The Salvation Army

1
The Salvation Army

• History and Beliefs
• Presented by Chris Reeves

2
Salvation Army History

• William Booth embarked upon his ministerial
  career in 1852, desiring to win the lost
  multitudes of England to Christ. He walked the
  streets of London to preach the gospel of Jesus
  Christ to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and
  the destitute.
• Booth abandoned the conventional concept of a
  church and a pulpit, instead taking his message
  to the people. His fervor led to disagreement
  with church leaders in London, who preferred
  traditional methods. As a result, he withdrew
  from the church and traveled throughout England,
  conducting evangelistic meetings. His wife,
  Catherine, could accurately be called a cofounder
  of The Salvation Army.
•  
• In 1865, William Booth was invited to hold a
  series of evangelistic meetings in the East End
  of London. He set up a tent in a Quaker
  graveyard, and his services became an instant
  success. This proved to be the end of his
  wanderings as an independent traveling
  evangelist. His renown as a religious leader
  spread throughout London, and he attracted
  followers who were dedicated to fight for the
  souls of men and women.
• Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards
  were among Booth's first converts to
  Christianity. To congregations who were
  desperately poor, he preached hope and salvation.
  His aim was to lead people to Christ and link
  them to a church for further spiritual guidance.
• Many churches, however, did not accept Booth's
  followers because of their past. So Booth
  continued giving his new converts spiritual
  direction, challenging them to save others like
  themselves. Soon, they too were preaching and
  singing in the streets as a living testimony to
  the power of God.
• In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers, but
  by 1874, the number had grown to 1,000 volunteers
  and 42 evangelists, all serving under the name
  "The Christian Mission." Booth assumed the title
  of general superintendent, with his followers
  calling him "General." Known as the "Hallelujah
  Army," the converts spread out of the East End of
  London into neighboring areas and then to other
  cities.

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Salvation Army History

• Booth was reading a printer's proof of the 1878
  annual report when he noticed the statement "The
  Christian Mission is a volunteer army." Crossing
  out the words "volunteer army," he penned in
  "Salvation Army." From those words came the basis
  of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army.
• From that point, converts became soldiers of
  Christ and were known then, as now, as
  Salvationists. They launched an offensive
  throughout the British Isles, in some cases
  facing real battles as organized gangs mocked and
  attacked them. In spite of violence and
  persecution, some 250,000 people were converted
  under the ministry of The Salvation Army between
  1881 and 1885.
• Meanwhile, the Army was gaining a foothold in the
  United States. Lieutenant Eliza Shirley had left
  England to join her parents, who had migrated to
  America earlier in search for work. In 1879, she
  held the first meeting of The Salvation Army in
  America, in Philadelphia. The Salvationists were
  received enthusiastically. Shirley wrote to
  General Booth, begging for reinforcements. None
  were available at first. Glowing reports of the
  work in Philadelphia, however, eventually
  convinced Booth, in 1880, to send an official
  group to pioneer the work in America.

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Salvation Army History

• On March 10, 1880, Commissioner George Scott
  Raiton and seven women officers knelt on the
  dockside at Battery Park in New York City to give
  thanks for their safe arrival. At their first
  official street meeting, these pioneers were met
  with unfriendly actions, as had happened in Great
  Britain. They were ridiculed, arrested, and
  attacked. Several officers and soldiers even gave
  their lives. Three years later, Railton and other
  Salvationists had expanded their operation into
  California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky,
  Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New
  Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
  President Grover Cleveland received a delegation
  of Salvation Army officers in 1886 and gave the
  organization a warm personal endorsement. This
  was the first recognition from the White House
  and would be followed by similar receptions from
  succeeding presidents.
• The Salvation Army movement expanded rapidly to
  Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, India,
  South Africa, Iceland, and local neighborhood
  units. The Salvation Army is active in virtually
  every corner of the world.
• General Booth's death in 1912 was a great loss to
  The Salvation Army. However, he had laid a firm
  foundation' even his death could not deter the
  ministry's onward march. His eldest son, Bramwell
  Booth, succeeded him.
• Edward J. Higgins, served as the first elected
  general, beginning in 1929. The first female
  general was Booth's daughter, the dynamic
  Evangeline Booth, serving from 1934 to 1939. The
  Army's fifth general was George Carpenter,
  succeeded in 1946 by Albert Orsborn. General
  Wilfred Kitching was elected in 1954, succeeded
  by Frederick Coutts in 1963. Erik Wickberg
  followed in 1969 Clarence Wiseman in 1974
  Arnold Brown in 1977 Jarl Wahlstrom in 1981 and
  Eva Burrows, the second female general, in 1986.
  General Bramwell Tillsley was elected in 1993 and
  was succeeded by General Paul Rader in 1994.
  General John Gowans was elected in 1999 and
  commands the Army from International Headquarters
  in London, England.

