International conference of leaders speaks to Salvationists of the world

AFTER eight days of intense listening, worshipping and talking, 126 international, territorial and command leaders of The Salvation Army signed their names to a declaration to be issued to Salvationists worldwide. The signatories had gathered at the Hamilton Park Conference Center in New Jersey, USA, for the triennial International Conference of Leaders, presided over by General John Larsson and the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Israel L. Gaither.

On the first day of the conference the General had appointed a drafting committee to prepare a statement that would embody the passions and heart concerns of the conference delegates as these arose and were confirmed during the daily devotional and business sessions. In a final meeting, this statement, which had been discussed and approved at two plenary sessions, was read to the conference by Commissioner Lawrence R. Moretz, chairman of the drafting committee.

The General then read out the verses of a song that, right from the public welcome at the commencement of the conference, had provided the devotional theme running through each session: General Evangeline Booth’s great testimony of faith,

and the leaders sang, as they had done many times in the previous days, the chorus of affirmation, which includes the words:

During the singing of other songs and in moments of quiet meditation, the Army’s leaders then moved forward and signed their names to the conference declaration, before each confirmed to the General his or her determination to continue to ‘do my part’ in the evangelisation and salvation of the world.

The final conference statement, to provide direction and inspiration to all Salvationists wherever they might be carrying on the Army's God-given mission, stands as follows:

The Salvation Army International Conference of Leaders convened under the theme

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it is springing up, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

In his keynote address, General John Larsson affirmed: “God is doing a new thing in the Army right now and right here. It is my hope that, as we share together these days around the theme of ‘renewal’, we will be reassured that God is indeed doing this new thing”.

We, the leaders together in conference in New Jersey USA, waited for God to show us the new thing that he is doing with The Salvation Army in the world today.

We recognize that the action-oriented nature of the movement has sometimes caused us not to await God’s direction.

In the spirit of repentance we humbly respond to God and obediently accept the call to prayer and the seeking of his will. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 NIV

We embrace the future, desiring to know our potential as God sees it.

We affirm that the essence of Salvationism is the love of Jesus Christ that knows no boundaries, calling us especially to the lost, the marginalized, the exploited and the neglected.

It is this love which:

• must burn in the heart of every Salvationist and leader;
• calls us to a renewed commitment to listen to God in prayer;
• engages us with the world in the integrated mission of soul saving, discipling, serving humanity and transforming society;
• compels us to actively engage in Kingdom growth;
• provokes our concern for the unevangelized peoples of the world;
• leads us to mutual respect in strengthening teams and mission partnerships;
• requires us to give liberally in support of the mission of The Salvation Army.

We confirm:

• that we are a world movement committed to world evangelization - to all people and to the whole person - recognizing the Holy Spirit’s gracious direction to the unreached, including children and youth.
• that the truth of the Gospel must not only be declared but also be evident in the life of every Salvationist.
• that the participation of all in mission and ministry is vital to reach the whole world for God.
• our interdependence and global connectedness as partners in mission and celebrate our God-given unity in diversity as part of the body of Christ.
• the necessity to develop mission strategies for world evangelization, holistic ministry, social transformation and financial stability in every territory and command.
• the importance of identifying and developing spiritual leaders to meet tomorrow’s missional challenges.

We declare our personal commitment to God and to discover those new things that he wants us to do.

We are confident in God that The Salvation Army remains part of his plan as we submit to him under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV.

As a Great Commission Army called to “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19 NIV), we joyfully accept the General’s challenges:

• to discover our identity as a people renewed in Christ.
• to regard every Army unit as a “mission team.”
• to attain, world wide, 2 million soldiers, junior soldiers and adherent members by 2010.
• to combat the evil of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
• to uphold the principle of self-denial in the renamed international self- denial world mission fund.

The declaration was signed by (in order of seniority):

