Salvation Army

Introduction

Introduction

The Salvation Army is a Protestant denomination of the Christian Church with over 1.6 million members in 109 countries.

In the UK there are over 800 Salvation Army parishes (known as corps), over 1,500 ordained ministers (known as officers) and 54,000 members (including senior soldiers, adherents and junior soldiers).

Salvation Army officers wear a military-style uniform, though some officers may wear a more informal uniform when undertaking certain duties. Members of the church often choose to wear a uniform, but are not required to do so.

Salvation Army halls are registered as places of worship. Salvation Army officers are ordained ministers of religion, and can conduct weddings and funerals.

The Salvation Army is famous for its work with people who have fallen on hard times: it offers help to the elderly, the young, offenders, drug addicts and blind and disabled people; it provides food and shelter for the homeless and operates food distribution centres.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865, in the East End of London, by William Booth. Booth was an evangelist who wanted to offer practical help to the poor and destitute as well as preaching the Gospel to them. It was originally called the Christian Mission, but changed its name to the Salvation Army in 1878.

In brief

• The Salvation Army is an evangelical Protestant denomination of the universal Christian Church
• It is a 'holiness' movement
• Its message is based on the Bible
• Its ministry is motivated by the love of God
• Its mission is:
  • to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
  • to meet human needs in His name without discrimination
• Its theology is mainstream Protestant
• It is famous for:
  • its evangelistic work
  • its social work
  • its family member tracing service
  • its quasi-military structure
  • the uniform worn by members
  • its music
• It was founded in 1865 in London, England, by William Booth
• The name Salvation Army dates from 1878

Statistics

• Worldwide
  • 1.6 million members (including senior soldiers, adherents and junior soldiers)
  • Found in 109 countries
  • 15,339 corps (parishes or church units)
  • 17,346 full time ministers (officers)
  • 1,000 schools and 250 hospitals and clinics worldwide, in impoverished areas
  • 2,500 bands - both brass ensembles and other styles of music
• UK
  • Over 54,000 members (including senior soldiers, adherents and junior soldiers)
  • Over 800 corps (parishes or church units)
  • Over 1500 full time ministers (officers)

Salvation Army officers with Lorraine Kelly and Philip Schofield launching the annual Pass the Parcel Christmas Toy Appeal ©

Odds and ends

"Strawberry Fields Forever" in the Beatles 1966 song by that name, is John Lennon's nostalgic reference to a Salvation Army orphanage called Strawberry Field in Woolton, England. Lennon is said to have played with childhood friends in the trees behind the orphanage when he was a boy.

The phrase 'on the wagon' was coined by men and women receiving the services of The Salvation Army. Former National Commander Evangeline Booth - founder William Booth's daughter - drove a hay wagon through the streets of New York to encourage alcoholics on board for a ride back to The Salvation Army. Hence, alcoholics in recovery were said to be on the wagon.

History

William Booth

The Salvation Army was formed in England in 1865 by William Booth, a former Methodist minister.

Booth had his first real religious experiences with the Wesleyan Methodists in his early teens. He was converted to Christianity in 1844, and gave his first sermons at the age of seventeen in Nottingham in 1846. By the 1850s he was working as an evangelist amongst the poor and uneducated.

Booth was something of a maverick and didn't fit easily in the ranks of existing religious institutions. After falling out with several churches he decided to strike out alone and launched the 'Christian Mission to the Heathen of our Own Country' in 1865 from a tent in Whitechapel, a poor district of London.

Booth believed that instead of standing at the door of the church saying "why don't you come in?" Christians must go out and meet the world on its own terms.

A working class church

Booth felt that the mainstream churches in Britain were too middle-class to be successful in bringing God to the masses.

The Salvation Army was not middle-class. Booth's followers and those who joined him in the work were drawn from the poor.

As a result, most Salvationists understood working-class people and values and could speak to them on their terms. This greatly helped Booth's mission to succeed.

A single leader

The movement grew rapidly but by 1877 it became clear to Booth that it would only succeed if it was directed by a single strong hand - his own.

