William Booth (1829–1912), his wife Catherine Booth (1829–1890), and a group of friendly zealots began The Salvation Army in the late 19th century. I, as a Salvation Army Officer, am part of that continuing legacy. But I’m pretty sure William Booth wouldn’t want me. That’s ok though. Here’s why I’m a Salvationist anyway. Anti-Intellectualism in…
What can local churches do to work for justice in their communities? In this article, we see how Local Churches can use practical politics to seek justice in 8 steps. I am drawing from the work of Dr. Helen Cameron in her book Just Mission: Practical Politics for Local Churches. The book is available from…
Perhaps at no other time in history have people been so divided. Here are 7 Steps to Disagreeing Well that will hopefully start to change things. Whether cultural, political, ideological, or religious, there are huge divides that seem uncrossable. We have lost the art of disagreeing well. Differences descend into shouting matches on social media….
Salvationist theology draws on and utilises the Welseyan quadrilateral. The Salvation Army inherited its early theological formation from the Wesleyan tradition, as expressed through New Connection Methodism. The ‘Wesleyan Quadrilateral’ provides a key theological method for the Army. The Salvation Army Is A Wesleyan Movement Whilst the writing and preaching of American ‘Great Awakening’ revivalists…
Content note. This is a personal reflection on living with depression and anxiety, and it includes a description of the thoughts that come with that — including feeling that others would be better off without me. It also refers to the Columbine school shooting. If now isn’t the right time to read this, that’s completely…
This summer marks five years for me as a Salvation Army officer. Here are 5 key lessons I learned from my first 5 years as a Salvation Army officer. This is a big milestone for officers (ordained ministers). The first five years of service leads to confirmation in ministry and promotion to captain. However, their…
⚠ Content Note This post is a sensitive subject and includes discussion about suicide and death. There are no graphic descriptions given, but the conversation is about suicide. Please be aware before reading further. What follows comes from my experience of suicide from working in The Salvation Army UK’s homelessness service, working as an officer…
What does it mean to listen to God when we can’t hear God? How can we follow Christ during times of spiritual dryness? There is a silence at the heart of Christian life — and learning to sit in it may be one of the most important things we ever do. The Heart of the…
The structure and identity of The Salvation Army is a form of prophetic irony. The Salvation Army is an ironic critique of the world’s false military power. It directly contradicts how kingdoms of this world function, as opposed to how the Kingdom of God works. The Salvation Army is… An Army? The dominant ecclesial metaphor…
The Salvation Army salute challenges the world’s status quo, directing focus from earthly powers to the Kingdom of Heaven. What Is The Salvation Army Salute? The Salvation Army salute is made with the first finger of the right hand raised to shoulder height. You can see it at formal occasions such as the commissioning ceremony….