teaching. Invited delegates are renewed in their faith, refreshed in their dedication and have their passion reignited by the Holy Spirit so that they can embrace holiness as the foundation of their relationship with God and live it out. The teaching is distinctly Wesleyan and grounded in Scripture, as lived out through The Salvation Army.

This was the first Brengle Institute held in Australia since 2018, as the 2020 event could not go ahead due to COVID-19. Before coming together as the Australia Territory, the former Eastern and Southern territories would alternate hosting this national biennial event. This year was the first time auxiliary lieutenants were invited to this space alongside commissioned officers.

The teaching faculty was drawn from Eva Burrows College’s Higher Education and Officer Formation Streams. Reverend Dr. Arseny Ermakov’s daily biblical teaching was a highlight for many delegates. Major Heather Jenkins, Major Sandy MacDonald, Major Emma Moore and well-seasoned holiness teacher Major Dr Grant Sandercock‑Brown also provided various teaching content. 

Eva Burrows College staff, presenters and delegates to the Brengle Institute in August.

Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett was the guest speaker on the opening night and Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas also made time to connect with delegates despite a busy travel schedule. Captain Kylie Herring guided our corporate times of worship, praise and prayer, while Major Christine Wright oversaw the entire event. Melbourne even turned on beautiful, sunny winter weather for the week!

Another memorable and meaningful element of Brengle was the opportunity for delegates to testify to the grace of God in their lives: “I loved the moments of grace, the opportunity to share our story and have others listen and affirm things in us (knowing that this group understands the pressures and ups and downs of ministry life).”

While not all delegates currently minister as corps officers, this sentiment from one of the delegates summed up the week well: “Brengle has given a beautiful, God-given time away from the busyness and complexity of corps life, and allow me to stop, reflect, pray, think, etc. It’s recharged the soul.” Another delegate said they left with “a greater depth of understanding of what it means to live a holy life” and that the time was “a rich experience of worship, networking, and fellowship.”

While a shorter format was adopted this year compared to past Brengle Institutes, many delegates left wanting more and wishing they had longer to dwell on the teaching and fellowship of the week.