He took control of the Army saying, "I am determined that Evangelists in this Mission must hold my views and work on my lines," and he ran the Army as a dictatorship, taking personal authority over everything.

The modern Army is no longer run like this - its leadership is consultative rather than autocratic.

A Salvation Army

Since Booth saw his movement as engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of sin it was logical that he should adopt a military metaphor that had a long history in Christianity.

In 1878 the mission adopted the title of 'Salvation Army', seeing itself as:

It adopted a quasi-military structure the same year and Booth ceased to be the General Superintendent and became simply 'The General'.

To boldly go

Like secular soldiers, the Salvation Army had to go to the most dangerous places to attack the enemy. To save the souls of the poor they carried their battle into the roughest and toughest places of British cities. Their only weapon was the word of God, backed up by music.

They were not always welcome - in 1882 over 600 Salvationists were physically assaulted in the UK, including women and children. The War Cry (the Salvation Army journal) reported one incident like this:

Marching band wearing an old style of Salvation Army uniform - other kinds of music are also used in modern services

Making saints out of sinners

Booth's first aim was to save fallen human beings from sin by converting them to Christianity, but he wanted to do more; to turn them into saints.

They wouldn't be saints because they were morally perfect; they would be saints because they were God's chosen, because Christ was alive in them, and because they would dedicate their lives to building God's kingdom on earth.

Their mission was quite simple - to save other souls for Christ. They had been 'saved to save'.

Tools of mission

Help to the poor

Despite Booth's early experiences with the poor of Nottingham, the Army was not created to be an instrument of social change. Apart from a few minor projects, the early Army concentrated on pure evangelism - on prayer and preaching - to win converts.

In the middle of the 1880s senior Army officers realised that poverty was a serious obstacle to their mission - people found it hard to think about the state of their souls if they were worrying about where the next meal was coming from.

A key worker talking to a resident in a Salvation Army hostel ©

So the Army began to set up centres where people could find food and shelter. This initiative gave them a new access to people living in extreme poverty, and there were many of those in Victorian England.

Belief not argument

The Army did not try to convert people to Christianity by using logic to convince them that Christianity was true. The Army's great engine of conversion was prayer. As Booth put it, "Argument never opened the eyes of the blind. Do not argue, but pray."

An Army catch-phrase is "prayer at the centre of our mission and mission at the centre of our prayer."

Lives not argument

"It's not the arguments that convince them, it's the lives."

The Army believes that the behaviour and lifestyle of Salvationists comprise another powerful weapon of conversion. They seek to set an example by living in love and unity in a world of separateness and conflict and loving people who are hard to love.

The music

Music has always been important to the Salvation Army. William Booth famously asked 'Why should the devil have all the best tunes?'

The Salvation Army's first band was "recognised" by William Booth in 1879. It consisted of Charles Fry, a local builder in Salisbury, and his three sons.

Salvation Army preachers in Salisbury were being attacked by local rowdies at their open air meetings. Fry and his sons offered to act as bodyguards and brought their instruments to accompany the singing. The music turned out to reduce tension, as well as drowning any shouts and abuse. Fry is commemorated by a blue plaque in Salt Street, Salisbury.

A Salvation Army choir ©

In 1880 Booth issued a General Order in the War Cry encouraging the development of brass bands. The same year saw the publication of the first book of Salvation Army music; another volume followed in 1883.

One of the secrets of the Army's musical success was its technique of taking well-known music-hall and the popular songs and giving them a Christian text. Although the Army does use many traditional hymn tunes, this use of unchurchy popular melodies gives a unique sound to Salvation Army worship.

The Salvation Army now has approximately 2,500 brass bands worldwide, among other musical styles used in their worship.

A Salvation Army brass band is made up of cornets (Eb and Bb), flugelhorn, alto horn, euphonium, baritone, trombone (tenor and bass), tuba (Eb and Bb) and percussion. Other ensembles are also used.

Modern evangelism

The Salvation Army has recently (2004) looked at the evangelical techniques needed for the modern age.