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Salvation Army History

• The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William
  Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of
  his pulpit and decided to take his message into
  the streets where it would reach the poor, the
  homeless, the hungry and the destitute.His
  original aim was to send converts to established
  churches of the day, but soon he realized that
  the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in
  the pews of most of the churches and chapels of
  Victorian England. Regular churchgoers were
  appalled when these shabbily dressed, unwashed
  people came to join them in worship.Booth
  decided to found a church especially for them
  the East London Christian Mission. The mission
  grew slowly, but Booth's faith in God remained
  undiminished.In May of 1878, Booth summoned his
  son, Bramwell, and his good friend George Railton
  to read a proof of the Christian Mission's annual
  report. At the top it read THE CHRISTIAN MISSION
  is A VOLUNTEER ARMY. Bramwell strongly objected
  to this wording. He was not a volunteer he was
  compelled to do God's work. So, in a flash of
  inspiration, Booth crossed out "Volunteer" and
  wrote "Salvation". The Salvation Army was
  born.By the 1900s, the Army had spread around
  the world. The Salvation Army soon had officers
  and soldiers in 36 countries, including the
  United States of America. This well-organized yet
  flexible structure inspired a great many
  much-needed services women's social work, the
  first food depot, the first day nursery and the
  first Salvation Army missionary hospital. During
  World War II, The Salvation Army operated 3,000
  service units for the armed forces, which led to
  the formation of the USO.
• Today, The Salvation Army is stronger and more
  powerful than ever. Now, in over 106 nations
  around the world, The Salvation Army continues to
  work where the need is greatest, guided by faith
  in God and love for all people.

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Salvation Army History

• What is The Salvation Army?The Salvation Army
  is a Christian church which is committed to
  spreading the good news of Jesus Christ through
  both word and action. Because of this primary aim
  the Army shows practical concern and care for the
  needs of people regardless of race, creed,
  status, color, sex or age.How did the Salvation
  Army begin?The Salvation Armys founders,
  William and Catherine Booth, were Methodists and
  William was a minister in that denomination. They
  both believed that William was called by God to
  be an evangelist and they did not agree with the
  decision of Methodist officials that he should be
  confined to a local church situation.So
  strongly did the Booths believe William should be
  an evangelist that he resigned from the Methodist
  ministry and they moved to London with their
  young family. After being invited by a group of
  Christians from a small mission to preach on the
  streets to the crowds thronging the Mile End in
  East London, William was sure he had found his
  destiny.The group made William its leader, and
  became known as The East London Christian
  Mission. The Mission grew rapidly, its work
  spreading through Great Britain, resulting in its
  name being changed to The Christian Mission.In
  1878 the Missions name was changed once more
  this time to The Salvation Army. Such a military
  name fired members imagination and enthusiasm,
  and uniforms were adopted and military terms
  given to aspects of worship, administration and
  practice.While over the years the Army has
  adapted its military image to changing times, it
  still retains a distinctive uniform and structure
  to enable it more effectively to combat wrong and
  make known the good news of Jesus.

