GENERALS OF THE SALVATION ARMY
The General of The Salvation Army is its international leader, elected by a High Council.
Our current leader is General Lyndon Buckingham. There have been 22 Generals of The Salvation Army to date:
General William Booth (1865-1912)
The Founder of The Salvation Army and its first General was born in Nottingham in 1829. He lived to establish Salvation Army work in 58 countries and colonies.
General Bramwell Booth (1912-1929)
The eldest son of the Founders, and Chief of the Staff from 1880 to 1912, Bramwell Booth was born in 1856. He was largely responsible for the development of The Salvation Army.
General Edward J Higgins (1929-1934)
Edward Higgins served in corps and divisional work in the British Territory before appointments in the USA and at IHQ. He was Chief of the Staff from 1919 and in 1929 he became the first General to be elected by a High Council.
General Evangeline Booth (1934-1939)
The fourth daughter of the Founder, at 21 years of age Evangeline Booth commanded Marylebone Corps, a centre of spectacular evangelistic work. Appointments as Field Commissioner, Territorial Commander in Canada and Commander in the USA followed.
General George L Carpenter (1939-1946)
An Australian officer, George Carpenter served at IHQ as Literary Secretary, in Australia Eastern as Chief Secretary and as Territorial Commander in South America East and then Canada.
General Albert Orsborn (1946-1954)
Albert Orsborn served in various appointments in British Territory before time as Chief Secretary in New Zealand, Territorial Commander in Scotland and Ireland and British Commissioner. He wrote many well-known Army songs.
General Wilfred Kitching (1954-1963)
Born in London, UK, Wilfred Kitching served in corps, divisional and national appointments before becoming Chief Secretary in Australia Southern, Territorial Commander in Sweden and then British Commissioner. He composed many Salvationist musical works.
General Frederick Coutts (1963-1969)
Frederick Coutts served in British Territory divisional and corps appointments before 18 years in the Literary Department at IHQ. He was later Territorial Commander of Australia Eastern.
General Erik Wickberg (1969-1974)
The ninth General of The Salvation Army, Erik Wickberg served in various appointments in Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and at IHQ. He was Chief of the Staff 1961-69.
General Clarence Wiseman (1974-1977)
Clarence Wiseman served in Canada as a corps officer before becoming a chaplain with Canadian forces overseas in 1940. He was Territorial Commander in East Africa, Training Principal at the ITC and Territorial Commander in Canada and Bermuda.
General Arnold Brown (1977-1981)
After varied appointments in Canada, Arnold Brown went to IHQ, serving first as Secretary for Public Relations and then as Chief of the Staff. He served as Territorial Commander in Canada and Bermuda before being elected General.
General Jarl Wahlström (1981-1986)
The 12th General, Jarl Wahlström served in Finland before military service in the Second World War as a chaplain to Finnish armed forces. He went on to become Territorial Commander in Finland and then in Sweden.
General Eva Burrows (1986-1993)
An Australian officer, Eva Burrows served in teaching roles in Zimbabwe and at the International College for Officers. She was Territorial Commander in Sri Lanka, Scotland and Australia Southern. She was admitted to the Order of the Founder in 2015.
General Bramwell Tillsley (1993-1994)
After varied appointments in Canada, Bramwell Tillsley went to USA Eastern as Training Principal. He served as Territorial Commander in Australia Southern and as Chief of the Staff from 1991-93.
General Paul Rader (1994-1999)
An American officer, Paul Rader served in Korea, first at the training college and later as Chief Secretary. He was Territorial Commander in USA Western before being elected General in 1994.
General John Gowans (1999-2002)
After varied appointments in the UK, John Gowans served in France, USA Western, Australia and Papua New Guinea. He co-authored 10 musicals with John Larsson.
General John Larsson (2002-2006)
After appointments in the UK, South America and at IHQ, John Larsson served as Territorial Commander in the UK, New Zealand and Fiji, and Sweden and Latvia, before time as the Chief of the Staff. He co-authored 10 musicals with John Gowans.
General Shaw Clifton (2006-2011)
Shaw Clifton served in appointments in the UK, at IHQ, in Zimbabwe, the USA, Pakistan and New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. He was Territorial Commander in the UK before being elected General in 2006. A prolific author, he wrote 20 books under Salvation Books.
General Linda Bond (2011-2013)
After corps, divisional and and territorial appointments in Canada and Bermuda and the UK, Linda Bond served at IHQ as Secretary for Spiritual Life Development and International External Relations, and then as Territorial Commander in Australia Eastern.
General André Cox (2013-2018)
The 20th General, André Cox served in both Switzerland and Austria and Zimbabwe territories before appointments as Territorial Commander in Finland and Estonia, Southern Africa and then the UK with the Republic of Ireland.
General Brian Peddle (2018-2023)
After corps and divisional appointments in Canada and Bermuda, Brian Peddle served in New Zealand and the UK. He was Territorial Commander in Canada and Bermuda and held various appointments at IHQ before serving as Chief of the Staff 2015-18.
General Lyndon Buckingham (2023-present)
Originally from New Zealand, Lyndon Buckingham previously served as Territorial Commander in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar and then United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. He was Chief of the Staff from 2018 before being elected General in 2023.
Our Beliefs
These eleven doctrines set out the formal beliefs of The Salvation Army, though it is worth noting that all are welcome at Salvation Army centres, regardless of belief.
- 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.