1st General, William Booth

General is the title of the International Leader of The Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers (who are therefore known as officers). File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Salvation Army is a Evangelist Christian denomination, a charity and a social services organization. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as portrayed in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... Note that this kind of denomination is not that of a coin or banknote. ... Allegorical personification of Charity as a mother with three infants by Anthony van Dyck Charity is a term in Christian theology (one of the three theological virtues), meaning loving kindness towards others; it is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both... A social worker is a professionally trained person employed in the administration of charity, social service, welfare, and poverty agencies, advocacy, or religious outreach programs. ... Military rank, or simply rank, is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations. ... In most Protestant churches, a minister is a member of the ordained clergy who leads a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such a person may also be called a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain or Elder. ... An officer of The Salvation Army is a Salvationist who is an ordained minister of the Christian denomination, having been trained and commissioned to service and leadership and given a quasi-military rank. ...

Usage of the term General began with the Founder of the Army, William Booth. His wife, Catherine Booth, became known as the Mother of the Army. General Booth passed on the command to his eldest son, Bramwell Booth, but all Generals after Bramwell Booth have been elected. The Booth's daughter, Evangeline Booth, was elected 4th General of the Army. General is a military rank, in most nations the highest rank, although some nations have the higher rank of Field Marshal. ... William Booth (April 10, 1829 – August 20, 1912) was the founder and 1st General (1878-1912) of The Salvation Army. ... Catherine Booth (January 17, 1829 – October 4, 1890) was the Mother of The Salvation Army. ... Bramwell Booth (March 8, 1856 – June 16, 1929) was the 2nd General of The Salvation Army (1912-1929). ... Evangeline Booth (December 25, 1865 – July 17, 1950) was the 4th General of The Salvation Army (1934-1939). ...

The Officer of The Salvation Army who is elected General is the supreme command of the Army throughout the world. All appointments are made, and all regulations issued, under the General's authority. Unlike a Pope, a General must usually "retire" at age 70. An officer of The Salvation Army is a Salvationist who is an ordained minister of the Christian denomination, having been trained and commissioned to service and leadership and given a quasi-military rank. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... Retirement is the status of a worker who has stopped working. ...

The General is elected by the High Council when his predecessor either retires or dies (known with the Salvation Army as being promoted to Glory) while still in office. The High Council is made up of the Chief of the Staff, all active commissioners, except the spouse of the General, and all territorial commanders. The High Council of The Salvation Army is the governing body made up of acting (non retired) Salvation Army Commissioners that votes in a new General of The Salvation Army when the job is vacant. ... To be promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist. ... The Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army is the officer who is second in command of the Army internationally, only behind the General, and is stationed at International Headquarters in London. ...

List of Generals of The Salvation Army

1. (1878-1912) William Booth
2. (1912-1929) Bramwell Booth
3. (1929-1934) Edward Higgins
4. (1934-1939) Evangeline Booth
5. (1939-1946) George Carpenter
6. (1946-1954) Albert Orsborn
7. (1954-1963) Wilfred Kitching
8. (1963-1969) Frederick Coutts
9. (1969-1974) Erik Wickberg
10. (1974-1977) Clarence Wiseman
11. (1977-1981) Arnold Brown
12. (1981-1986) Jarl Wahlström
13. (1986-1993) Eva Burrows
14. (1993-1994) Bramwell Tillsley
15. (1994-1999) Paul Rader
16. (1999-2002) John Gowans
17. (2002-current) John Larsson