BIOGRAPHIES

The Chair of the International Theological Council (ITC), Lieut-Colonel Dr Karen Shakespeare has served in a variety of appointments at corps, DHQ, THQ, IHQ, William Booth College, and as Principal of SALT College of Africa. She has been a member of the ITC (formerly the International Doctrine Council) since 2003 (Secretary 2009-2014).

Karen and David have two married officer daughters and five grandchildren. Karen’s commitment to officer development has been enriched and sharpened by practical experience and academic study; she believes that who we are, what we know and believe, and what we do blend together to form us and bring growth.

Vice-Chair of the ITC Commissioner Johnny Kleman was born in Borås, Sweden and married Eva after his commissioning 1982. They served together in corps and DHQ appointments before 1997 when he was appointed to teach at the School for Officer Training in Sweden, later becoming the Principal. In 2007 was he appointed as Secretary for Programme in the Finland & Estonia Territory.

Later, after serving as Chief Secretary in Sweden & Latvia Territory for three years, he was appointed as Territorial Commander for Finland & Estonia Territory and in 2016 he was appointed as the Territorial Commander for Sweden & Latvia. He is curently serving as the International Secretary for the Europe Zone since 2018. His academic background is in Theology, Philosophy and Education. He is the co-author of a book, A Sacramental Army.

The Secretary of the ITC Lieut-Colonel Gerardo Gochez is from Costa Rica. Among his studies, he graduated as a BA in Ecclesiastical Resources Management and holds a BA (Hons) in Pastoral Care with Psychology (London).

He has served and lectured in various Central American countries, and also in Cuba, Venezuela, Australia, the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Denmark. He served at the International Headquarters in London, England as Under Secretary for the Americas and Caribbean Zone. Currently, he serves as the Principal of the Training College located in Costa Rica, which prepares future officers from the 10 countries that make up the Latin America North Territory.

Major Celestin Ayabagabo is an officer of Rwanda and Burundi Command, trained and commissioned in Congo-Brazzaville in the Bridge Builders Session (2002-2004). He served as a corps, section, and district officer, then as acting property/statistics administrator, before moving to Kenya West Territory in 2010. He was appointed as Senior French tutor at SALT College of Africa in 2014 and Principal of the Officers Training College in Rwanda and Burundi in 2016. He is currently Assistant Under Secretary/New Openings Coordinator for Africa at IHQ. In 2023 he will take up his new appointment as Chief Secretary of Congo Brazzaville Territory.

Major Ayabagabo holds a diploma in teaching from Rambura Complex School (Rwanda), a diploma in business management from the Kenya Institute of Management, a certificate in Salvation Army ministry and a diploma in Salvation Army accounting and finances from SALT College of Africa, and a bachelor’s degree in management and leadership from the Management University of Africa (Kenya). He speaks French, English, Kiswahili, Kinyarwanda, and Kirundi.

Major Ayabagabo is passionate about preaching and teaching. Reading music is his weak field, but he enjoys singing in groups. Married to Beatrice, the couple has five children (three sons and two daughters). In his spare time, he loves gardening, watching TV, and cooking.

Coralie Bridle is a disciple of Jesus Christ, a lifelong Salvationist and attends the Auckland City Corps in New Zealand. Oncology nursing and palliative care have formed the backbone of her career. Her three adult children and two grandsons, keep her grounded amidst the complexities of modern life. She serves on the International Theological Council for the Salvation Army and the Moral and Social Issues Council in New Zealand. 

Coralie holds a master’s degree in theology with a thesis focused on cognitive impairment, conversion, and citizenship within The Salvation Army. She is currently working on her PhD with a view to developing a framework for support and ministry with people living with complex disabilities within The Salvation Army.

Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham was commissioned from the Ambassadors for Christ session in 1990 and is an officer of the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory. Alongside her husband, Lyndon, she has served in corps appointments in New Zealand and Canada, and in divisional and territorial appointments in NZFTS, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar and the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. On 1 August 2018 she assumed the role of World Secretary for Women’s Ministries at IHQ when Lyndon was appointed as Chief of the Staff, and commenced her current appointment as World Secretary for Spiritual Life Development on 1 January 2021.