It believes that the church should look beyond mere techniques and focus on the fact that "relationships are fundamental to the task of evangelisation".

And while the Army acknowledges that the internet and other media have a part to play it notes that some things never change:

Agape and ALOVE

Agape (a Greek word pronounced a-ga-pay) is a Christian term meaning spiritual, platonic and selfless love.

The ALOVE initiative ("it rhymes with above") was launched in March 2004. It is aimed at getting youths and young adults involved with the Salvation Army.

Beliefs

Salvation Army beliefs

The Salvation Army is a mainstream Protestant church. Its beliefs are based entirely on the Bible.

There is nothing unusual about the doctrines held by members of the Salvation Army - they are much the same as those of other evangelical protestant groups.

What is different is the passion with which Salvationists hold these beliefs, and the way it fills them with a desire to fight the evils of the world and save other people from sin and damnation.

Salvationists hold their beliefs with "infectious joy". They "glorify their Lord by living as rejoicing Christians. The world has gloom and sadness enough of its own. The joy of the Lord is the strength of the Army spirit."

Salvationists don't retire to the quiet of a religious community to keep themselves pure; they plunge joyously into a sinful world to bring freedom to those in chains.

The Army describes itself like this:

The eleven articles of faith

The core doctrine of the Salvation Army is set out in its eleven articles of faith:

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 Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - undivided 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.

Practical implications of belief

The Army summarises the practical implications of its beliefs like this:

• All people are sinners in need of salvation
• The atonement made by Jesus avails for all
• Conversion is an inward spiritual change wrought by the Holy Spirit
• Salvation from sin should lead to holiness of life

The ministry of all believers

The Salvation Army, like many other protestant churches believes that all believers have a ministry to "proclaim the glorious gospel with urgency and in whatever way they can through their lives and through their words."

The Army teaches that believers live out their religious vocation through their service to the community.

Holiness

The Salvation Army sees itself as a "holiness movement". It describes 'holiness' as 'Christlikeness' and says that Salvationists should:

The military metaphor

The military metaphor of the Army has a long history in Christianity which sees the Church engaged in spiritual warfare. It was used in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible and many Christian writings and hymns use military imagery.

The Army uses military features such as uniforms, flags and ranks to identify, inspire and regulate its activities.

Booth's wife Catherine put it like this:

Sacraments

Unlike other Christian churches the Salvation Army does not recognise any sacraments, such as baptism or communion, as essential.

The Army does not teach that sacraments are wrong, but it believes that they are unnecessary, and may be unhelpful to some.

Early Salvationists were concerned that many Christians had become too attached to rituals as outward signs of spiritual grace. The Salvation Army places the emphasis on personal faith and on a spiritual relationship with God which doesn't depend on anything external.

Modern day Salvationists avoid sacraments for the following reasons:

• The most a sacrament can be is a symbol
• Meaningful symbols can very easily become meaningless rituals
• Sacraments can't change the heart and life of a person - that can only happen through faith in Jesus Christ
• Jesus did not intend to create any sacramental ceremonies and there is little or nothing in the Bible to support sacraments
• Sacraments have proved divisive in Christian history
• Sacraments are an element of Christianity that may obstruct the conversion of those who have abandoned more formal churches

Communion

Because of this, the Salvation Army does not hold communion or any other form of Eucharistic service. However, it does not ban Salvationists from taking communion as a sign of fellowship when they attend another church. Salvationists believe that Jesus is present and can be remembered and celebrated at every meal, not just at a sacramental breaking of bread.

Baptism

The Army has its own ceremony for becoming a member of the church (a Soldier) - the equivalent of baptism or confirmation - but the army ceremony does not involve water and is not sacramental.

The Army does not ban Salvationists from getting baptised in another church if they wish to do so.

Relations with other churches and religions

Salvationists treat other Christian churches with respect and pray that God may use them to bring sinners to himself.

William Booth expressed this by saying that Salvationists do not see it as their God-given task to protest against the doctrines or practices of other Christians, but to attest the gospel message about the saving work of Christ.

