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[[Image:Kjsvg.png|right|thumb|Salvation Army shield]]

[[Image:Kjsvg.png|right|thumb|Salvation Army shield]]

'''The Salvation Army''' is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christian denomination which was started by "General" [[William Booth]] in 1865 in [[England]], and founded on March 28, 1885 in the [[United States]].

'''The Salvation Army''' is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christian denomination which was started by "General" [[William Booth]] in 1865 in [[England]], and began work in the [[United States]] on March 28, 1885.

Its original name was the Christian Mission.  To increase effectiveness, William Booth designed uniforms and imposed a military style of leadership.  It has long been recognized for its extremely low overhead in delivering services to the poor.

Its original name was the Christian Mission.  To increase effectiveness, William Booth designed uniforms and imposed a military style of leadership.  It has long been recognized for its extremely low overhead in delivering services to the poor.

The Salvation Army has an active presence in 113 countries and territories worldwide, the most notable exceptions being [[Islam]]ic states.  Its tightly-organized hierarchy has its headquarters in [[London]], England, and is currently led by General [[Shaw Clifton]], a UK citizen.  Among The Salvation Army's 17 international leaders since William Booth have been two women (Evangeline Booth, 1934-1939, born in the [[United Kingdom]] and a naturalized US citizen, and Eva Burrows, 1986-1993, [[Australia]]n).  One American, Paul A. Rader, has served as international leader (1994-1999).

The Salvation Army has an active presence in 113 countries and territories worldwide, the most notable exceptions being [[Islam]]ic states.  Its tightly-organized hierarchy has its headquarters in [[London]], England, and is currently led by General Linda Bond.  Among The Salvation Army's 19 international leaders since William Booth have been three women (Evangeline Booth, 1934-1939, born in the [[United Kingdom]] and a naturalized US citizen, and Eva Burrows, 1986-1993, [[Australia]]n).  General Linda Bond (Canadian) took office in 2011.  One American, Paul A. Rader, has served as international leader (1994-1999).

Among The Salvation Army's [[denomination]]al distinctives are its elevation of women to equal leadership positions as men, considered radical when the organization was founded in the late 19th century.

Among The Salvation Army's [[denomination]]al distinctives are its elevation of women to equal leadership positions as men, considered radical when the organization was founded in the late 19th century.  Mrs. General Catherine Booth is credited as a co-founder of the organization, having been a powerful evangelist and gifted writer.  Her book, "Female Ministry," was one of the earliest Biblical defenses of a woman's right to preach.

While best-known for its social services and disaster work, The Salvation Army is a religious denomination with Sunday worship in roughly 50,000 locations worldwide.  Denominational membership is about 1,500,000.  The organization's [[theology|theological]] heritage is [[Wesleyan]]-[[Arminian]] (William Booth was a [[Methodist]]), and The Salvation Army considers itself part of the [[Holiness tradition]].

While best-known for its social services and disaster work, The Salvation Army is a religious denomination with Sunday worship in roughly 50,000 locations worldwide.  Denominational membership is about 1,500,000.  The organization's [[theology|theological]] heritage is [[Wesleyan]]-[[Arminian]] (William Booth was a [[Methodist]]), and The Salvation Army considers itself part of the [[Holiness Movement]].

 

Clergy are given military ranks (Lieutenant, Captain, Major) based on their years of service.  Individuals with regional or national leadership may hold ranks of Lt-Colonel, Colonel, or Commissioner.  Only one person at a time holds the rank of General, the international leader.  Church members are known as soldiers; those with local lay leadership positions may be given "enlisted" ranks such as Sergeant-Major.

President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] praised the Salvation Army on December 1, 1965:<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-03-28&view=View</ref>

President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] praised the Salvation Army on December 1, 1965:<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-03-28&view=View</ref>