The Salvation Army and Category talk:People from Cook County, Illinois: Difference between pages

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'''The Salvation Army''' is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[christian denomination|denomination]] and, more famously, a [[charity]] and [[social work|social services]] organization, with international headquarters at 101 Queen Victoria Street, [[London]]. It is sometimes affectionately referred to as the "Sally Ann" in Canada, "Sally Army" in the UK and New Zealand, and the "Salvos" in the US and Australia.

It is structured as a hierarchical organization, with a large number of staff and volunteers. The Army's headquarters are located in [[London]] and there are thousands of branches around the world.

[[Image:Salv-army-standard.PNG|thumb|right|280px|Standard of The Salvation Army]]

==History==

The Salvation Army was founded by [[William Booth|William]] and [[Catherine Booth]] in [[London]] in [[1865]] as an [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] movement called the '''Christian Revival Association'''. It then changed its name to '''East London Christian Mission'''. After starting the work outside the [[East End of London|East End]], the name changed to [[Mission (Christian)|The Christian Mission]].

[[Image:Williamboothcollege.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The William Booth Memorial Training College, Denmark Hill, London: The College for Officer Training of The Salvation Army in the UK]]

In [[1878]], the name was changed to The Salvation Army and a quasi-[[military]] outlook was adopted. On [[March 10]], [[1880]], Commissioner George Scott Railton and seven young women landed in the [[United States|USA]] and began operations.

The Salvation Army's main [[converts]] were at first [[alcoholism|alcoholics]], [[drug addiction|drug addicts]], [[prostitution|prostitutes]] and other "undesirables" of society with whom the [[Christian Church|Church]] refused to have any association. As a result of Booth's pragmatic approach to ministry, they decided not to include the use of [[sacrament]]s (mainly [[baptism]] and [[Eucharist|Holy Communion]]) in the Army's form of worship, believing that many Christians had come to rely on the outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself. William and his wife Catherine Booth believed in the teachings of [[Paul of Tarsus|Apostle Paul]], that [[salvation]] came solely from the grace of [[God]] personally received by faith. They felt that much of what passed for Christianity in their day was primarily an observance of outward ritual.

Among the other long-established beliefs of The Salvation Army are that its members should completely refrain from drinking [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] ([[teetotalism]]), [[tobacco smoking|smoking]], taking [[recreational drug use|illegal drugs]] and [[gambling]]. Its soldiers wear a uniform tailored to the country they work in; they can be white, grey, navy, fawn and are even styled like a sari in some areas. Soldiers only wear these to attend worship or when engaged in Salvation Army duties, not in every day life. Any member of the public is welcome to attend their church services.

As The Salvation Army grew rapidly in the late 1800s, it generated opposition in England. Opponents, grouped under the name of the [[Skeleton Army]], disrupted Salvation Army meetings and gatherings, the usual tactics being the throwing of rocks, rats, and tar, and physically assaulting members of The Salvation Army.

[[image:salvation.army.hq.london.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Salvation Army International Headquarters, London]]

The mission of The Salvation Army is to win the world for [[Jesus]]. This mandate is based on the Army's interpretation of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. The Salvation Army believes, as stated in their first doctrinal statement, that only these scriptures, "constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice."

===Worldwide expansion of the Salvation Army===

*1865 - [[Image:Flag of England.svg|25x15px|]] [[England]]

*1874 - [[Image:Flag of Wales 2.svg|25x15px|]] [[Wales]]

*1879 - [[Image:Flag of Jersey.svg|25x15px|]] [[Jersey]], [[Image:Flag of Scotland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Scotland]]

*1880 - [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Australia]],[[Image:Flag of Northern Ireland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Northern Ireland]], [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25x15px|]] [[United States of America]]

*1881 - [[Image:Flag of France.svg|25x15px|]] [[France]]

*1882 - [[Image:Flag of Alderney.svg|25x15px|]] [[Alderney]], [[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|25x15px]] [[Canada]], [[Image:Flag of Guernsey.svg|25x15px|]] [[Guernsey]], [[Image:Flag of India.svg|25x15px|]] [[India]], [[Image:Flag of Sweden.svg|25x15px|]] [[Sweden]], [[Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Switzerland]]

