Women forging the way

At a time when women in ministry positions was unheard of in most other churches, The Salvation Army in Ayr has hosted dozens of female Salvation Army officers. The trend started in 1896 with Captain Mary Rogers, Ayr’s first officer.

In fact, in the first five years of The Salvation Army’s existence in Ayr, most of the Salvation Army officers appointed there were single women. Ordaining women was a revolutionary concept at the time so these women were real pioneers and must have experienced an odd look or two around town!

The Salvation Army has always given equal rights to women, with the wife of the founder, Catherine Booth, a strong leader in her time. In Australia, women have risen to every leadership position within The Salvation Army – even General! Our beloved General Eva Burrows (pictured right with then-Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke) led the worldwide Salvation Army for seven years. She passed away earlier this year.