Guide to a High Council

The sole purpose of a High Council is to elect a new General for The Salvation Army.

Members spend time in prayer and worship, and in discussion, before making nominations and participating in the election.  

The High Council is made up of:

• Active commissioners who are territorial commanders or who hold an international or national headquarters or territorial leadership appointment*
• Territorial commanders with the rank of colonel
• Territorial leaders with the rank of colonel

*Excluding the spouse of the General

Some aspects of the High Council are governed by British Law, including a requirement that the council is held in the UK. Council members must meet in person (rather than online).

Every member of the High Council can nominate someone as a candidate for General, and any active Salvation Army officer can be nominated. Any officer who receives three or more nominations can choose to become a candidate.

The council prepares questions for the candidates. These usually cover a candidate’s vision for The Salvation Army, their approach to leadership and their thinking on belief and practice. The questions and answers are confidential and are not published outside of the High Council.

A shorter questionnaire is also addressed to the spouse of any married candidate.

Each council member votes in turn, going to one of the private voting rooms to mark their ballot paper. Members vote for a single candidate.

To be elected, a candidate must get the vote of more than two thirds of the members present.

If no one is elected, the candidate with the fewest votes must drop out and a second ballot is held. Again, a candidate must get the vote of more than two thirds of those present to be elected.

Balloting continues until one of the candidates is elected. From the fourth ballot onwards, a candidate only needs the vote of more than half the members present to be elected.

When a new General has been elected, the doors of Sunbury Court are opened and the President announces the new General-elect.

The news is livestreamed around the world.

As an international church family we have the responsibility and privilege to pray for the members of the High Council.

William Booth set out regulations for what was then the Christian Mission in the 1878 Deed of Constitution. This was a non-variable Deed Poll, meaning that changes could only be made through a private Act of Parliament. Acts were passed in 1931, 1963, 1968 and 1980.

Schedule 4 of the Salvation Army Act (1980) governs aspects of how the High Council functions today. The General, with the agreement of more than two thirds of the commissioners, has the power to amend Schedule 4 without reference to Parliament.

Each General may serve a term of up to five years unless he or she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 68 before the end that term.