Ecumenical Relations
It has been a pleasure to meet you. Here you can find out more about the mission of The Salvation Army.
The Church Known as The Salvation Army
Doctrines of The Salvation Army
As set out in Schedule 1 of the Salvation Army Act 1980
- We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
- We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
- We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
- We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
- We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
- We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
- We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
- We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
- We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
The Salvation Army in the Body of Christ: An Ecclesiological Statement
- The Body of Christ on earth (also referred to in this paper as the Church universal) comprises all believers in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
- Believers stand in a spiritual relationship to one another, which is not dependent upon any particular church structure.
- The Salvation Army, under the one Triune God, belongs to and is an expression of the Body of Christ on earth, the Church universal, and is a Christian denomination in permanent mission to the unconverted, called into and sustained in being by God.
- Denominational diversity is not self-evidently contrary to God’s will for his people.
- Inter-denominational harmony and co-operation are to be actively pursued for they are valuable for the enriching of the life and witness of the Body of Christ in the world and therefore of each denomination.
- The Salvation Army welcomes involvement with other Christians in the many lands where the Army is privileged to witness and serve.
The Salvation Army's Mission Statement
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.
WILLIAM BOOTH’S ‘I’LL FIGHT…!’ SPEECH
‘While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight – I’ll fight to the very end!’
A 2020 retelling:
International Positional Statements
A positional statement is an articulation, crafted with careful and prayerful thought, of the official viewpoint of The Salvation Army. As well as stating the position, each document expresses the scriptural and theological grounds for the statement and the underlying principles.
The Story of The Salvation Army
When William and Catherine Booth began the work in London that would grow to become The Salvation Army, few would have predicted their legacy: an organisation, part of the Christian Church, now working in more than 130 countries and with a history spanning more than 150 years. Throughout this time there have been millions of members, and people have been helped right across the world – but this movement had humble beginnings.
The Salvation Army's response to displaced peoples
Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that one person is forcibly displaced every two seconds. There are more than 70 million forcibly displaced people around the world. About 41 million people are displaced within their own country, and called Internally Displaced Persons. This is a global crisis.
The Salvation Army has a long history of providing practical, emotional and spiritual assistance to displaced people. Displaced is a film looking at the work of a wide range of non-governmental organisations – and particularly The Salvation Army – in working with displaced peoples around the world. The film uses Brazil as a case study.
The Salvation Army's response to the conflict in Ukraine
The Salvation Army is responding rapidly to the urgent needs of displaced people who have been impacted by the unfolding Russia-Ukraine war. Emergency response teams across The Salvation Army’s global network continue their tireless efforts, providing critical relief, strategic planning and emotional support through conditions of extreme challenge and distress.
The Salvation Army's response to modern slavery and human trafficking
The Salvation Army and the Environment
The Salvation Army believes people are made in the image of God. He has entrusted us to reflect his personality by caring for the Earth and everything in it.
The Salvation Army recognises environmental degradation as one of the most pressing issues facing the world today, affecting us all. Its effects fall disproportionately on the most vulnerable, particularly in terms of health, livelihood, shelter and the opportunity to make choices. The very survival of humanity depends on the health of the whole ecosystem.
In addition to being compelled by the lived experience, The Salvation Army also accepts the scientific evidence that demands action on all levels to lessen the effects of environmental damage. It is committed to sustainable environmental practices which are required to safeguard the integrity of creation.