The Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory
Encyclopedia
The Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory is an administrative unit of The Salvation Army
that serves the thirteen Western United States, the Marshall Islands
, and Guam
. The territory is one of four Salvation Army Territories within the United States of America. The Western Territorial Headquarters is located in Long Beach
, California
, and is currently under the leadership of Commissioner James Knaggs
. The territory is divided geographically into 10 divisions, each headed by a divisional commander.
In addition to mobile programs such as disaster relief, and homeless soup lines, the Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory currently operates hundreds of permanent facilities including 307 Corps community centers, 31 Adult Rehabilitation Centers, 13 summer camps, 36 Silvercrest Residences, and 6 adult day care centers. The territory runs its own accredited, two-year college in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. The Salvation Army College for Officer Training is dedicated to the education of those individuals who desire to become full time leaders or officers in the Army's ranks. The Salvation Army Museum of the West is a Salvation Army history museum and archive, operated by the territory. The territory also publishes a weekly newspaper, The New Frontier, and a quarterly social-services magazine, Caring.
Over the course of the next year the group held services, formed a small brass band, and even published five issues of their own War Cry magazine, all the while petitioning the Salvation Army's founder and international leader William Booth
to send them a real Salvation Army officer. Booth eventually agreed, and in 1883 Major Alfred Wells, and Major Henry Stillwell were sent to begin the Army's work in San Francisco. Major Wells opened the Army's first building in the West, San Francisco Citadel #1, on July 21, 1883.
Originally, the Western United States was classified as the Pacific Coast Division, but in 1921 was given territorial status. The West's first territorial commander was Lt. Commissioner Adam Gifford.
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....
that serves the thirteen Western United States, the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. The territory is one of four Salvation Army Territories within the United States of America. The Western Territorial Headquarters is located in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, 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...
, and is currently under the leadership of Commissioner James Knaggs
James Knaggs
Commissioner James M. Knaggs is the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army, .-Officership:Date of Commissioning: December 6, 1976Session Name: The Overcomers...
. The territory is divided geographically into 10 divisions, each headed by a divisional commander.
In addition to mobile programs such as disaster relief, and homeless soup lines, the Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory currently operates hundreds of permanent facilities including 307 Corps community centers, 31 Adult Rehabilitation Centers, 13 summer camps, 36 Silvercrest Residences, and 6 adult day care centers. The territory runs its own accredited, two-year college in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. The Salvation Army College for Officer Training is dedicated to the education of those individuals who desire to become full time leaders or officers in the Army's ranks. The Salvation Army Museum of the West is a Salvation Army history museum and archive, operated by the territory. The territory also publishes a weekly newspaper, The New Frontier, and a quarterly social-services magazine, Caring.
Origins
The roots of the Western Territory date back to the Summer of 1882. At this time there was no Salvation Army presence in the Western United States, the movement only having reached the United States two years earlier on March 10, 1880. However, a group of Bay Area "holiness men," having been impressed by a copy of the Army's London based War Cry magazine, decided by unanimous vote that they would change their name from the Pacific Holiness Association to The Salvation Army. They then chose George Newton as their "Commander," and held their first meeting on later that year on October 6, 1882.Over the course of the next year the group held services, formed a small brass band, and even published five issues of their own War Cry magazine, all the while petitioning the Salvation Army's founder and international leader William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
to send them a real Salvation Army officer. Booth eventually agreed, and in 1883 Major Alfred Wells, and Major Henry Stillwell were sent to begin the Army's work in San Francisco. Major Wells opened the Army's first building in the West, San Francisco Citadel #1, on July 21, 1883.
Originally, the Western United States was classified as the Pacific Coast Division, but in 1921 was given territorial status. The West's first territorial commander was Lt. Commissioner Adam Gifford.
Western Territorial Commanders
- 1920 -- Lt. Commissioner Adam Gifford
- 1932 -- Lt. Commissioner Benjamine Orames
- 1940 -- Lt. Commissioner Donald McMillan
- 1944 -- Lt. Commissioner William Barrett
- 1948 -- Lt. Commissioner Claude Bates
- 1952 -- Lt. Commissioner Claude Bates
- 1953 -- Lt. Commissioner Holland French
- 1957 -- Lt. Commissioner Samuel Hepburn
- 1961 -- Commissioner Samuel Hepburn
- 1962 -- Lt. Commissioner Glen Ryan
- 1966 -- Lt. Commissioner William J. Parkins
- 1971 -- Commissioner Paul S. Kaiser
- 1974 -- Commissioner Richard E. Holz
- 1980 -- Commissioner Lawrence R. Smith
- 1982 -- Commissioner William Pratt
- 1984 -- Commissioner Willard S. Evans
- 1989 -- Commissioner Paul A. Rader
- 1994 -- Commissioner Peter H. Chang
- 1997 -- Commissioner David Edwards
- 2002 -- Commissioner 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...
- 2004 Interim -- Commissioner Bill Luttrell
- 2005 -- Commissioner Philip Swyers
- 2010 -- Commissioner James KnaggsJames KnaggsCommissioner James M. Knaggs is the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army, .-Officership:Date of Commissioning: December 6, 1976Session Name: The Overcomers...
Divisions of the Western Territory
- Alaska Division
- Cascade Division
- Del Oro Division
- Golden State Division
- Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
- Intermountain Division
- Northwest Division
- Sierra Del Mar Division
- Southern California Division
- Southwest Division
See also
- Chief of the Staff of The Salvation ArmyChief of the Staff of The Salvation ArmyThe 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....
- Generals of The Salvation ArmyGenerals of The Salvation Armythumbnail|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...
- High Council of The Salvation ArmyHigh Council of The Salvation ArmyThe 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...
- Officer of The Salvation Army
- The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyThe 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....
- The Salvation Army in ManchesterThe Salvation Army in ManchesterThe Salvation Army first came to Manchester in 1878.Over the years there have been corps in the following locations:* Manchester I , Grosvenor Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 1879 to current...
- Salvation Army U.S.A Central Territory
- Soldier of The Salvation Army