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Salvation Army History

• William Booth was a Methodist minister trained in
  the Wesleyan tradition thus, the Salvation Army
  (originally, The Christian Mission) has its
  roots in the Methodist / Holiness / Nazarene
  tradition of sanctification by the H.S.
• Made up of clergy (Officers) and laity
  (soldiers) sometimes called Salvationists
• Began in America in March 1880 two groups that
  have come out of the Salvation Army are
  Volunteers of America and American Rescue Workers
• Main focus social work (charities,
  rehabilitation, counseling, welfare, day care,
  camps, relief programs, assisted living,
  shelters, disaster relief, etc.)

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Salvation Army History

• The Salvation Army We identify these
  organizations with the Methodist Family for
  several reasons (1) Its leading characteristic
  is evangelism. (2) In doctrine it is Arminian
  rather than Calvinistic. (3) It shows the same
  attitude toward doctrine as is taken by all
  Methodists (holding a doctrinal position without
  insisting upon it as a test for membership). (4)
  In polity it is an episcopacy although in another
  way and under another name. (J.L. Neve, Churches
  and Sects of Christendom, page 369.)

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Salvation Army History

• Originally it was intended purely as a
  recruiting agency for the churches among the
  lower classes, but it was found that converts
  of the Salvation Army were not always welcome and
  did not always feel at home in the congregations
  consequently the Salvation Army has become in
  reality a Church with a ministry known by
  military titles. (J.L. Neve, Churches and Sects
  of Christendom, page 370.)

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Salvation Army Plan of Salvation

• A sinner comes and makes a confession of faith in
  Christ (faith only), is baptized in the H.S. and
  is saved at that point
• The convert encouraged to take membership classes
• No baptism is required or offered at any time
• Like the Quakers, the Salvation Army are
  non-sacramentalists (no baptism, no Lords supper)

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Salvation Army Plan of Salvation

• Children under 14 can become Junior Soldiers
• Members are called soldiers and follow the
  Soldiers Covenant
• Adherents support the efforts of the Salvation
  Army but do not become full members

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Salvation Army Plan of SalvationSoldiers
Covenant (Doctrines of the Salvation Army)

• 1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and
  New Testaments were given by inspiration of God
  and that they only constitute the Divine rule of
  Christian faith and practice.2. We believe that
  there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect,
  the Creator. Preserver, and Governor of all
  things, and who is the only proper object of
  religious worship.3. We believe that there are
  three persons in the Godheadthe Father, the Son
  and the Holy Ghostundivided in essence and
  coequal in power and glory.4. We believe that
  in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and
  human natures are united, so that He is truly and
  properly God and truly and properly man.5. We
  believe that our first parents were created in a
  state of innocency. but by their disobedience
  they lost their purity and happiness and that in
  consequence of their fall all men have become
  sinners, totally depraved. and as such are justly
  exposed to the wrath of God.6. We believe that
  the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and
  death, made an atonement for the whole world so
  that whosoever will may be saved.7. We believe
  that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord
  Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit
  are necessary to salvation.8. We believe that
  we are justified by grace, through faith in our
  Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth
  hath the witness in himself.9. We believe that
  continuance in a state of salvation depends upon
  continued obedient faith in Christ.10. We
  believe that it is the privilege of all believers
  to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole
  spirit and soul and body may be preserved
  blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
  Christ.11. We believe in the immortality of the
  soul in the resurrection of the body in the
  general judgment at the end of the world in the
  eternal happiness of the righteous and in the
  endless punishment of the wicked.
  (www.salvationarmy.org)