*1883 - [[Image:Flag of the Isle of Man.svg|25x15px|]] [[Isle of Man]], [[Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg|25x15px|]] [[New Zealand]], [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|25x15px|]] [[Pakistan]], [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|25x15px|]] [[South Africa]], [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|25x15px|]] [[Sri Lanka]]

*1884 - [[Image:Flag of Ireland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Ireland]], [[Image:Flag of Saint Helena.svg|25x15px|]] [[Saint Helena|St Helena]]

*1886 - [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25x15px|]] [[Germany]], [[Image:Flag of Newfoundland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Newfoundland]]

*1887 - [[Image:Flag of Denmark.svg|25x15px|]] [[Denmark]], [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|25x15px|]] [[Italy]], [[Image:Flag of Jamaica.svg|25x15px|]] [[Jamaica]], [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|25x15px|]] [[Netherlands]]

*1888 - [[Image:Flag of Norway.svg|25x15px|]] [[Norway]]

*1889 - [[Image:Flag of Belgium.svg|25x15px|]] [[Belgium]], [[Image:Flag of Finland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Finland]]

*1890 - [[Image:Flag of Argentina.svg|25x15px|]] [[Argentina]], [[Image:Flag of Uruguay.svg|25x15px|]] [[Uruguay]]

*1891 - [[Image:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg|25x15px|]] [[Zimbabwe]], [[Image:Cape Colony flag.png|25x15px|]] [[Zululand]]

*1894 - [[Image:Flag of Aaland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Åland]] ''(until 1950)'', [[Image:Flag of Hawaii.svg|25x15px|]] [[Hawaii]], [[Image:Flag of Indonesia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Indonesia]]

*1895 - [[Image:Flag of Gibraltar.svg|25x15px|]] [[Gibraltar]] ''(until 1968)'', [[Image:Flag of Guyana.svg|25x15px|]] [[Guyana]], [[Image:Flag of Iceland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Iceland]], [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|25x15px|]] [[Japan]]

*1896 - [[Image:Flag of Bermuda.svg|25x15px|]] [[Bermuda]], [[Image:Flag of Malta.svg|25x15px|]] [[Malta]] ''(until 1972)''

*1898 - [[Image:Flag of Alaska.svg|25x15px|]] [[Alaska]], [[Image:Flag of Barbados.svg|25x15px|]] [[Barbados]]

*1901 - [[Image:Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg|25x15px|]] [[Trinidad and Tobago|Trinidad & Tobago]]

*1902 - [[Image:Flag of Grenada.svg|25x15px|]][[Grenada]], [[Image:Flag of Saint Lucia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Saint Lucia]]

*1903 - [[Image:Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg|25x15px|]] [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Image:Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg|25x15px|]] [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|St Vincent & the Grenadines]]

*1904 - [[Image:Flag of Panama.svg|25x15px|]] [[Panamá]]

*1907 - [[Image:Flag of Costa Rica.svg|25x15px|]] [[Costa Rica]]

*1908 - [[Image:Flag of South Korea.svg|25x15px|]] [[South Korea|Korea]]

*1909 - [[Image:Flag of Chile.svg|25x15px|]] [[Chile]]

*1910 - [[Image:Flag of Paraguay.svg|25x15px|]] [[Paraguay]], [[Image:Flag of Peru.svg|25x15px|]] [[Peru|Perú]]

*1913 - [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Russia]] ''(until 1923)''

*1915 - [[Image:Flag of Belize.svg|25x15px|]] [[Belize]], [[Image:Flag of Myanmar.svg|25x15px|]] [[Myanmar]]

*1916 - [[Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|25x15px|]] [[China]] ''(until 1951)'', [[Image:Flag of Mozambique.svg|25x15px|]] [[Mozambique]], [[Image:Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg|25x15px|]] [[Saint Kitts and Nevis|St Kitts]]

*1917 - [[Image:Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg|25x15px|]] [[U.S. Virgin Islands]]

*1918 - [[Image:Flag of Cuba.svg|25x15px|]] [[Cuba]]