The Army takes part in activities to promote unity, understanding and practical co-operation between the various Christian bodies.

In many countries the Salvation Army co-exists with non-Christian faiths. It respects the sincerely-held beliefs of devout non-Christians, and does not regard conflict or bitter controversy as suitable means to making known the good news of Jesus.

Organisation

Parish level

The Salvation Army name for a parish is a Salvation Army Corps. Corps are led by officers, the Army equivalent of ministers.

Those involved in a corps are divided into:

• officers - ordained ministers of religion
• soldiers - those who have accepted the Christian faith and live a Salvationist lifestyle
• adherents - people who make the Army their church but have not taken on the same degree of commitment as soldiers
• people who share other aspects of the corps programme
• those who simply attend Army meetings to worship

Only officers and soldiers are counted as full members of the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army officers

Leadership in the Army is provided by commissioned officers who are ordained ministers of religion.

A Salvation Army officer talking to a homeless man ©

Salvation Army officers were not always regarded as ordained, but in 1978 the Army modified the commissioning ceremony to "emphasise the fact that Salvation Army officers are ordained ministers of Christ and His gospel." This was confirmed in 2002.

The Army does not make a sharp division between sacred and secular - all believers are members of the priesthood - and it believes that all soldiers could theoretically carry out any ministry that an officer could, except where secular law rules otherwise.

However the Army recognises that some individuals are called to particular types of ministry, and acknowledges this by commissioning some soldiers as officers to take on the ministries of preaching, evangelisation or administration, and to exercise authority within the church.

This division has never inhibited Salvationists from giving their all; the Army does not have an active clergy and a passive laity - it operates as a combined and effective spiritual force.

Some distinguished Salvationists were never commissioned as officers, including Booth's wife Catherine, and the early Salvation Army activist, George Railton.

Officer training

Salvationists accepted to become officers receive two years' residential training. In the UK this is at the William Booth College in Camberwell, South London.

At the end of the training period, cadets sign a covenant with God and The Salvation Army in private. This is followed by a public ceremony in which they are ordained, commissioned and appointed as ministers of the church.

International leadership

• The General directs Salvation Army operations throughout the world through the administrative departments of International Headquarters, based in London.
• The High Council elects the General. It consists of all Commissioners on active service and of all other territorial commanders who have held the full rank of Colonel for two years or more.
• The Chief of the Staff is appointed by the General and is the Army's second-in-command, who holds the rank of Commissioner, and acts as the Army's chief executive.

Zonal leadership

The world is divided into zonal territories, which are themselves divided into smaller, usually national, areas.

National leadership

Leadership within a territory is delegated by the General to a territorial commander appointed by him.

The administration of Salvation Army work in the UK and Ireland is further devolved to 18 divisional headquarters.

Symbols

Salvation Army symbols

These are purely symbols - Salvationists do not regard them as sacred, but they treat them with great respect.

The motto - Blood and Fire

The motto emphasises key points of Salvation Army belief:

• 'Blood' for the death of Jesus which saved Christians from sin
• 'Fire' for the power of the Holy Spirit which helps Christians live holy lives.

The badge

The Salvation Army badge symbolises the important features of the faith.

• The 'S' in the centre stands for salvation
• The cross represents the death of Jesus
• The swords represents the fight against sin
• The surrounding shape of the sun represents the fire and light of the Holy Spirit
• The crown reminds Salvationists that Heaven is the reward of all those who love and serve God

The flag

The flag consists of a blue border surrounding a red background, in the centre of which is a yellow star. The flag bears the Army's motto 'Blood and Fire'.

• The blue border represents holiness - the holiness of God and the holy lives Christians are called to live
• Red is a reminder of Jesus' blood shed when he was crucified, and his death that freed humanity from sin
• The yellow star represents the power of the Holy Spirit

The mercy seat

The mercy seat is found in every Salvation Army meeting hall. It's a bench at the front where people can kneel.

The mercy seat has two main uses.

When a person decides to become a Christian they often make a public commitment by kneeling at the mercy seat during worship. However it is important to realise that the act at the mercy seat is a public statement that God has changed something in the believer's soul; it does not itself make any change in the believer.