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• The Sacraments (www.salvationarmy.org/au)
• The "Mother" of The Salvation Army, Catherine
  Booth, was a firm advocate for inner awareness of
  God. She was a strong influence on the young
  movement's decision to formally choose not to
  partake in the Christian Church's oldest rituals.
• Speaking in a public meeting, in London, Booth
  said she feared the "mock salvation" offered "in
  the form of ceremonies and sacraments... men are
  taught that by going through them or partaking of
  them... they are to be saved... what an
  inveterate tendency there is in the human heart
  to trust in outward forms, instead of seeking the
  inward grace!"
• In the course of forging a "red hot" mission to
  the unchurched, William Booth, the Founder,
  proved to be something of a pragmatic visionary.
  Fearful of converted alcoholics being led astray
  by the communion wine, or male chauvinists
  protesting female celebrants of the bread and the
  wine, Booth suggested that the issue should be
  deferred, to be decided by a future, more mature
  Salvation Army.
• In the Salvationist news paper the War Cry, on 2
  January 1883, Booth wrote the following apologia
  for the Army's stance
• "In the north of England... a clergyman said...
  that it is evident The Salvation Army is not a
  church. To be a church there must evidently be
  the exercise of sacramental functions, which
  evidently are not duly appreciated by the Army.
  We are... getting away from ordinary idea of a
  church every day. It seems as if a voice from
  heaven had said that we are an army, separate
  from, going before, coming after, and all round
  about the existing churches.
• "But we are asked by the churches, what should be
  our attitude to you? We answer, 'What is your
  attitude towards the Fire Brigade? Or... towards
  the lifeboat crew?'
• "Now if the sacraments are not conditions of
  salvation, and if the introduction of them would
  create division of opinion and heart burning, and
  if we are not professing to be a church, not
  aiming at being one, but simply a force for
  aggressive salvation purposes, is it not wise for
  us to postpone any settlement of the question, to
  leave it over for some future day, when we shall
  have more light?"
• "Moreover we do not prohibit our own people...
  from taking the sacraments. We say, 'If this is a
  matter of your conscience, by all means break
  bread. The churches and chapels around you will
  welcome you for this. But in our own ranks... let
  us mind our own business. Let us remember His
  love every hour of our lives... and let us eat
  His flesh and drink His blood continually... and
  further, there is one baptism on which we are all
  agreed... and that is the baptism of the Holy
  Ghost."

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• In the 1990s The Salvation Army's International
  Headquarters set up an International Spiritual
  Life commission. The commission's brief was "to
  look at the heartbeat" of the denomination. While
  promoting the freedom God has given His children,
  the commission's report proffered the following
  two sets of statements regarding baptism and holy
  communion.
• While the majority of Christians find value in
  the ritual celebrations of baptism and communion,
  Salvationists have not done so - as a part of
  corporate Salvationist worship - since 1883.
  (Note The Salvation Army has its own rituals and
  ceremonies, see festivals and ceremonies.)
• While not wishing to denigrate the sense of the
  divine that the sacraments convey to others,
  Salvationists hold to the belief that, "as God
  meets us in Jesus, we can receive his grace
  without prescribed rituals and experience real
  communion with him by the exercise of faith".
• The worshiper's readiness, Christ's presence and
  the Holy Spirit's indwelling come as God wills.
  Through the relative simplicity of Salvationist
  worship, rituals and celebrations, God comes
  among us.
• In his book The Salvationists, John Coutts
  suggests that, as with the Quakers (or Society of
  Friends), the non-observance of the sacraments by
  Salvationists "is essentially a witness to the
  Church, and not to the world" that "no outward
  rite" is necessary for salvation.
• Coutts asserts that water baptism alone will not
  put a person into a right relationship with the
  Creator, but also questions the impact (if any)
  such a distinction would have on people who doubt
  the very existence of God. (www.salvationarmy.org/
  au)