Bronwyn is inspired by the belief that God has a new truth to reveal to her daily and compelled by the promise that he is continuing to grow and stretch her (Philippians 1:6). She desires to be the woman God is calling her to be and is passionate to be part of an Army where the next generation will choose to embrace their leadership calling.

Major Nick Coke is an officer from the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. He was born and raised in the UK and lived for a time in Switzerland. He was commissioned in 2000 and has served in a variety of appointments including as a divisional youth officer, a practitioner tutor at William Booth College, and refugee response coordinator. He planted a new corps with his wife Kerry in the East End of London over a 12-year period. He is currently the Territorial co-ordinator for Justice and Reconciliation.

He completed an MA in Contemporary Mission Studies in 2008 and has written widely for the One Army resource material and The Officer magazine. He likes nothing more than listening to his ever-growing record collection, whilst theologically reflecting on the state of the world.

Major Nigel J Cross was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and immigrated to the United States in 1990 where he became a naturalized citizen in June 2003. While in New Zealand he attained a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and religious studies from the University of Canterbury. While serving as a Junior High School teacher he was awarded a National Scholarship to study abroad at the University of Kansas where he completed a Master of Music Education in Music Therapy. The Salvation Army employed Nigel first as a Divisional Music Director in Kansas but after two years he transferred to a similar position in Seattle, WA. While in Seattle he completed a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and met his wife, Stacy. They were married in 1999 and in 2003 they both became officers in The Salvation Army serving in Corps, at the College for Officer Training and Divisional Headquarters. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2009. 

Nigel is currently the Training Principal of the College for Officer Training in the USA West Territory.

Lieut-Colonel Donna Evans is a follower of Jesus who is passionate about journeying with people and communicating theology in an understandable way. Married to Stu, they have four beautiful children and six precious grandchildren. Donna loves reading, and is currently enjoying exploring the writings of the feminist theologian, Elizabeth Johnson.

She is an Australian Salvation Army Officer who has enjoyed varied appointments at corps, DHQ and a five year term at Booth College. Until early 2017 Donna was serving in the Netherlands and Czech Republic as Territorial Secretary of Education and Training, and she is currently Assistant Chief Secretary, Australia Eastern Territory.

Petra Kjellen Brooke is an active Salvationist in Moss Corps in Norway. She is a trained nurse and has a master's degree in Diakonia (Christian social science). Petra has worked for The Salvation Army's social services for more than ten years. She has held positions as an advisor for social work institutions and project development and as the coordinator for The Salvation Army's anti trafficking work in the Norwegian territory.

Petra is currently working on a PhD researching corps-based social work and will start in a new role as senior advisor in Salvation Army social services in January 2023. Petra is married to Martin and they have two boys.

Captain Dorothy Macwan is an officer from the India Western Territory. She is married to Captain Christopher Macwan, and was commissioned with him as part of the Joyful Intercessors Session (2015-17). She is currently serving as Assistant Under Secretary for the South Asia Zone at IHQ. 

Captain Macwan gives thanks for God's love and divine provision after a successful kidney transplant. She prays that God will use her, and the entire International Theological Council, to bring glory and honour to his holy name and revival through the revelation of the Word.

Major Arif Masih was born in 1968 in Lahore Pakistan. His early education was in Lahore, and he completed his Bachelor of Theology from Gujranwala Theological Seminary in 1990. His thesis was on the topic: "Comparison between Muslim and Christian married life". He served as a Presbyterian pastor for three years in Gujranwala. He and his wife Samina worked for The Salvation Army at Jhamka Corps before training as part of the Messengers of Love Session.

Major Masih served as a corps officer and youth officer at Tanda and Peshawar. He served at the Training College as field training officer, senior training officer and acting training principal, before being appointed to Kohat Corps. He is currently serving as Secretary for Spiritual Life Development in the Pakistan Territory. He and Samina have two sons, Ammindab and Alyab, a daughter, Anab, daughter-in-law Jaira Amminda, and granddaughter Judith.