*1919 - [[Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg|25x15px|]] [[Czechoslovakia]] ''(until 1950)''

*1920 - [[Image:Flag of Bolivia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Bolivia]], [[Image:Flag of Nigeria.svg|25x15px|]] [[Nigeria]]

*1921 - [[Image:Flag of Kenya.svg|25x15px|]] [[Kenya]]

*1922 - [[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|25x15px|]] [[Brazil]], [[Image:Flag of Ghana.svg|25x15px|]] [[Ghana]], [[Image:Flag of Zambia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Zambia]]

*1923 - [[Image:Flag of Latvia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Latvia]] ''(until 1939)''

*1924 - [[Image:Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg|25x15px|]] [[Faroe Islands]], [[Image:Flag of Hungary.svg|25x15px|]] [[Hungary]] ''(until 1949)''

*1926 - [[Image:Flag of Suriname.svg|25x15px|]] [[Suriname]]

*1927 - [[Image:Flag of Austria.svg|25x15px|]] [[Austria]], [[Image:Flag of Estonia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Estonia]] ''(until 1940)'', [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands Antilles.svg|25x15px|]] [[Curaçao]] ''(until 1980)''

*1930 - [[Image:Flag of Hong Kong.svg|25x15px|]] [[Hong Kong]]

*1931 - [[Image:Flag of the Bahamas.svg|25x15px|]] [[Bahamas]], [[Image:Flag of Uganda.svg|25x15px|]] [[Uganda]]

*1933 - [[Image:Flag of France.svg|25x15px|]] [[French Guiana]] ''(until 1952)'', [[Image:Flag of Tanzania.svg|25x15px|]] [[Tanzania]], [[Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Yugoslavia]] ''(until 1948)''

*1934 - [[Image:Flag of Algeria.svg|25x15px|]] [[Algeria]] ''(until 1970)'', [[Image:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg|25x15px|]] [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo (Kinshasa)]], [[Image:Flag of Manchukuo.svg|25x15px|]] [[Manchukuo]] ''(until 1945)''

*1935 - [[Image:Flag of Singapore.svg|25x15px|]] [[Singapore]]

*1936 - [[Image:Flag of Egypt.svg|25x15px|]] [[Egypt]] ''(until 1949)''

*1937 - [[Image:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg|25x15px|]] [[Republic of the Congo|Congo (Brazzaville)]], [[Image:Flag of Mexico.svg|25x15px|]] [[Mexico|México]], [[Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg|25x15px|]] [[Philippines]]

*1938 - [[Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Malaysia]]

*1950 - [[Image:Flag of Haiti.svg|25x15px|]] [[Haiti|Haïti]]

*1956 - [[Image:Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg|25x15px|]] [[Papua New Guinea]]

*1960 - [[Image:Flag of Swaziland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Swaziland]]

*1962 - [[Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg|25x15px|]] [[Puerto Rico]]

*1965 - [[Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|25x15px|]] [[Taiwan]]

*1967 - [[Image:Flag of Malawi.svg|25x15px|]] [[Malawi|Malaŵi]]

*1969 - [[Image:Flag of Lesotho.svg|25x15px|]] [[Lesotho]]

*1970 - [[Image:Flag of Bangladesh.svg|25x15px|]] [[Bangladesh]]

*1971 - [[Image:Flag of Portugal.svg|25x15px|]] [[Portugal]], [[Image:Flag of Spain.svg|25x15px|]] [[Spain]]

*1972 - [[Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg|25x15px|]] [[Venezuela]]

*1973 - [[Image:Flag of Fiji.svg|25x15px|]] [[Fiji]]

*1976 - [[Image:Flag of Guatemala.svg|25x15px|]] [[Guatemala]]

*1978 - [[Image:Flag of the Canary Islands.png|25x15px|]] [[Canary Islands]]

*1980 - [[Image:GuyaneFlag.jpg|25x15px|]] [[French Guiana]] (recommenced)

*1985 - [[Image:Flag of Angola.svg|25x15px|]] [[Angola]], [[Image:Flag of Colombia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Colombia]], [[Image:Flag of Ecuador.svg|25x15px|]] [[Ecuador]], [[Image:Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg|25x15px|]] [[Marshall Islands]]