People who are already Christians also kneel at the mercy seat, either as a public demonstration that they are re-dedicating themselves to God, or in order to pray in a special way about a particular decision or problem affecting their lives.

People can also kneel at the mercy seat as a simple act of worship.

The mercy seat is a very old idea, found first in the Old Testament, where it was the holy place where God's presence was believed to be and where he communicated with his people.

Salvationists do not believe that the mercy seat is a piece of furniture with special spiritual properties; whenever and wherever a person meets in spirit with God, that is a 'mercy seat'.

Uniforms

Salvation Army uniforms denote rank by different trimmings on the epaulets and/or collars of their uniforms.

A soldier has plain black or blue epaulets. Officers have red felt patches on collar and epaulets and their rank is shown by silver stars and/or crest, e.g. a captain has two silver stars on his epaulets, a major has a silver crest.

Local officers are indicated by the initials on the sleeve of their uniform, eg CT - corps treasurer, YPSM - young people's sergeant-major.

The uniform is not intended to identify Salvationists as in any way better than other people.

The Army believes that wearing the uniform brings many benefits:

• It identifies its wearer as a professing Christian
• It identifies its wearer as a 'servant of all'
• It is a visible invitation to others to seek the help in spiritual and social matters which a Salvationist can give
• It reminds its wearer to act in a way worthy of their calling
• It creates a feeling of comradeship with other wearers of the uniform
• It allows a soldier to represent the Army whatever his or her errand may be

Life-stage ceremonies

Dedications not Christenings

The Salvation Army does not have a christening ceremony - children undergo a ceremony of dedication instead.

In this ceremony parents thank God for the gift of their child and promise to provide a Christian upbringing. Salvationist parents also promise to bring up the child in a Salvationist lifestyle and with Salvationist standards.

This ceremony differs from Christening in two main ways:

• The promises are made by the actual parents, not by godparents or sponsors
• The ceremony does not make the child a Christian or a Salvationist; children make that choice for themselves when they are old enough

The ceremony

The dedication takes place during a normal Salvation Army meeting for worship.

Thanks are given to God for the new life.

The officer conducting the ceremony reminds the parents of the promises they are making and they agree to keep them. The promises are to care for the child and protect her or him from harmful things as far as possible.

The officer then takes the child in his or her arms and, praying for the child by its full name, asks God to bless the child and guide the family. People in the congregation are asked to encourage and help the child as he or she grows up.

After the prayer, the child is given back to the parents. A dedication certificate is presented and the dedication register is signed.

Becoming a junior soldier

Children can become junior soldiers from the age of seven. They sign a simple statement that they love God and have asked to be forgiven for their sins. They promise to try to follow the example of Jesus.

A short course of Christian teaching is given. At a simple ceremony the child receives a badge and certificate of acceptance.

Becoming a senior soldier

This initiates a person as a full soldier in the Salvation Army. It can take place at any time after the age of fifteen.

The spiritual meaning of this is similar to confirmation or baptism in other churches.

The person must:

• Demonstrate their personal Christian faith and way of life
• Undergo a short course of teaching and discussion
• Accept and sign the Articles of War
  • this is a document setting out the Salvationists' beliefs and promises
• Affirm and sign these promises at a simple public ceremony in which they stand under the Army flag and:
  • publicly acknowledge their salvation from sin
  • state their belief in the Army's doctrines
  • promise to live by the standards laid out in the Articles of War
  • sign a copy of the Articles of War
• This is followed by prayers which ask God to help the person keep these promises

Marriage

The Salvationist wedding ceremony is very similar to any church wedding, but with some unique Salvation Army additions. For example:

• The Salvation Army flag is prominently displayed, indicating that the marriage includes a spiritual commitment
• The bride and groom may wear uniform if they are both uniformed Salvationists (though this is increasingly rare)
• When both bride and groom are Salvationists, they promise to support each other spiritually and in their work for the Army in addition to making the conventional marriage vows
• A band may provide music and/or a guard of honour
• Alcoholic drink may be provided at the reception, though the bride and groom, and any other Salvationists present, would not consume it

One question frequently asked is "who can Salvationists marry?" - and people are often surprised that the answer is "anybody that the law permits".

