This information is taken from the official website of the Salvation Army Australian Eastern Territory
www.salvos.org.au
"The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love for God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination."
The Salvation Army has 11 faith-based statements called doctrines that summarise its religious beliefs. The Salvation Armys statements place it in harmony with other mainstream denominations of Protestant Christianity. These statements are:
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.
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.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
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.
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.
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.
We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
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.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
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.
We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
Because The Salvation Army operates according to a military structure (yes, we really are an Army!), you will come across some terminology that may be unfamiliar to you.
Terminology
Adherent: A person who regards The Salvation Army as his/ her spiritual home but has not chosen to make the commitment of 'soldiership' in The Salvation Army
Articles of War (Soldiers Covenant): this is the statement of beliefs and promises which every intending soldier is required to sign before enrolment.
Blood & Fire: The Salvation Armys motto, referring to the symbolism of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and the purifying, illuminating fire of the Holy Spirit
Cadet: A Salvationist undertaking theological and practical training for officership. The first cadets were trained in 1879.
Candidate: a soldier who has been accepted to enter training as an officer
Chief of the Staff: this is the leader second in command of The Salvation Army worldwide. He or she is chosen by the General.
Citadel: used to refer to the property or church building where Salvationists meet for worship. Other terms used are 'fortress' and 'temple'.
Colonel: this is a rank appointed to Salvation Army officers on merit by the General.
Command: A smaller type of Salvation Army Territory directed by a designated 'Officer Commanding'
Commissioner: this is the highest rank of a Salvation Army officer except General, and is appointed on merit by the General. Most Territorial Commanders are Commissioner in rank, although some are Colonels.
Congress: Central gatherings held in divisions, regions, territories or internationally, attended by officers and their fellow Salvationists
Corps: (pronounced core) a Salvation Army church, similar in concept to that of a parish, sometimes comprising several congregations.
Corps Cadet: A young Salvationist who undertakes a course of Bible study, Salvation Army doctrine and history, and practical training in his/her corps
Corps Officer: ordained Salvation Army clergy who leads a Salvation Army Corps.
Corps Sergeant-Major (CSM): Similar to the chief 'elder' or lay leader in other Christian denominations, the CSM is the chief local officer for public work who assists the corps officer with meetings (worship services) and usually takes command and responsibility in the corps officers absence.
Dedication Service: The Salvation Army's equivalent to a christening service, it consists of a public presentation of infants to God. It differs from christening or infant baptism in that the main emphasis is upon specific vows made by the parent/s concerning the child's/children's upbringing.
Disposition of Forces / (dispo): a directory of contact details used within The Salvation Army mainly for Army officers, programs and centres
Division: a grouping of districts, similar to a diocese in the Anglican Church. Territories are divided into Divisions, each of which has a number of Corps and social centres which are mostly run by officers.
Divisional Commander (DC): the leader of a Salvation Army Division
Divisional Headquarters (DHQ): the administrative headquarters of a Division.
Farewell Orders: the transfer of officers to new appointments
Furlough: holidays for officers
General: The General is the officer elected (by the High Council) to lead The Salvation Army worldwide, and is based at International Headquarters in London. All appointments are made, and all regulations issued, under the General's authority
High Council: A group called together on a needs-basis, the High Council elects the General in accordance with The Salvation Army Act 1980.The High Council comprises the Chief of the Staff, all active (as opposed to retired) commissioners except the spouse of the General, and all territorial commanders
Holiness Table: see Mercy Seat
International Headquarters (IHQ): the General directs Salvation Army operations throughout 108 countries of the world through the administrative departments of International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, which are headed by International Secretaries
International Secretary: An officer appointed by the General to supervise administrative departments at International Headquarters representing various parts of Salvation Army work worldwide.
Junior Soldier: A boy or girl who, having come to faith in Christ and signed the Junior Soldier's Promise, is enrolled as a Salvationist.
League of Mercy: Now known as Community Care Ministries, League of Mercy commenced in 1892 to respond to spiritual and social needs through visitation in the local community
Lieutenant-Colonel: this is a rank appointed to Salvation Army officers on merit by the General.
Local Officer: A soldier appointed to a position of responsibility and authority in the corps, who carries out the duties of the appointment without being separated from his/her regular employment/lifestyle and without receiving remuneration from The Salvation Army
Major: this is the rank of a Salvation Army officer who has completed further studies and 15 years service.