*1986 - [[Image:Flag of Tonga.svg|25x15px|]] [[Tonga]]

*1988 - [[Image:Flag of Liberia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Liberia]]

*1989 - [[Image:Flag of El Salvador.svg|25x15px|]] [[El Salvador]], [[Image:Flag of Thailand.svg|25x15px|]] [[Thailand]] ''(until 1993)''

*1990 - [[Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg|25x15px|]] [[Czech Republic]] (recommenced), [[Image:Flag of Hungary.svg|25x15px|]] [[Hungary]] (recommenced), [[Image:Flag of Latvia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Latvia]] (recommenced)

*1991 - [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Russia]] (recommenced)

*1992 - [[Image:Flag of Belarus.svg|25x15px|]] [[Belarus]] ''(until 1996)'', [[Image:Flag of Somalia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Somalia]] ''(until 1995)''

*1993 - [[Image:Flag of Georgia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Georgia]], [[Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg|25x15px|]] [[Ukraine]]

*1994 - [[Image:Flag of Guam.svg|25x15px|]] [[Guam]], [[Image:Flag of Micronesia.svg|25x15px|]] [[Federated States of Micronesia]], [[Image:Flag of Moldova.svg|25x15px|]] [[Moldova]]

*1995 - [[Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg|25x15px|]] [[Dominican Republic]], [[Image:Flag of Estonia.svg|25x15px]] [[Estonia]] (recommenced)

*1996 - [[Image:Flag of Rwanda.svg|25x15px|]] [[Rwanda]]

*1997 - [[Image:Flag of Botswana.svg|25x15px|]] [[Botswana]]

*1999 - [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands Antilles.svg|25x15px|]] [[Saint Maarten|St Maarten]]

*2000 - [[Image:Flag of Macau.svg|25x15px|]] [[Macau]]

*2004 - [[Image:Flag of Lithuania.svg|25x15px|]] [[Lithuania]], [[Image:Flag of Romania.svg|25x15px|]] [[Romania]]

*2005 - [[Image:Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg|25x15px|]] [[Falkland Islands]], [[Image:Flag of Poland.svg|25x15px|]] [[Poland]]

==Current organization and expenditures==

The Salvation Army operates in 111 countries and provides services in 175 different languages. For administrative purposes, the organization divides itself geographically into Territories, which are then sub-divided into Divisions. Each Territory has an administrative hub known as Territorial Headquarters (THQ). Likewise, each Division has a Divisional Headquarters (DHQ). For example, Japan is one territory, the United States is divided into four Territories: Eastern, Southern, Central, and [[The Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory|Western]] while Germany & Lithuania together are one territory. Each of these Territories is led by a Territorial Commander who receives orders from the Salvation Army's International Headquarters in London.

After the [[United Nations]], the Salvation Army is the world's largest provider of social aid, with expenditures of $2.6 billion in 2004, helping more than 30 million people. In addition to community centers and disaster relief, the organization does ongoing work in [[refugee]] camps, especially among displaced people in [[Africa]].

Its membership includes more than 17,000 active and more than 8700 retired officers , around 100,000 other employees and more than 4.5 million volunteers. It is led by [[Generals of The Salvation Army|General]] [[John Larsson]], who has held this position since [[2002]]. Larsson will be retiring in 2006. On [[January 28]], 2006 the High Council elected [[Shaw Clifton]] as the next General. He will take office on [[April 1]], 2006.

See: [[High Council of The Salvation Army]]

According to the 2006 Salvation Army Year Book, in the United States there are 85,148 Senior Soldiers and 28,377 Junior Soldiers, 17,396 Adherents and around 60,000 employees. Additionally, there are millions of volunteers.

==Music==

As the popularity of the organization grew and [[Salvationist]]s worked their way through the streets of London attempting to convert individuals, they were sometimes confronted with unruly crowds. A family of musicians, named the Frys, began working with the Army as their "bodyguards" and played music to distract the crowds.