General John Larsson, Commissioner Freda Larsson (International Headquarters), Commissioner Israel L. Gaither (Chief of the Staff), Commissioner Eva D. Gaither (IHQ), Commissioner Paul du Plessis (IHQ), Commissioner Margaret du Plessis (IHQ), Commissioner B. Donald Odegaard (Norway, Iceland and The Færoes), Commissioner Berit Odegaard (Norway, Iceland and The Færoes), Commissioner Mohan Masih (India Western), Commissioner Swarni Masih (India Western), Commissioner Alex Hughes (United Kingdom), Commissioner Ingeborg Hughes (United Kingdom), Commissioner Brian Taylor (IHQ), Commissioner Margaret Taylor (IHQ), Commissioner Johannes Watilete (Indonesia), Commissioner Augstina Watilete (Indonesia), Commissioner Rolf Roos (Sweden and Latvia), Commissioner Majvor Roos (Sweden and Latvia), Commissioner Thorleif Gulliksen (IHQ), Commissioner Olaug Gulliksen (IHQ), Commissioner William Mabena (Southern Africa), Commissioner Lydia Mabena (Southern Africa), Commissioner Lawrence R. Moretz (USA Eastern), Commissioner Nancy A. Moretz (USA Eastern), Commissioner Nozomi Harita (Japan), Commissioner Kazuko Harita Japan), Commissioner Tadeous Shipe (Zambia), Commissioner Nikiwe Shipe (Zambia), Commissioner Hasse Kjellgren (Switzerland, Austria and Hungary), Commissioner Christina Kjellgren (Switzerland, Austria and Hungary), Commissioner Shaw Clifton (New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga), Commissioner Helen Clifton (New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga), Commissioner Kang, Sung-hwan (Korea), Commissioner Lee, Jung-ok (Korea), Commissioner W. Todd Bassett (USA National Headquarters), Commissioner Carol A. Bassett (USA National Headquarters), Commissioner Werner Frei (Germany), Commissioner Paula Frei (Germany), Commissioner Amos Makina (Zimbabwe), Commissioner Rosemary Makina (Zimbabwe), Commissioner Robin Dunster (The Philippines), Commissioner Lalkiamlova (IHQ), Commissioner Lalhlimpuii (IHQ), Commissioner P.D. Krupa Das (India South Eastern), Commissioner P. Mary Rajakumari (India South Eastern), Commissioner Hezekiel Anzeze (East Africa), Commissioner Clerah Anzeze (East Africa), Commissioner Philip Needham (USA Southern), Commissioner Keitha Needham (USA Southern), Commissioner Linda Bond (USA Western), Commissioner Margaret Sutherland (IHQ), Commissioner Ivan Lang (Australia Southern), Commissioner Heather Lang (Australia Southern), Commissioner Willem van der Harst (The Netherlands and Czech Republic), Commissioner Netty van der Harst (The Netherlands and Czech Republic), Commissioner Keith Banks (IHQ), Commissioner Pauline Banks (IHQ), Commissioner Kenneth Baillie (USA Central), Commissioner Joy Baillie (USA Central), Commissioner Raymond A. Houghton (IHQ), Commissioner Judith Houghton (IHQ), Commissioner Jean B. Ludiazo (Congo (Kinshasa)), Commissioner Veronique Ludiazo (Congo (Kinshasa)), Commissioner Paulo Rangel (Brazil), Commissioner Yoshiko Rangel (Brazil), Commissioner Leslie Strong (Australia Eastern), Commissioner Coral Strong (Australia Eastern), Commissioner William W. Francis (IHQ), Commissioner Marilyn D. Francis (IHQ), Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan (Canada and Bermuda), Commissioner Paulose Yohannan (India Northern), Commissioner Kunjamma Yohannan (India Northern), Commissioner Gulzar Patras (Pakistan), Commissioner Sheila Gulzar (Pakistan), Commissioner Hugo Pintos (South America West), Commissioner Julia Pintos (South America West), Commissioner Makoto Yoshida (IHQ), Commissioner Kaoru Yoshida (IHQ), Colonel Carl Lydholm (Finland), Colonel Gudrun Lydholm (Finland), Colonel John Matear (Caribbean), Colonel Elizabeth Matear (Caribbean), Colonel Olin O. Hogan (Mexico), Colonel Dianne Hogan (Mexico), Colonel William A. Roberts (South America East), Colonel Nancy Roberts (South America East), Colonel Edouard Braun (France), Colonel Francoise Braun (France), Colonel Chimanbhai Waghela (India South Western), Colonel Rahelbai Waghela (India South Western), Colonel Graeme Harding (Ghana), Colonel Anne Harding (Ghana), Colonel Trevor M. Tuck (Papua New Guinea), Colonel Memory Tuck (Papua New Guinea), Colonel Stuart Mungate (Nigeria), Colonel Hope Mungate (Nigeria), Colonel Prathipaty Devavaram (India Eastern), Colonel P. Victoria Devavaram (India Eastern), Colonel M. C. James (India Central), Colonel L. Susamma James (India Central), Colonel Mfon J. Akpan (Congo (Brazzaville)), Colonel Ime M. Akpan (Congo (Brazzaville)), Colonel Jorge Ferreira (Latin America North), Colonel Adelina Ferreira (Latin America North), Colonel Roy Frans (Sri Lanka), Colonel Arda Frans (Sri Lanka), Lieut-Colonel David Bringans (Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar), Lieut-Colonel Grace Bringans (Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar), Lieut-Colonel Barry R. Pobjie (Eastern Europe), Lieut-Colonel Raemor Pobjie (Eastern Europe), Lieut-Colonel Tan Thean Seng (Hong Kong and Macau), Lieut-Colonel Tan Loo Lay Saik (Hong Kong and Macau), Lieut-Colonel David J. Burrows (Tanzania), Lieut-Colonel Jean Burrows (Tanzania), Lieut-Colonel Ethne Flintoff (Bangladesh), Lieut-Colonel Lynette Green (Portugal), Lieut-Colonel Brian Knightley (Liberia), Lieut-Colonel Dorothy Knightley (Liberia), Lieut-Colonel Dirk J. Krommenhoek (Denmark), Lieut-Colonel Vibeke Krommenhoek (Denmark), Major Christian Exbrayat (Belgium), Major Joelle Exbrayat (Belgium), Major Malcolm Forster (Malawi), Major Valerie Forster (Malawi), Major Massimo Paone (Italy), Major Jane Paone (Italy), Major Federico L. Larrinaga (Spain), Major Marie C. Larrinaga (Spain).

Colonel Mfon J. Akpan (Congo (Brazzaville)) and Colonel Ime M. Akpan (Congo (Brazzaville)) were unable to attend.


Note to editors: the declaration may not be altered in any way.