Generals of The Salvation Army
Encyclopedia
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
with extensive charitable
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
social services
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
that gives quasi-military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
to its ministers (who are therefore known as officers).
Usage of the term General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
began with the Founder
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
. His wife, Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth was the wife of the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth. Because of her influence in the formation of The Salvation Army she was known as the 'Army Mother'....
, became known as the "Mother" of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. General Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
passed on the command to his eldest son, Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
, but all Generals after Bramwell Booth have been elected.
The office of General is not restricted by gender. Evangeline Booth
Evangeline Booth
General Evangeline Cory Booth was the 4th General of the Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was its first female General.-Early life:...
, William's daughter, was elected fourth General of the Army, and Eva Burrows was elected the thirteenth General. On January 31, 2011 Commissioner Linda Bond
Linda Bond
Linda Bond is a Canadian national born in Glace Bay Nova Scotia, and the current General of the Salvation Army. Since being commissioned on 21 June 1969 in Canada, she has served throughout the world, and since 2008 held the post of Territorial Commander of the Australian Eastern Territory...
, a Canadian national, was named General-Elect of The Salvation Army and assumed office on April 2, 2011 following the retirement of General Shaw Clifton
Shaw Clifton
Shaw Clifton is a former General of The Salvation Army. He succeeded John Larsson as the 18th General on 2 April 2006.-Career:Shaw Clifton was born on 21 September 1945 in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
.
The Officer of The Salvation Army who is elected General is the worldwide spiritual leader of The Salvation Army. Since The Salvation Army maintains a quasi-military structure, all appointments are made, and all regulations issued, under the General's authority. Since the results of the 1929 High Council, and with the passage of The Salvation Army Act in the British Parliament in 1931, a General must "retire
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
" at age 70. It has become common practice in recent years for a General to serve five years and step down, although they are not required to, and can serve more than five years if they have not reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The General is elected by the High Council
High Council of The Salvation Army
The High Council of The Salvation Army elects a new General in the event of a vacancy or prior to the retirement of the existing office holder. It can also remove a General who can no longer fulfil their duties. It is made up of the Chief of the Staff, all active Commissioners except the spouse of...
when his or her predecessor is removed by the High Council, retires or dies (known within the Salvation Army as being promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory
Promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist.Earliest printed usage of the term seems to be in late 1882 in The War Cry, which included death announcements in the December 14 issue, with headlines such as 'Promotion of Sister Muxlow from Earth to...
) while still in office. The High Council is made up of the Chief of the Staff
Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army
The Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army is the officer who is second in command of the Army internationally, only behind the General, and is stationed at International Headquarters in London....
, all active commissioners, except the spouse of the General, and all territorial commanders.
The 2006 High Council was held in Sunbury near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, from January 20 to January 28, 2006. The High Council elected Shaw Clifton
Shaw Clifton
Shaw Clifton is a former General of The Salvation Army. He succeeded John Larsson as the 18th General on 2 April 2006.-Career:Shaw Clifton was born on 21 September 1945 in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
who took office of the General after General Larsson retired on April 2, 2006.
List of Generals of The Salvation Army
- (1878–1912) William BoothWilliam BoothWilliam Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
- (1912–1929) Bramwell BoothBramwell BoothBramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
- (1929–1934) Edward HigginsEdward HigginsEdward John Higgins was the third General of The Salvation Army .He was born in Highbridge, Somerset, England. His father became a much revered Commissioner in the Army's ranks, and travelled extensively in the interests of the organisation. His mother died when he was 8 years of age.He became an...
- (1934–1939) Evangeline BoothEvangeline BoothGeneral Evangeline Cory Booth was the 4th General of the Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was its first female General.-Early life:...
- (1939–1946) George Carpenter
- (1946–1954) Albert OrsbornAlbert OrsbornAlbert Orsborn was the 6th General of The Salvation Army .Born Albert William Thomas Orsborn, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army in 1905. Albert served as a Corps Officer and in divisional work in the British Territory of the Army...
- (1954–1963) Wilfred KitchingWilfred KitchingWilfred Kitching, CBE was the 7th General of The Salvation Army .Born in Wood Green, London, United Kingdom to Theodore and Jane Kitching , and educated at the Friern Barnet Grammar School, he became a Salvation Army Officer at age 20 in 1914...
- (1963–1969) Frederick CouttsFrederick CouttsFrederick Coutts, CBE was the 8th General of The Salvation Army .The son of corps officers, he was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. In 1920, he became an Officer of The Salvation Army from the corps in Batley, England...
- (1969–1974) Erik WickbergErik WickbergErik Wickberg was the 9th General of The Salvation Army .Born in Stockholm to Officers David and Betty Wickberg, he was constantly moving around the world to follow his parents' appointments. As a teenager, he once beat the national Swiss chess champion...
- (1974–1977) Clarence WisemanClarence WisemanClarence Dexter Wiseman, was the tenth General of The Salvation Army from 1974 to 1977.Clarence Dexter Wiseman was born at Moretons Harbour, Colony of Newfoundland on June 19, 1907...
- (1977–1981) Arnold BrownArnold Brown (General of The Salvation Army)Arnold Brown, OC was the 11th General of The Salvation Army .He was born in London, England, the son of officers of the Army. While he was still a young boy, his family immigrated to Canada, and it was from the corps in Belleville that he entered training, becoming an officer in 1935...
- (1981–1986) Jarl WahlströmJarl WahlströmJarl Holger Wahlström was the 12th General of The Salvation Army .Born to Colonel and Mrs. Rafael Wahlström, he was the youngest of five children. He grew up at the training college in Finland, as his father was the training principal. He became a Christian when he was seven years old...
- (1986–1993) Eva Burrows
- (1993–1994) Bramwell TillsleyBramwell TillsleyBramwell Harold Tillsley was the 14th General of The Salvation Army .The son of Salvationists, he was born in Kitchener, Ontario. His parents had emigrated in 1928 from the United Kingdom. As he grew up, he became a Junior Soldier and a Corps Cadet. He joined a Young People's Band and then a...
- (1994–1999) Paul Rader
- (1999–2002) John GowansJohn GowansJohn Gowans was the sixteenth General of the Salvation Army from 1999–2002, succeeding General Paul Rader. He is also notable for pairing with General John Larsson in the composition of many songs and musicals....
- (2002–2006) John LarssonJohn LarssonJohn Larsson is the Swedish-born 17th General of The Salvation Army .The son of officer parents, he spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile and Argentina...
- (2006 – 2011) Shaw CliftonShaw CliftonShaw Clifton is a former General of The Salvation Army. He succeeded John Larsson as the 18th General on 2 April 2006.-Career:Shaw Clifton was born on 21 September 1945 in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
- (2011 – present ) Linda BondLinda BondLinda Bond is a Canadian national born in Glace Bay Nova Scotia, and the current General of the Salvation Army. Since being commissioned on 21 June 1969 in Canada, she has served throughout the world, and since 2008 held the post of Territorial Commander of the Australian Eastern Territory...