[[Image:SalvationArmyParadeOxford20040905.JPG|thumb|left|250px|A parade with a Salvation Army brass band, Oxford, England]]

The tradition of having musicians available continued, and eventually grew into the creation of true bands. Their musical groups, usually a [[brass band]] or smaller collection of brass instruments, are seen in public at Army campaigns, as well as at other festivals, parades and at Christmas. Across the world, the brass band has been an integral part of the Army’s ministry, and an immediately recognizable symbol to Salvationists and non-Salvationists alike. The Salvation Army also has choirs, these are known as Songster Brigades, and these normally comprise of the traditional SATB (Soprano, Alto Tenor and Bass) singers. The Premier Songster Brigade in the Salvation Army is the International Staff Songsters (ISS).

The standard of playing is high and the Army operates bands at the international level, such as the International Staff Band, which are the equal of professional ensembles, though they do not participate in the brass band contest scene. Some professional brass players and contesting brass band personnel have come up through The Salvation Army, and in some cases continue to maintain links (e.g. Philip Smith, principal [[trumpet]] of the [[New York Philharmonic]], who still plays and records with the Army's New York Staff Band).

Depending on the size, sometimes Salvation Army corps (churches) have brass bands that enhance Sunday meetings or services by accompanying the congregation in the singing of the songs (hymns) and/or during "Praise and Worship" times set aside during the service. See [[Maidenhead Citadel Band]]

The Army tradition in music is to use popular idiom of the day to reach people for Jesus. The Army's Joy Strings were a hit pop group in the 1960s and early 1970s in the UK and beyond, reaching the charts and being featured on national television. Another popular band is The Insyderz, an American ska-core group in the 1990s and early 2000s. Current bands like New Zealand's Moped and The Lads, England's Electralyte, Australia's Soteria, and America's TransMission, carry on this Salvation Army tradition.

===Related songs===

The song [[Silver Bells]], first sung by [[Bob Hope]] and [[Marilyn Maxwell]] in the movie [[The Lemon Drop Kid]], was inspired by the imagery of Salvation Army bellringers standing outside department stores every Christmas season.

The [[Beatles]] song "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" was inspired by the Salvation Army's [[Strawberry Field]] Children's home in [[Liverpool]], England. Strawberry Field closed in 2005.

==Mission and doctrines==

[[Mission statement]]:

[[Image:William booth statue.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Statue of General William Booth]]

:''The Salvation Army, as an international movement, is an [[evangelism|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]]''.

[[Mottos]]:

:"Blood & Fire"

:"Heart to God, Hand to Man"

:"Christianity with its Sleeves Rolled Up"

:"Doing the Most Good"

:"Soup, Soap, Salvation"

:"Get Behind the Shield"

[[Doctrine]]s:

#We Believe that the [[Scripture]]s of the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s were given by inspiration of God; and that only they 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 of God|Son]] and the [[Holy Spirit|Holy Ghost]] - undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

#We Believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the [[divinity|divine]] and [[human nature]]s are united, so that he is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

#We Believe that our [[Adam and Eve|first parents]] were created in a state of [[innocence]], but by [[original sin|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 [[sacrifice|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]] (being [[born again]]) by the Holy Spirit are necessary to [[salvation]].

#We Believe that we are [[Justification (theology)|justified]] by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believes has the witness in himself.

#We Believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued [[obedience|obedient]] faith in Christ.

#We Believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly [[Sanctification|sanctified]], and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ([[First Epistle to the Thessalonians|1 Thessalonians 5:23]])

#We Believe in the immortality of the [[soul]]; in the [[resurrection]] of the body; in the general judgment at the [[End of the world (religion)|end of the world]]; in the [[heaven|eternal happiness]] of the [[righteous]]; and in the [[hell|endless punishment]] of the wicked.

Often classified within the taxonomy of Christian denominations as a [[Methodist]] faith community, The Salvation Army has always seen itself primarily as a Christian church, but this has been eroded in the public's perceptions over the years. It is now seen externally to be mainly a [[social work|social service]]s [[charity]] and/or [[charity shop|thrift shop]]. Some members of The Salvation Army are keen to re-emphasise their role as a Christian church.