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• BAPTISM (www.salvationarmy.org/au)
•  
• After full and careful consideration of The
  Salvation Army's understanding of, and approach
  to, the sacrament of water baptism, the
  International Spiritual Life Commission sets out
  the following regarding the relationship between
  our soldier enrolment and water baptism.
• 1. Only those who confess Jesus Christ as Saviour
  and Lord may be considered for soldiership in The
  Salvation Army.
• 2. Such a confession is confirmed by the gracious
  presence of God the Holy Spirit in the life of
  the believer and includes the call to
  discipleship.
• 3. In accepting the call to discipleship
  Salvationists promise to continue to be
  responsive to the Holy Spirit and to seek to grow
  in grace.
• 4. They also express publicly their desire to
  fulfil membership of Christ's Church on earth as
  soldiers of The Salvation Army.
• 5. The Salvation Army rejoices in the truth that
  all who are in Christ are baptized into the one
  body by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1213).
• 6. It believes , in accordance with scripture,
  that "there is one body and one Spirit... one
  Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father
  of all, who is over all and through all in all"
  (Ephesians 45-6).
• 7. The swearing-in of a soldier of The Salvation
  Army beneath the trinitarian sign of the Army's
  flag acknowledges this truth.
• 8. It is a public response and witness to a
  life-changing encounter with Christ which has
  already taken place, as is the water baptism
  practiced by other Christians.
• 9. The Salvation Army acknowledges that there are
  many worthy ways of publicly witnessing to having
  been baptized into Christ's body by the Holy
  Spirit and expressing a desire to be His
  disciple.
• 10. The swearing-in of a soldier should be
  followed by a lifetime of obedient faith in
  Christ.

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• HOLY COMMUNION (www.salvationarmy.org/au)
•  
• After full and careful consideration of The
  Salvation Army's understanding of, and approach
  to, the sacrament of Holy Communion, the
  International Spiritual Life Commission sets out
  the following points
• 1. God's grace is freely and readily accessible
  to all people at all times and in all places.
• 2. No particular outward observance is necessary
  to inward grace.
• 3. The Salvation Army believes that unity of the
  Spirit exists within diversity and rejoices in
  the freedom of the Spirit in expressions of
  worship.
• 4. When Salvationists attend other Christian
  gatherings in which a form of Holy Communion is
  included, they may partake if they choose to do
  so and if the host Church allows.
• 5. Christ is the one true Sacrament, and
  sacramental living - Christ living in us and
  through us - is at the heart of Christian
  holiness and discipleship.
• 6. Throughout its history The Salvation Army has
  kept Christ's atoning sacrifice at the centre of
  its corporate worship.
• 7. The Salvation Army rejoices in its freedom to
  celebrate Christ's real presence at all meals and
  in all meetings, and in its opportunity to
  explore in life together the significance of the
  simple meals shared by Jesus and by the first
  Christians.
• 8. Salvationists are encouraged to use the love
  feast fellowship meal and develop creative
  means of hallowing meals in home and corps with
  remembrances of the Lord's sacrificial love.
• 9. The Salvation Army encourages the development
  of resources for fellowship meals, which will
  vary according to culture, without ritualizing
  particular words or actions.
• 10. In accordance with normal Salvation Army
  practice, such remembrances and celebrations,
  where observed, will not become established
  rituals, nor will frequency be prescribed.

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• A major difference between The Salvation Army and
  other religious denominations is that it does not
  include the use of sacraments (mainly holy
  communion, sometimes called the Lord's Supper,
  and baptism) in its form of worship.
• The Salvation Army has never said it is wrong to
  use sacraments, nor does it deny that other
  Christians receive grace from God through using
  them. Rather, the Army believes that it is
  possible to live a holy life and receive the
  grace of God without the use of physical
  sacraments and that they should not be regarded
  as an essential part of becoming a Christian.
• Salvationists see the sacraments as an outward
  sign of an inward experience, and it is the
  inward experience that is the most important
  thing.
• It should be noted that The Salvation Army did
  not cease to use the sacraments because of any
  prejudices it had against them or from any desire
  to be 'different'. The decision to discontinue
  their use was a gradual process in the minds of
  the Army's founders.
• The reasons for The Salvation Army's cessation of
  the sacraments may be submersed as follows