Salvationists don't have to get married to other Salvationists (but very often they do); they don't even have to marry other Christians (although they almost always do).

In earlier days Salvation Army officers were only allowed to marry other officers if they wanted to continue their work. This is now changing and Salvation Army officers have more freedom in their choice of partner. However this will make little practical difference, as officers often choose to live out their ministry as a husband and wife partnership.

Funerals

Salvationists believe that when the physical body dies, the soul or spirit continues to exist in another dimension. This new dimension could be Heaven or 'glory' in which God is present, or hell which is the absence of God.

Salvationist believe that those who have accepted God will go to Heaven, and so they use the phrase "Promotion to Glory" to refer to the death of a Christian.

Salvationists may be buried or cremated.

Salvation Army funerals have an atmosphere of joy and hope, since despite the sadness of losing a family member, friend or colleague, there is joy in the belief that the dead person is happy in a new existence with God. So instead of black the Army's funeral colour is white, and the flags which are walked to the graveside are draped with white ribbons.

Soldiers attend funerals in uniform and may wear a white ribbon round the sleeve of their tunic.

Salvation Army funeral traditions include:

• A cap, Bible and Salvation Army song book placed on the coffin
• A white ribbon at the top of the flagpole
• A brass band leading the cortège, though this is increasingly rare
• An appeal to those present to be aware of the wisdom of accepting God

Worship

Worship

Salvationists regard their whole life and being as an act of worship, but, of course, they meet regularly for worship.

Salvation Army meetings are open to anyone - you don't have to be a Salvationist or even a Christian to attend.

A Salvation Army band in concert at the Royal Albert Hall ©

Meetings don't have a set order of service. They usually include plenty of hymns and songs, and there may be group or individual music items. Occasionally a dance or drama group may be used to help with the worship. Verses from the Bible are read in every meeting.

Music may be provided by the local Salvation Army band or by the choir (who are called the 'Songsters').

An officer usually leads the meeting and gives the 'address' (sermon), but other people can do both or may be invited to take part by praying, reading out verses of hymns or from the Bible, or by giving 'testimonies' in which they talk about their experience of God.

Prayers are not formal or liturgical, but more often spontaneous and from the heart.

Music has been important to the Army from its early days, when it was a powerful evangelical tool; not just to attract a crowd to hear the preacher, but as a way of helping people to experience faith in a more embracing way than words could on their own.

Social work

Social work

The Salvation Army is famous for its works to help the poor and needy. Members pride themselves on being "doers of the word and not hearers only" and emphasise rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it.

The Salvation Army helps believers and non-believers equally. Practical care is never offered - or refused - on the basis of belief. The Army hopes that those it helps will become Christians, but it doesn't require them to do so.

The Army's social work is a religious activity. Members of the Army are inspired by their belief in a loving and caring God to show their love for humanity and their practical response to human need. In this they follow the teachings of Jesus.

Social work or spiritual work

The Salvation Army sees no conflict between spiritual and social ministry. It seeks to serve people so as to satisfy both the spiritual and social dimensions of their needs. The Army believes that this approach shows the very essence of the Gospel.

Salvationists affirm the following:

• Everyone has a right to the basic necessities of life:
  • food
  • clothing
  • shelter
  • education
  • health care
  • safe environment
  • economic security
  • productive work
  • just wages and benefits
  • decent working conditions
• The Army believes that these rights impose corresponding duties on each person (but only if they are able to accept such duties):
  • to work
  • to provide for the needs of their families
  • to contribute to the broader society

The Salvation Army works to change structures in society that perpetuate economic injustice. For example, the Salvation Army campaigned against government proposals to increase the opportunities for gambling.

William Booth believed that fighting for social change was vital to achieve his vision. When speaking his social work plan, he often used the metaphor of an ambulance at the foot of the precipice of human failure, noting that he also intended to erect a fence at the top.

