John Gowans
Encyclopedia
John 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.
John Gowans was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on 13 November 1934, the third of five children. His parents were Salvation Army officers.
At 18, he undertook compulsory military service, with future plans to train for the teaching profession. He eventually decided to join Her Majesty's Army, where John's first choice was the Army Catering Corps. However, the military personnel recommend he join the Royal Army Educational Corps. He then spent his two years of national service in Germany
.
In 1954, John Gowans entered the Salvation Army International Training College (Soulwinners Session). There he met his wife Gisèle Bonhotal who, herself, was a qualified children's nurse. She was French
by birth and her parents, like John's, were both Salvation Army officers. The couple were married in Paris
in 1957 and have two sons John-Marc and Christophe.
Beginning in 1967 Gowans demonstrated his writing capacity when, with John Larsson
, co-authored ten full-length stage musicals. These were Take-Over Bid (1967), Hosea (1969), Jesus Folk (1972), Spirit (1973), Glory (1975), White Rose (1977), The Blood Of The Lamb (1978), Son Of Man (1983), Man Mark II (1985), and The Meeting (1990).
He has also written three books of prayer poems under the title of O Lord! and an autobiography, There's a Boy Here ...
John and Gisèle served in various corps in the British Territory over a period of 16 years. John was then appointed national stewardship secretary, while Gisèle combined her role as organiser of the International Youth Fellowship with work in one of the Army's maternity homes in London
.
After a period as divisional leaders in Manchester
, UK, Lieut-Colonel John Gowans became chief secretary of the France
Territory. He was then appointed to Los Angeles
in the USA Western Territory where he served as Secretary for Programme.
After serving as leaders of the Southern California
Division the couple returned to France in 1986 as territorial leaders. Seven years later they were appointed territorial leaders of the Australia
Eastern and Papua New Guinea
Territory, which included responsibility for the work of the Army in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australia Capital Territory and Papua New Guinea
.
In 1997, Commissioner John Gowans took command of the United Kingdom
Territory with the Republic of Ireland
.
On 15 May 1999, John Gowans was elected the 16th General of The Salvation Army and took office on 23 July 1999, with Commissioner Gisèle Gowans as World President of Women's Organisations.
When Gowans retired in 2002, his earlier musical partner John Larsson
succeeded him as the next international leader of The Salvation Army.http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/36c107e27b0ba7a98025692e0032abaa/5d833670f86cca8480256a68003e49f3!OpenDocument.
Generals of The Salvation Army
thumbnail|left|1st General, William BoothGeneral is the title of the international leader of The Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers .Usage of the term General began with the Founder of The Salvation...
of the Salvation Army
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....
from 1999–2002, succeeding General Paul Rader. He is also notable for pairing with General John Larsson
John Larsson
John 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...
in the composition of many songs and musicals.
John Gowans was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on 13 November 1934, the third of five children. His parents were Salvation Army officers.
At 18, he undertook compulsory military service, with future plans to train for the teaching profession. He eventually decided to join Her Majesty's Army, where John's first choice was the Army Catering Corps. However, the military personnel recommend he join the Royal Army Educational Corps. He then spent his two years of national service in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1954, John Gowans entered the Salvation Army International Training College (Soulwinners Session). There he met his wife Gisèle Bonhotal who, herself, was a qualified children's nurse. She was French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
by birth and her parents, like John's, were both Salvation Army officers. The couple were married in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1957 and have two sons John-Marc and Christophe.
Beginning in 1967 Gowans demonstrated his writing capacity when, with John Larsson
John Larsson
John 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...
, co-authored ten full-length stage musicals. These were Take-Over Bid (1967), Hosea (1969), Jesus Folk (1972), Spirit (1973), Glory (1975), White Rose (1977), The Blood Of The Lamb (1978), Son Of Man (1983), Man Mark II (1985), and The Meeting (1990).
He has also written three books of prayer poems under the title of O Lord! and an autobiography, There's a Boy Here ...
John and Gisèle served in various corps in the British Territory over a period of 16 years. John was then appointed national stewardship secretary, while Gisèle combined her role as organiser of the International Youth Fellowship with work in one of the Army's maternity homes in 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...
.
After a period as divisional leaders in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, UK, Lieut-Colonel John Gowans became chief secretary of the France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Territory. He was then appointed to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the USA Western Territory where he served as Secretary for Programme.
After serving as leaders of the Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Division the couple returned to France in 1986 as territorial leaders. Seven years later they were appointed territorial leaders of the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Eastern and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
Territory, which included responsibility for the work of the Army in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australia Capital Territory and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
In 1997, Commissioner John Gowans took command of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Territory with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
On 15 May 1999, John Gowans was elected the 16th General of The Salvation Army and took office on 23 July 1999, with Commissioner Gisèle Gowans as World President of Women's Organisations.
When Gowans retired in 2002, his earlier musical partner John Larsson
John Larsson
John 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...
succeeded him as the next international leader of The Salvation Army.http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/36c107e27b0ba7a98025692e0032abaa/5d833670f86cca8480256a68003e49f3!OpenDocument.
External links
- Salvation Army biography
- http://www.gowans-larsson.com