Officers, Soldiers and Adherents
Everyone is welcome to attend a Salvation Army church and be part of our faith community without making any formal ongoing commitment to be a member or to wear a uniform.
Some people choose to make a more formal level of commitment as an officer, soldier or adherent of The Salvation Army. These military-style terms are used for membership because, from its beginning in 1878, The Salvation Army used military language to represent the battle all Christians must fight against poverty, injustice and evil.
Soldiers
In The Salvation Army, some Christians choose to enrol as a soldier. A soldier in The Salvation Army is a follower of Jesus (Christian), is aged 14 or older, and identifies with The Salvation Army’s beliefs and mission. They are part of a Salvation Army corps in their local area.
In an enrolment ceremony, they sign a covenant (or promise) with God in which they:
- State their belief in the 11 doctrines of The Salvation Army
- Promise to share the good news of Jesus with others and to care for those in need
- Commit to living a lifestyle that aligns with the values of the Kingdom of God and supports our mission — for example: giving their time, talents and finances in service to God; not consuming alcohol, tobacco or drugs; avoiding pornography; and maintaining Christian ideals for family life
Many soldiers wear our uniform, especially when representing The Salvation Army in the community, however the uniform is not compulsory.
Read about some soldiers enrolled at Caloundra Corps, Qld, and Auburn Corps, NSW
Adherents
Adherents are Christians who also pledge to support their local Salvation Army corps. They are aged 14 or over. While not entering into a Soldier’s Covenant, an adherent declares that they:
- Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, seek to follow him and want to share his love with others
- Participate through worship, fellowship and service at a local Salvation Army corps
- Identify with the mission of The Salvation Army
Junior Soldiers
The Salvation Army offers an option for children to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Children may attend classes at their local Salvation Army to:
- Get to know who Jesus is
- Learn about the Bible and how to read the Bible
- Understand the history and mission of The Salvation Army
- Engage in opportunities to serve their community
Children may make a promise to follow Jesus in an enrolment ceremony and be supported by an adult mentor who promises to pray for them regularly.
Officers (ministers of religion)
Officers are the equivalent of full-time ministers of religion, clergy or pastors in other Christian denominations. In keeping with the military structure, they can hold various ranks such as lieutenant, captain, commissioner and general. The General of The Salvation Army is the world leader of our organisation .
Before becoming an officer, a person must be a soldier of The Salvation Army. They undertake an interview process and then theological and practical training. The training is through The Salvation Army’s Eva Burrows College.
After they are ordained, or commissioned, they are appointed to various roles around The Salvation Army, which could include church leadership, social programs, or management according to their skills and experiences.
The Salvation Army is committed to the ordination of both men and women. Single men, single women and married couples can all apply to become officers.