The Salvation Army has a tradition of not giving up on anyone. Members believe that however low a person has sunk God continues to love them, and that God's grace can redeem anyone.

Homelessness

In the UK alone, the Salvation Army has 50 centres which help people without homes and provide over 3,000 beds. They are full almost every night.

A Salvation Army emergency vehicle serves drinks ©

The ultimate aim of the programme is to help homeless people to live independently in homes of their own, and all the centres have case workers and resettlement workers to help their clients achieve this.

The Army doesn't just provide beds: many centres distribute blankets and sleeping bags to those without homes, and offer drop-in centres where people can find warmth, food and friendship - as well as help in finding somewhere to live.

Other services include lunch clubs, washing and bathing facilities, and food parcels.

The Salvation Army also organises soup runs in city areas. In London, the Salvation Army's Eagle Project co-ordinates an extensive soup run provision and many other volunteer-based activities.

Addiction

The Salvation Army has 60 social programme centres which provide residential accommodation and rehabilitation for people with substance misuse problems. These are part of the National Addiction Service.

The Army has created an integrated, nationwide monitoring scheme providing a unique epidemiological profile of alcohol and drug taking in the UK.

Youth work

As well as the over 300 Senior and Junior Youth Clubs run by Salvation Army corps around the country there are a number of specialist initiatives:

• Children's Community Homes provide residential care for children placed in them by Local Authority Social Services
• Adolescent centres help young men to make the transition from residential care or homelessness to living in the community
• Family Centres support parents to help prevent family breakdown
• Low-cost holidays are provided for young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to go away
• A Child Protection Officer oversees all child protection issues. This includes on-going child protection training for staff

The Eden project

This is a church based youth project operating in an area where high unemployment leads to high crime, illegal drug use and low morale amongst residents.

The project involves Christian workers moving into the area to live and work alongside local young people as positive role models in the community.

Work with the elderly

The Army operates a wide range of services for older people:

• Sheltered flats
• 18 residential homes
• Home care services
• Over-60s lunch clubs

Disability work

The Salvation Army Fellowship of Endeavour (SAFE) is open to all children and adults together with their carers, whether they are members of The Salvation Army or not. This fellowship has about 1,000 members and works to works to cultivate a right attitude between the public and people with mental or physical disabilities and their families.

Prison work

The majority of prisons in the UK receive regular visits from a Salvation Army chaplain. The Salvation Army Care and Support for Prisoners' Families Group offers practical and spiritual support by visiting families of prisoners, assessing needs and trying to help.

The response vehicle of the Suffolk Emergency Unit

Disaster and emergency work

The Salvation Army maintains a number of purpose-built emergency mobile units which are equipped with resources which would be needed at a major incident such as a fire, flood, bombing, chemical incident, train or plane crash.

These units carry supplies of food, blankets and first aid and other equipment.

Family tracing service

This service was established as long ago as 1885. The aim is to restore (or to sustain) family relationships by locating relatives who for various reasons (a deliberate break or otherwise) have become out of touch.

Around 5,000 enquiries are received each year and approximately 85% end in success. Over 20,000 family members now enjoy restored relationships as a result of enquiries carried out by the Family Tracing Service in the UK.

Ethics

Salvation Army ethics

Salvationists are generally conservative in their ethical thinking. Since the Army devotes much of its energy to working in difficult social and ethical areas it is able to claim that its ethical doctrines are tested in practice every minute of every day.

All Salvationist ethics rely on Jesus for their authority. Their essence is captured in phrases like 'following Jesus' and 'the imitation of Christ'.

Promises

Every Salvationist makes the following ethical promises:

Purity

The Salvation Army expects its members to live according to the "values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world."

Salvationists try to avoid "all impurity, including unclean conversation and the reading of any obscene book or paper" as well as pornographic pictures, films and exhibitions of any kind, or similar television and radio programmes.

A client having his blood pressure taken at a Salvation Army detox centre ©

Bodily ethics

The Salvation Army has historically required total abstinence from alcoholic drink from all its soldiers and officers.