Major Louise Mavouna Nkouka (born Matondo) was trained in the Messengers of Joy Session (1986-1988). She has served as a corps officer, health centre assistant, literacy programme coordinator, territorial secretary of biblical class, divisional director of women’s ministries, private secretary to the Congo Brazzaville Territorial Commander, HIV/Aids and prayer coordinator, assistant extension training offer and coordinator of human sexuality.

Major Mavouna holds a diploma in Salvation Army Women’s Ministries from SALT College of Africa and a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Protestant University of Brazzaville. She is currently the assistant principal and education officer at the training college for officers and a territorial contact for modern slavery and human trafficking. She is married to Major François Mavouna Nkouka. They have one son, who is also an officer.

Commissioner Jane Paone is proud of her Scottish roots, changing homes frequently with her officer parents. After having worked as a bilingual secretary for a French oil company, Jane entered training college in London to become a Salvation Army officer. Commissioned in 1982, Jane has served, along with her Italian husband Massimo, in the UK, Italy, France and Switzerland. As Command leaders, they gave oversight to the opening of the Army’s work in Greece. They then served as Territorial leaders in France and Belgium and then in Switzerland, Austria and Hungary territory. In this appointment, Jane was also Senior International Social Justice Coordinator (Europe).

Officially “retired” in July 2020, since November 2021, Jane has been appointed as Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations. She is fluent in Italian and French, with some German knowledge, and longs to communicate her love for God and people in whatever language.

Lieut-Colonel (Dr) Bishow Samhika is the Secretary for Training and Capability Development (IHQ). He is a Zimbabwean by nationality and belongs to the Messengers of the Truth session. He has served together with his wife in three corps appointments for 12 years. This was followed with Institutional appointments at the Officers Training College first as the Home Officer, then as the Academic Dean. Then he served at SALT College of Africa as the Director of Studies. In 2011, he went together with his wife for international service in Mozambique Territory where he served as Divisional Commander. Then from Mozambique he was appointed Principal of SALT College of Africa and Resource Centre (IHQ) based in Kenya. He served at SALT College for 6 years being involved in leader development programs in the Africa Zone.  From there he assumed his current appointment at International Headquarters as the Secretary for Training and Capability Development, a role in which he supports training (particularly all training colleges) and other areas of capability building for officers already in leadership positions.

Beside ministry experience, he also carries teaching and lecturing experience at the University of Zimbabwe and Midlands State University. He holds a PhD (University of Nairobi) in Religious Studies (area of focus being Biblical studies), MA in Religious Studies, and BA Honours in Religious Studies (University of Zimbabwe). He is married to Pamela and blessed with a daughter Benadate and a son Benedict. As a theologian who specialised in Biblical Studies, he shares the passion for contextual biblical interpretation.  His time is mostly spent on “Reflection on defining moments of life, Risking and Investing on those things that last”.

Colonel Wendy Swan, PhD is Canadian by birth and global citizen by choice. Wendy’s 26 years of international service reflect her commitment to the global body of Christ.  

She presently serves as Director of the International Social Justice Commission, Chair of the International Moral and Social Issues Council and as a member of the International Theological Council. Wendy's PhD (Systematic Theology – King’s College, London) articulated a theology of protest for The Salvation Army in its fight against injustices amongst the poor and marginalized of the world. She is the author of Living Right While Righting Wrong – A Salvationist Theology of Protest.  Wendy loves music, travel and baking.

Commissioner Mark Tillsley, PhD is presently serving as the USA Eastern Territory Theology & Christian Ethics Secretary and Senior Instructor at the College For Officer Training.

Mark holds a B.A. in Psychology (Fordham University), M.S.S.W. in Social Work (Columbia University) and a PhD in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy (Fordham University).  With his spouse Sharon, they have held varied corps, divisional, training college and territorial appointments in their home territory of the USA Eastern Territory. This has been followed by international leadership appointments in the Canada & Bermuda Territory, the Caribbean Territory and then International Headquarters.