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• 1. The Army's Founders felt that many Christians
  had come to rely on the outward signs of
  spiritual grace rather than on grace itself.
  William and Catherine Booth believed, with the
  Apostle Paul, that salvation came solely from the
  grace of God personally received by faith. They
  felt that much of what passed for Christianity in
  their day was primarily an observance of outward
  ritual.
• 2. Some Bible scholars had pointed out that there
  was no scriptural basis for regarding the
  sacraments as essential to salvation or Christian
  living. Many Christians assumed that Jesus
  commanded the use of baptism and holy communion.
  But there very few New Testament references to
  these practices and it was argued that none of
  them showed any intention by Jesus that they (or
  any other practice) should have become fixed
  ceremonies.
• 3. The sacraments had been a divisive influence
  in the Church throughout Christian history and at
  times the cause of bitter controversy and abuse.
• 4. Some churches would not allow women to
  administer the sacraments. The Army, however,
  believed that women may take an equal part in its
  ministry, and did not want to compromise this
  stance.
• 5. The Society of Friends (the Quakers) had
  managed to live holy lives without the use of
  sacraments.
• 6. Many early-day converts to the Army had
  previously been alcoholics. It was considered
  unwise to tempt them with the wine used in holy
  communion. To a large extent this is still the
  Salvationist's standpoint. However, it should be
  stressed that Salvationists have never been in
  opposition to the sacraments. Indeed, when they
  take part in gatherings with Christians from
  other churches, Salvationists will often share in
  using the symbols of the Lord's Supper as a sign
  of fellowship. Furthermore, Salvationists are not
  prevented from being baptized in other churches
  should they so desire.

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• Why doesn't The Salvation Army hold any communion
  services?(from The War Cry, 28 February 1987)
• The answer must be a two-part one.
• First, it is felt that there are some very real
  dangers in forms of religion which place heavy
  dependence on ceremonies and rituals. Meaningful
  symbols can become meaningless rituals, and have
  often done so. The Salvation Army places the
  emphasis on personal faith and on a spiritual
  relationship with God which is not dependent on
  anything external.
• Further, Church history shows that disputes about
  the detailed practice and meaning of such
  ceremonies have often been a divisive factor
  between Christians.The second part of the answer
  is to point out that the belief of many
  Christians that the use of the sacrament of
  communion was commanded by Christ as essential
  for all Christians for all time, can be no more
  than an assumption.
• They interpret certain texts in the light of
  hindsight that is, they read back into history
  their present background of belief and practice
  and assume that Jesus or the Early Church leaders
  were requiring observance of the ceremony -
  though it may be possible to interpret their
  words in other senses.For example, take the
  sentence in Luke 2219 (AV), 'This do in
  remembrance of me', which is thought by many to
  command what we now know as communion. It could
  equally well be a suggestion to the Twelve that
  they should think of Jesus whenever they shared
  the annual Passover meal or had any meal together
  (for that is what they were doing), in much the
  same way as Christians today remember Jesus
  whenever they say grace before any meal.

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• The binding nature of this statement is further
  brought into question when one studies the
  background of the sentence. It does not appear in
  Matthew or Mark, nor does it appear in some of
  the oldest manuscripts in Luke (and therefore is
  left out of some modern translations of that
  gospel). It has been suggested that it comes from
  elsewhere, eg 1 Corinthians 1124 (to which we
  shall return). If we look at John's gospel we
  find that the symbolic act there (John 133-17)
  is feet-washing. Why do sacramental Christians
  not observe this as a binding command, when they
  do so with the rather less certain one about
  bread and wine?
• There is no doubt that Christians in the Early
  Church did share common meals, but initially they
  were meals, not ceremonies (Acts 242-46 432
  207, 11, 2733-38). 1 Corinthians shows,
  however, that in that one church at least they
  soon ceased to be occasions of real sharing (1
  Corinthians 1117-22) .To give the meal more
  spiritual meaning and dignity Paul used the
  traditional teaching about the last supper
  (1123-24) to steer them away from selfish
  'bingeing' and towards real Christian sharing in
  the spirit of Christ.
• It should be noted, however that 15 of the 21 New
  Testament letters make no mention at all of the
  ceremony which so many Christians now regard as
  essential to Christian living.
• For a time both kinds of meal continued (Sunday
  morning - communion evening - common meal). Then
  gradually the ceremonial became dominant and more
  and more ritualistic.
• The Army does not hold its position as an article
  of faith or doctrine, but simply as one of
  practice. So it does not debar anyone who wishes
  to partake in such a ceremony or prevent anyone
  who wishes to enter a communion service as a sign
  of fellowship with other Christians.
• It also recognizes that many sincere Christians
  find the communion ceremony to be a deeply
  meaningful aid to worship and devotion, and a
  help towards drawing a Christian community closer
  together.