However, Salvationists are not forbidden to mix socially with drinkers, and War Cry is regularly sold in pubs.

Members of the Army also abstain from "tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult, and all else that could enslave the body or spirit."

Such things are seen as endangering and degrading the physical, moral, and spiritual welfare of all those who become involved with them.

Euthanasia

The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of human life and so regards euthanasia as morally wrong.

Assisted suicide is also regarded as morally wrong.

However the Army defines euthanasia strictly, as a deliberate act causing the intentional death of a person in order to relieve that person's suffering.

The Army does not regard either of the following as euthanasia or as morally wrong:

• using drugs to adequately control the pain of a dying person, even if the secondary effect may result in shortened life
• withholding or withdrawing medical treatment that only prolongs the dying process

The Army accepts that living wills or advance health care directives can be useful.

Sexual ethics and marriage

The Salvation Army holds to the Christian ideals of chastity before marriage and fidelity within the marriage relationship.

It believes that believes that sex and its proper use is a gift, created, ordained and blessed by God and intended to find expression only within the context of a loving marriage relationship.

The Army regards marriage as the voluntary and loving union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

Salvationist cannot remain soldiers if they sexually cohabit with a person of the opposite sex to whom they are not married. They must either marry or separate.

Salvationists cannot remain soldiers if they are involved in marital infidelity, deliberate promiscuity, a criminal sexual offence or any misconduct of a sexually deviant kind.

Homosexuality

The Salvation Army believes that homosexual Christians must live celibate lives, since the Bible forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex.

The Army does not accept same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.

The Salvation Army opposes any discrimination against homosexuals, and accepts as members homosexuals who will abide by the principle that sexual intimacy is only acceptable within marriage.

Homosexual practices unrenounced render a person unacceptable as a Salvation Army soldier, in the same way as heterosexual acts of immorality.

Divorce

The Army recognises that some marriages fail and is willing to help couples facing such a situation. Where remarriage could lead to the healing of emotional wounds, the Army permits its officers to perform a marriage ceremony for a divorced person.

Contraception

The Salvation Army believes that contraception is morally acceptable.

It encourages the use of birth control methods that are contraceptive (i.e. that prevent conception) versus the use of methods that are abortifacient (i.e. that prevent implantation after fertilisation).

Abortion

The Salvation Army believes that abortion is morally wrong, and recommends that unwanted pregnancies should be continued to birth.

It is opposed to abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or for any reason of mere convenience to avoid the responsibility for conception.

It deplores society's ready acceptance of abortion, which it believes reflects insufficient concern for vulnerable persons, including the unborn.

However it accepts that that there may be situations where those involved want to consider abortion; such situations need much prayer and careful thought.

In cases of proven rape or legally defined incest an abortion may be justified because of the extent to which rape and incest violate the whole person. Termination of a pregnancy may also be justified where reliable diagnostic procedures determine that a foetal abnormality is present which is incompatible with life other than brief post-natal survival or where there is total absence of cognitive function.

When an abortion takes place, The Salvation Army continues to show love and compassion and offers its services and fellowship to those involved.

Reproductive ethics

Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation are acceptable when the sperm and ova of a husband and wife are used. The Salvation Army strongly advises against the use of donors because of theological, legal, moral, social, psychological, and ethical complications and implications.

The Salvation Army advises against surrogate motherhood.

Stem cell research

The Salvation Army has chosen to be neutral in the debate over stem-cell research.

Debt

Debt is seen as a great evil. Salvationists should avoid getting into debt and only accept credit transactions (including mortgages) after making sure that they will be able to repay on time. They are expected to resist any temptation to live above their means.

Discrimination

The Salvation Army recognises that all human beings are made in God's image and are equal in intrinsic value.

From the earliest days the Army has given women and men equality of opportunity; every rank and service is open to both sexes.

All Salvation Army worship services are open to everyone and all Salvation Army social welfare services are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Salvationists are explicitly instructed to avoid class discrimination: