Women forging the way

At a time when women in ministry positions were unheard of in most other churches, The Salvation Army in Murwillumbah/Tweed Heads has hosted dozens of female Salvation Army officers. In fact, more than half of the Salvation Army officers appointed to Murwillumbah in its first 20 years of operation were single female officers. 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) led the worldwide Salvation Army for seven years. She passed away earlier this year.