Meeting: church service
Mercy Seat (penitent form, holiness table): A bench or table provided as a place where people can kneel to pray, seeking salvation or sanctification, or making a special consecration of their life to God's will and service
Officer: ordained Salvation Army clergy, who wear uniforms with red epaulettes indicating their rank
Orders and Regulations for The Salvation Army:
Order of the Founder (The): This order of merit marks meritorious Christian example and witness, and distinguished or memorable service
Order of the Silver Star (The): Inaugurated in the USA in 1930, and extended internationally in 1936, this order expresses gratitude to parents of commissioned officers in The Salvation Army
Outpost: A locality in which Army work is carried on and where it is hoped a society or corps will develop
Penitent form: see Mercy Seat
Promotion to Glory: The Army's description of the death of Salvationists, with 'glory' symbolising life after death in God's presence.
Quarters: This refers to the house provided for Salvation Army officers, their spouses and their families.
Ranks: Officers in The Salvation Army have different ranks. These include Cadet, Captain, Major, Lieut-Colonel, Colonel and Commissioner. Read more. [Link to ranks page]
Red Shield: a widely recognised Salvation Army symbol of caring service for those in need.
Red Shield Appeal: An annual financial appeal to the general public to help fund The Salvation Army's extensive social program.
Salvation: The work of grace which God accomplishes in a repentant person whose trust is in Jesus Christ. The deeper experience of this grace, known as holiness or sanctification, is the outcome of wholehearted commitment to God. Read more in Our Faith.
SAGALA (Salvation Army Guards And Legion Association): A branch of work with children from The Salvation Army and the wider community, similar to girl guides/boy scouts
Salvationist: member of The Salvation Army, whether an officer or soldier
Secretary: departmental head
Soldier: lay member of The Salvation Army (ie. church members who are non-clergy)
Songster Bridgade: Salvation Army choir
Swearing-in: The public enrolment of Salvation Army soldiers
Timbrel: musical instrument, similar to a tambourine
Territory: for administrative purposes, The Salvation Army internationally is divided into world Territories. Usually each country forms a single Salvation Army Territory, but some where the Army is numerically strong are divided into two or more.
Territorial Commander (TC): the leader of a Salvation Army Territory.
Territorial Headquarters (THQ): the administrative headquarters for a Territory.
War Cry: The Salvation Army's official flagship journal, many issues of which are published in many countries. The War Cry was first published in 1879
There are lots of fascinating facts about The Salvation Army. Here's just a few
SAO Biscuit
It is thought that the name of the popular biscuit by Arnotts, SAO, stands for Salvation Army Officer. This theory arose from the fact that Arthur Arnott, one of five sons of William Arnott (company founder), was a Colonel in The Salvation Army. See more at
www.arnotts.com.au/varieties/Sao.aspx
First Australian film
Operating in Melbourne from 1897 to 1910, The Salvation Army Limelight Department was Australia's first film production company. Among its many achievements, The Limelight Department is credited with producing the world's first moving picture film, 'Soldiers of the Cross', during 1900, and recording the birth of the Australian nation at Federation in 1901.
Download a brief history (Word doc)
For more information about Soldiers of the Cross, visit
www.salvationarmy.org.au/museum/SoldiersOfTheCross/index.html
View the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's outstanding website about our trail-blazing film production unit at
www.abc.net.au/limelight
Strawberry Fields forever
The Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever was named after a Salvation Army childrens home where John Lennon used to play as a child. According to
The Telegraph in London (14 January, 2005), Lennon lived around the corner from The Salvation Army's Strawberry Field children's home in Menlove Avenue, Woolton. As a child growing up in the 1950s, he used to squeeze through the homes tall, wrought iron gates and play in the grounds with some of the orphans who lived there. He is believed to have felt a kinship with them after he was abandoned by his father and sent by his mother, Julia, to live with his Aunt.
Stawberry Field opened in 1936 and helped generations of children towards adulthood. Lennon recalled his fond childhood memories in his song
Strawberry Fields Forever, released as a double A-side with
Penny Lane in February 1967. According to
The Telegraph, Lennon even left money to the home in his will, and in 1984 his widow, Yoko Ono, gave more than £50,000 towards its upkeep.
But a change in the way orphans are cared for led to the closure in January 2005, with the preference now being to care for children within foster families or small group homes, rather than within large residential institutions.
Invention of safety matches
Red-tipped safety matches were introduced by The Salvation Army in England during the 1890s at a time when matches were still produced using poisonous yellow phosphorus, which caused the fatal disease Phossy Jaw in poor factory workers. Read more at
salvationarmy.org.uk/heritage
Raised age of consent
The Salvation Army successfully campaigned to have the age of consent in the UK raised from 13 years of age to 16 years during 1885.
