Structure, symbols and terminology

The Salvation Army has a long and significant history in Australia. We are known for our uniforms and brass bands in addition to work in the community. Our distinct style stems from a rich and diverse history that traces back to The Salvation Army’s foundation in nineteenth century London.

Structure

The administrative structure of The Salvation Army can best be described as being top-down and strongly hierarchical, based upon a military model. This military structure is a legacy of The Salvation Army’s beginnings in London in the mid-19th century.

All official positions with the exception of the General are appointed, however many non-Salvationists are also employed in various capacities.

Central Administration

The Salvation Army currently operates 3 Corps, with its work administered by The Salvation Army Headquarters.

The leader of The Salvation Army is the General, who works with the administrative departments of HQ to direct Salvation Army operations around the world. These administrative departments are headed by International Secretaries.

The Chief of the Staff, a commissioner appointed by the General to be second-in-command, is the Army’s chief executive whose function is to implement the General’s policy decisions and effect liaison between departments.

As well as the handling of day-to-day business and the allocation of resources, HQ is concerned with strategic, long-range planning and acts as a resource centre for the Army and as a facilitator of ideas and policies.

The Salvation Army is split into three departments which are Worship, Administration, and Education. Each of which is headed up by a department Head.

Departmentally

The next level in The Salvation Army hierachy is Departments.

Each department is in charge of specific things, for example the Education department is in charge of Officer education.

Each department is led by a department Head (also referred to as a Departmental Commander.

Departmental Commanders are assisted by officers who oversee general departmental operations. Assisting officers can be known by different titles. For example, the assisting officers in the Worship department are known as Corps Support Officers whereas the assisting officers in the Education department are the Principal and Assistant Principal of Booth College

Local Corps

The local Salvation Army church is called a corps, and Salvation Army church members are known as ‘soldiers’, while clergy are known as ‘officers’ who hold varying ranks.

Those holding positions of leadership within the corps are called ‘local officers’. Such positions include leadership of the band, songster brigade (choir), or other groups. Local officer positions are voluntary, unpaid, and are open to both men and women.

Salvation Army officers are male or female, full-time ministers of religion, trained and commissioned (ordained) by The Salvation Army. Their work involves all the usual duties of a minister, and can also include diverse roles in Salvation Army social service programs or administration.

Officers have different ranks and wear uniform whenever they are ‘on duty’.

Symbols

The Red Shield

From its earliest days, The Salvation Army used the emblem of the shield. In its most common form it was a 45-millimetre silver brooch pierced with the words “Salvation Army” and engraved with the crest and crown.

In December 1915, a shield bearing the words “Salvation Army” attached to a British welfare hut was pictured in the English War Cry; and two years later it was claimed: The Salvation Army Shield has become the best known and most prominent sign in the military training camps [and] among the troops in France.

These ad-hoc wartime shields were generally hand-lettered on a blue background. However, a War Cry report in July 1917 describes a large shield on enamelled sheet iron with a blood-red background.

At the war’s end in 1918, Major George Peacock (Territorial Young People’s Secretary, Canada) was involved in a committee of charitable organisations raising funds for returning Canadian soldiers. The committee’s chairman felt it imperative that The Salvation Army evolve a distinctive symbol, such as that of fellow campaigners, the Red Cross and the Red Triangle (YMCA).

Years later, Colonel Peacock recorded: "Mulling over in my mind the possible symbols we might use, I picked up some material from Australia and noted they were having a ‘Red Jersey Appeal’. This led me to think of the Red Crest … the Red Shield. The latter appealed to me because of the idea of shielding or protecting in the sense the Bible uses the shield of faith.”

The Red Shield, the Army’s new “symbol of service”, was launched by Major Peacock and his assistant Captain Russel Clarke at a Calgary Rotary Club gathering in September 1918. That same day, Captain Clarke drew up what we considered a good shield, and that was the first Red Shield.
The initial 1918 Calgary Red Shield Appeal was so successful that a national Canadian campaign using the Red Shield logo was launched in 1919.

Improvements were made to the design by renowned War Cry artist, Joseph Hoy, who recorded: “The design was made at the request of Colonel (later General) George Carpenter, then Literary Secretary to Bramwell Booth, after the end of the First World War to consolidate the image of the Army’s recreation huts, mobile canteens, etc., which had been serving the troops during the war years, and continued to do so in the military establishments in Britain. But soon it became the accepted symbol for The Salvation Army’s wide-spread activities in the service of humanity.”