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Salvation Army and Sacraments

• Baptism 
• The Army Founders' attitude to baptism was
  similar to that of Communion. They saw dangers
  that the rite could replace the reality of
  entering into a living relationship with Jesus,
  and so they decided that the Army would not
  practice adult baptism.
• To become a Salvation Army soldier a person must
  first and foremost acknowledge that they have
  asked God for forgiveness for their wrongdoing
  and that Jesus Christ is their savior from sin.
• Recruits - as those who wish to become Salvation
  Army soldiers are known - study the Army's
  doctrines and the principles and practice of a
  Salvationist lifestyle before a swearing-in
  ceremony takes place, usually in a Sunday
  meeting. During this, recruits stand under the
  Army flag and publicly acknowledge their
  salvation from sin, state their belief in the
  Army's doctrines and promise to live by the
  standards laid out in the 'articles of war'. They
  then sign a copy of these articles of war and a
  prayer is said asking for God's help in keeping
  those promises.
• While this ceremony is a serious occasion, it is
  also a very joyful one with the new soldier being
  warmly greeted by the congregation and by
  individual fellow-Salvationists.
• As with the ceremony of Communion, Salvationists
  are not forbidden to be baptized in another
  church if they feel this is right for them as
  individuals, and the Army has from time to time
  reconsidered its stance on the sacraments, and
  continues to keep it under review.

22
Salvation Army Beliefs

• Social work that is supported by contributions
  from members and the general public
• Belief in faith only and the baptism of the Holy
  Spirit
• Use of a man-made creed The Salvation Army
  Handbook of Doctrine
• Organizational hierarchy, garments, titles
• Belief in total hereditary depravity
• No baptism or Lords supper
• Instrumental music
• Women preachers

23
Salvation Army Church Service

• Sunday services include singing with instruments
  and choirs, prayers, bible lesson from the
  pastor, offering (tithing), open invitation
• Like the Quakers, the Salvation Army are
  non-sacrimentalists (no baptism, no Lords supper)

24
Salvation Army Church Service

• The Salvation Army is an integral part of the
  universal Christian Church, although distinctive
  in government and practice. Salvation Army places
  of worship are sometimes called 'citadels' or
  'temples', but, whatever their name, they are
  Christian churches open to the community they
  serve and offering a warm welcome to all.
• Most Salvation Army centers hold weekly worship
  services, usually on a Sunday. These meetings
  have a relaxed atmosphere, and can include hymn
  singing, Bible readings, members of the
  congregation talking about their Christian
  experiences, and presentations by worship or
  drama groups. As well as services on a Sunday,
  there are often weekday and evening activities,
  such as prayer groups, family events, lunch
  groups, youth clubs and meetings for seniors.
• Why not go along to your local Salvation Army
  centre and see for yourself all that it can
  offer? (www.salvationarmy.org)

