The Salvation Army
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Holiness movement
Scripture	Bible
Structure	Military rank-based chain of command
General	Lyndon Buckingham
Region	Worldwide
Headquarters	IHQ, London, EC4V United Kingdom
Founder	William and Catherine Booth[1]: 21
Origin	2 July 1865; 158 years ago (1865-07-02)[2] London
Separated from	Methodism[1]: 21
Separations	American Rescue Workers (1882) Volunteers of America (1896)
Congregations	15,409[3]
Members	1.65 million[3]
Ministers	26,359[3]
Other name(s)	East London Christian Mission (formerly)[1]: 21
Official website	salvationarmy.org

Part of a series on
The Salvation Army
Background Christianity Protestantism Pietism Arminianism Methodism Holiness Movement Evangelicalism
Organization General Chief of the Staff International Headquarters High Council Commissioners Officer Soldier Corps
Prominent Salvationists William Booth Catherine Booth Bramwell Booth Florence Booth Evangeline Booth Ballington Booth Catherine Bramwell-Booth Frederick Booth-Tucker Arthur Booth-Clibborn Elijah Cadman George Carpenter James Dowdle John Lawley George Scott Railton T. Henry Howard Charles Jeffries Theodore Kitching Darkie Hutton William Ridsdel Ray Steadman-Allen Harry Read Eva Burrows Henry Mapp John McMillan Stephen Bulla Earle Maxwell
Other topics Brass bands Promoted to Glory Order of the Founder Limelight Department Christmas Kettle The War Cry Soldier's Covenant Reliance Bank The Blind Beggar Kroc Centers Sunbury Court
Legislation Salvation Army Act 1931 Salvation Army Act 1963 Salvation Army Act 1980
Related organizations American Rescue Workers Volunteers of America Skeleton Army
Christianity portal
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The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organization headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organization reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million,^[3] consisting of soldiers, officers, and adherents who are collectively known as salvationists. Its founders sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". It is present in 133 countries,^[4] running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless, and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries.

The theology of the Salvation Army derives from Methodism, although it differs in institution and practice; an example is that the Salvation Army does not observe sacraments. As with other denominations in the Holiness Methodist tradition, the Salvation Army lays emphasis on the New Birth (first work of grace) and entire sanctification (second work of grace).^[5][6] A distinctive characteristic of the Salvation Army is its use of titles derived from military ranks, such as "lieutenant" or "major". The Army's doctrine is aligned with the Wesleyan–Arminian tradition, particularly the holiness movement. The Army's purposes are "the advancement of the Christian religion... of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole".^[7]

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 as the "East London Christian Mission" in London by one-time Methodist preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine. It can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar Tavern. In 1878, Booth reorganized the mission, becoming its first general and introducing the military structure, which it has retained as a matter of tradition.^[8] The Salvation Army's highest priority is its Christian principles. As of 2023^[update] The international leader and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Salvation Army is General Lyndon Buckingham.

The Salvation Army is the largest non-government provider of social services in the United States and one of the largest in the world,^[9] with expenditures including operating costs of US$3.6 billion in 2022, assisting more than 32 million people in the U.S. alone.^[10] In addition to funding feeding centers, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centres, community centres, and disaster relief, the organization also establishes refugee camps, especially among displaced people in Africa. In the United Kingdom, the Salvation Army is no longer the largest non-governmental provider of social services; however, it still provides a significant service to people in need. The Salvation Army is the fourth largest charity in the United States, with private donations in excess of US$2 billion in 2022.^[11] It is a member of many national interdenominational groups, including the American organization Christian Churches Together.^[12]

Ministers

The Salvation Army refers to its ministers as "officers". When they are acting in their official capacities, they can often be recognized by the colour-coded epaulettes on their white uniform dress shirts. The epaulettes have the letter "S" embroidered on them in white. Officer ranks include Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Commissioner, and General. Promotion in rank from Lieutenant to Major depends primarily on years of service.

Officers are given Marching Orders to change ministries within the Salvation Army. Usually, officers are given new marching orders every two to five years and reassigned to different posts, sometimes moving great distances.

The Salvation Army permits the ordination of women. Salvation Army officers were previously allowed to marry only other officers (this rule varied in different countries); but this rule has been relaxed in recent years. Husbands and wives usually share the same rank and have the same or similar assignments. Such officer-couples are assigned together to act as co-pastors and to administer corps, Adult Rehabilitation Centres, and such.

Facilities

Churches

The Army has churches throughout the world, known as Salvation Army corps. These serve as churches and community centers. Traditionally, many corps buildings are also called temples or citadels.

Thrift stores and charity shops

The Salvation Army is well known for its network of thrift stores or charity shops—colloquially referred to as "the Sally Ann" in Canada and the United States, "Salvos Stores" in Australia, and "Sally's" in New Zealand—which raise money for its rehabilitation programs by selling donated used items such as clothing, housewares, and toys. Clothing collected by Salvation Army stores that is not sold on location is often sold wholesale on the global secondhand clothing market.

The Salvation Army's fundraising shops in the United Kingdom participated in the UK government's Work Programme, a workfare programme in which benefit claimants had to work for no compensation for 20 to 40 hours per week over periods as long as six months.^[13][14]

When people buy items at Salvation Army thrift stores, part of the proceeds go toward The Salvation Army's emergency relief efforts and programs.^[15] Textile items not sold are recycled and turned into other items such as carpet underlay.^[15] The Salvation Army also helps their employees by hiring ex-felons, depending on the circumstances, because they believe in giving people second chances.^[16]

Adult Rehabilitation Centres

Some Salvation Army locations are associated with an Adult Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) in which men and women make a six-month rehabilitation commitment to live and work at the ARC residence. They are unpaid, but provided with room and board. Many ARCs are male-only. The program is primarily to combat addiction. Residents work at the warehouse, store, or residence. This is referred to as "work therapy". They attend classes, twelve-step programs, and chapel services as a part of their rehabilitation. The Army advertises these programs on their collection trucks with the slogan "Doing the Most Good".^[17] An ARC is typically associated with a main store and warehouse. Donations are consolidated from other stores and donation sites, sorted and priced, and then distributed back out to the branch stores. Low-quality donated items are sold at the warehouse dock in a "dock sale".

Hadleigh Farm Colony

Farmland at Hadleigh in Essex featured market gardens, orchards, and two brickfields. It was mentioned in the Royal Commission report of 1909, which was appointed to consider Poor Laws. 7,000 trainees had passed through its doors by 1912 with more than 60% subsequently finding employment.^[18]

Other

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