The Crest

While less recognisable than the Red Shield, the crest is a meaningful symbol of Salvation Army beliefs. English Salvation Army Captain William Ebdon designed the crest in 1878 and the only alteration to his original design was the addition of the crown. Its emblems set forth the leading doctrines of The Salvation Army as follows:

The sun (the surround) represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit
The cross of Jesus stands at the centre of the crest and the Salvationist’s faith
The ‘S’ stands for Salvation from sin
The swords represent the fight against sin
The shots (seven dots on the circle) stand for the truths of the gospel
The crown speaks of God’s reward for His faithful people
“Blood and Fire” is the motto of The Salvation Army – this describes the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to save all people, and the fire of the Holy Spirit which purifies believers

The Flag

Around the world, The Salvation Army flag is a symbol of the Army’s war against sin and social evil.
The red of the flag represents the blood of Christ, the blue border stands for purity, and the yellow star in the centre signifies the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The flag is used at special occasions such as marriages, funerals, marches, open-air meetings, enrolments of soldiers, farewells, and retirements.
The first Salvation Army flag was designed and presented to the Coventry Corps in England by Catherine Booth in 1878. At the time, the centre of the flag was a yellow sun representing the Light of Life. This was changed to the star in 1882.

Uniforms

The Salvation Army uniform reflects the military model upon which the Army is organised. Internally it provides a sense of identity and belonging. Externally it is a widely recognised symbol of availability and service, so we’re easily identified the world over.
As with many of our symbols, the uniform has its origins in 19th Century London. The first Captain of The Salvation Army, a former chimney sweep named Elijah Cadman, instigated the wearing of the military-style uniforms.
The original uniform was modelled on Victorian military garb, but has evolved over the years. From frock coats, tall hats and black ties for men and plain dresses and small Quaker-style bonnets for women, to the military-type uniform worn today, the uniform has adapted to fit the culture in which it finds itself.
In Australia, bonnets for women were replaced by felt hats in the 1970s and the high military-style collars were dropped for both men and women about the same time. Today, most Salvationists in Australia don’t wear hats and many people often wear a casual uniform. There is variation in uniform internationally because of climate and other circumstances.

Brass Bands

The Salvation Army today is renowned worldwide for its brass bands and choirs, but the introduction of bands to the Army happened almost by chance.
The first Salvation Army band was launched in Salisbury, England, in 1878 and was made up of Charles Fry, a local builder and leader of the Methodist orchestra, and his three sons. Salvation Army evangelists in Salisbury were having trouble with local hooligans, so Fry and his sons offered to act as bodyguards while the Salvationists sang in the marketplace.
As an afterthought the Frys brought their instruments to accompany the singing. In this unwitting fashion the first Salvation Army band was born. Their immediate success led the Fry family to sell their business and become full-time musicians with the Army. Within the next few years, brass bands sprang up all over the country, leading to their prominent place in The Salvation Army of today.

The Drum

To Salvationists, the drum has always been more than a musical instrument. From the first, the drum’s supreme function was as a ‘mercy seat’ in open-air meetings. Thousands of people have knelt at the drum and claimed Salvation from their sins.
When the Army drum made its first appearance, some people said its use in religious meetings was nothing less than sacrilege, but William Booth claimed it was just as proper to “beat” the people into a Salvation meeting as to “ring” them into church.
Of course, the drum is also very much a part of The Salvation Army musical tradition, playing as it does with the brass band.

Terminology

Adherent: A person who regards The Salvation Army as their spiritual home but has not chosen to make the commitment of 'soldiership' in The Salvation Army

Articles of War (Soldier’s Covenant): The statement of beliefs and promises which every intending soldier is required to sign before enrolment

“Blood & Fire”: The Salvation Army’s 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

Candidate: A soldier who has been accepted to enter training as an officer

Chief of the Staff: The second in command leader of The Salvation Army worldwide. The Chief of the Staff is appointed by the General

Citadel: The property or church building where Salvationists meet for worship. Other terms used are 'fortress' and 'temple'

Colonel: 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: The highest rank of a Salvation Army officer except General, appointed on merit by the General. Most Territorial Commanders are Commissioner in rank

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 their corps

Corps Officer: A Salvation Army officer who is appointed leader of a 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 officer’s 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 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

Headquarters (HQ): The General directs Salvation Army operations throughout the world through the administrative departments of Headquarters (HQ), which are headed by department Heads

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: The rank of a Salvation Army officer who has completed further studies and 15 years of 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: Effectively a 'Code of Conduct' for all Salvation Army soldiers and officers.

Order of the Founder (The): An order of merit marking meritorious Christian example and witness, and distinguished or memorable service

Order of the Silver Star (The): An order expressing 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 a Salvationist, with 'glory' symbolising life after death in God's presence

Quarters: 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

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.

SAGALA: Standing for '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, soldier, adherent or friend

Secretary: Departmental head

Soldier: A Christian person who has, with the approval of their corps' senior pastoral care council, been enrolled as a member of The Salvation Army after undertaking soldiership classes and signing the Articles of War (Soldier's Covenant).

Songster Bridgade: Salvation Army choir

Swearing-in: The public enrolment of Salvation Army soldiers

Timbrel: Musical instrument, similar to a tambourine, often used in Salvation Army worship

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 England in 1879. In Australia this is now known as Salvos Magazine

Young People’s Sergeant Major (YPSM): A local officer responsible for the young people's work, under the commanding officer

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