25
Salvation Army Church Service

• The Salvation Army was founded as an evangelical
  organization dedicated to bringing people into a
  meaningful relationship with God through Christ.
  Its doctrinal basis is that of the
  Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. It is composed of
  persons who are united by the love of God and
  man, and who share the common purpose of bringing
  others to Jesus Christ. The word salvation
  indicates the overall purpose of the
  organizationto motivate all people to embrace
  the salvation provided to them in Christ.The
  word army indicates that the organization is a
  fighting force, constantly at war with the powers
  of evil. Battles are effectively waged through an
  integrated ministry that gives attention to both
  body and spirit. It is a total ministry for the
  total person. The Army cooperates with churches
  of all denominations to meet the needs of the
  community. Those who have drifted away from God
  and those estranged from their own religious
  affiliations are often attracted to The Salvation
  Army. They are first urged to seek Christ for
  pardon and deliverance from sin. Then they are
  encouraged to return to active membership in their

26
Salvation Army Church Service

• Active Service
• Christianity is synonymous with service for the
  Salvationist. The distinguishing feature in the
  religious life of The Salvation Army is active
  participation by its members.Corps community
  centers are the focus of the spiritual work and
  are organized in a military manner, using
  military terms throughout. The corps building is
  sometimes known as the citadel. The pastor
  serves as an officer. Members are soldiers.
  This sphere of activity is known as the field.
  Instead of joining The Salvation Army, members
  are enrolled after signing the Articles of
  War. When officers and soldiers die, they are
  Promoted to Glory.Soldiers are disciples of
  Jesus Christ and are expected to accept
  responsibility in the work of The Salvation Army.
  Whenever possible, they participate in Army
  meetings. Soldiers may teach Sunday-school
  classes, play musical instruments, join the band,
  assist the corps officer in visitation among the
  poor and sick, or aid in general social work.
  Soldiers abstain from the use of alcoholic
  beverages, drugs and tobacco.

27
Salvation Army Stats( Yearbook of American and
Canadian Churches, 2006 )

• 1,316 churches (corps)
• 113,525 members
• 427,027 inclusive members
• 2,632 pastors
• 5,526 total clergy
• U.S. Headquarters, Alexandria, VA

28
May A Christian Donate tothe Salvation Army?

• There is a distinction between buying a service
  and making a donation. For example, one may
  check into a Baptist Hospital for health service,
  but not make a donation to the Baptist Church.
  Are you buying a service from the Salvation Army?
• A Christian must not fellowship error (Eph. 511
  2 Jn. 9-11) remember, the Salvation
  Army is a false religion (church / denomination),
  not just a charitable organization like the Red
  Cross, American Heart Association, Goodwill,
  March of Dimes, etc.

29
May A Christian Donate tothe Salvation Army?

• Christians must be benevolent
• Individually giving to needy saints and
  non-saints (Prov. 1431 Lk. 10 Gal.
  210 610 1 Tim. 5 Jas. 127)
• Congregationally giving to needy saints only
  (Acts 2, 4, 6, 11 Rom. 15 1 Cor. 161-2 2 Cor.
  8-9 1 Tim. 5)
• Christians must do Gods work in Gods way!

30
Sources

• Blankman, D. Editor. Pocket Dictionary of North
  American Denominations. Downers Grove
  Inter-Varsity Press, 2004.
• Clifton, Shaw. Who Are These Salvationists?
  Alexandria Salvation Army National Publications,
  1999.
• Douglas, J.D. Editor. Salvation Army. The New
  International Dictionary of Christian Church.
  Revised. Grand Rapids Zondervan Publishing
  House, 1978.
• Mead, Frank S. Handbook of Denominations in the
  United States. 12th Edition. Nashville Abingdon
  Press, 2005.
• Melton, J. Gordon. Nelsons Guide to
  Denominations. Nashville Thomas Nelson, 2007.
• Neve, J.L. Churches and Sects of Christendom.
  Blair Lutheran Publishing House, 1944.
• www.salvationarmy.org (or www. salvationarmyusa.or
  g www.salvationarmy.org.au www.salvationarmy.org
  .uk