==Disaster relief==

The Salvation Army's first major forays into Disaster Relief resulted from the tragedies of the [[Galveston Hurricane]] of 1900 and the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake | San Francisco earthquake of 1906]]. The Salvationists' nationwide appeals for financial and material donations yielded tremendous support, enabling the Army to provide assistance to many thousands of affected individuals.

The Salvation Army is one of the largest [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental relief agencies]] and is usually among the first to arrive with help after natural or man-made disasters. They have worked to alleviate suffering and help people rebuild their lives. After the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|Indian Ocean tsunami]] in 2004, they arrived immediately at some of the worst disaster sites to help retrieve and bury the dead. Since then they have helped rebuild homes and construct new boats for people to recover their livelihood. The Sallies were prominent among relief organizations after [[Hurricane Hugo]] and [[Hurricane Andrew]] and other such natural disasters in the [[United States|US]]. In August of 2005 they supplied [[Bottled water|drinking water]] to poor people affected by the [[heat wave]] in the US. Later in 2005 they responded to hurricanes [[Hurricane Katrina | Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita | Rita]]. Most recently they have helped the victims of the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake]].

Trained volunteers, employees, officers, and soliders perform the disaster relief work of the Salvation Army. One soldier kept a [http://www.jrogue.com/disaster/index.html blog of Hurricane Katrina relief], discussing the spiritual impetus behind the work.

==Thrift shops and charity==

[[Image:Armee-de-salut-Negative0-06-4A(1).jpg|thumb|Salvation Army in [[Lausanne]].]]

The Salvation Army is well-known for its network of Thrift stores, which raise money for its charitable and religious activities by selling donated used goods such as clothing, housewares, etc. The Salvation Army has a history of free rehabilitation from alcohol and drug abuse. Thrift stores provide the revenue to run the Adult Rehabilitation Centers known as ARC's. The ARC's are located all over the world, are work and Bible based and are usually long term residential facilities.

In many countries The Salvation Army is most recognized during the Christmas season with its volunteers who stand outside of businesses and play/sing Christmas carols, or ring bells to inspire passersby to give donations of cash and checks to the kettles. This campaign is conducted also across [[North America]] every year, and generates several million dollars. A tradition has developed in the U.S., where, in some places, gold coins are anonymously inserted into the kettles that the bell ringers collect donations in. This started in 1982, in [[Crystal Lake, Illinois|Crystal Lake]], [[Illinois]], a suburb of [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]]. Most of the donated coins are worth several hundred U.S. dollars.

==Youth groups==

[[Image:Catherine booth statue.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Statue of Catherine Booth, the Mother of the Army]]

The Salvation Army has a number of youth groups associated with it, mainly its [[Sunday school]]s and [[Scouting|Scout]] and [[Guide]] pack. Some territories have Salvation Army Guards and Legions Association (SAGALA). In the United States these internal youth groups for girls are known as Girl Guards (older) and Sunbeams (younger). Adventure Corps serves boys in 1st through 8th grade.

=== The Refuge ===

Another youth group that has emerged in The Salvation Army is

[http://www.refuge.freeservers.com The Refuge], meaning REviving FUture GEnerations. The Refuge was established in The Salvation Army division of Pendel which is in the Eastern Territory of The United States. The Refuge was created and founded by a group of friends and salvationists. It began when this group recognized the need for this type of ministry in their area. After a lot of planning, publicity, and practicing the Refuge began in the Spring of 2005. With the aid of some dedicated quality musicians and some administrative staff, the Refuge was a success and continues to be a safe place for worship, fellowship, food, and fun.

=== Alove UK ===

In the new millennium, The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom created a sub-brand of itself for the youth, called [http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove Alove], The Salvation Army for a new generation. Its purpose is to free the youth of the church and their communities to express themselves and their faith in their own ways. Its mission statement is "''Calling a generation to dynamic faith, radical lifestyle, adventurous mission and a fight for justice.''", and it emphasizes worship, discipleship, missions, and social action.

==Controversy==

The Salvation Army in the USA has come under attack for what some people see as discrimination in hiring and for its requirements on how employees should behave. Despite the tax breaks it receives as a registered charity, and its government funding (about 11 percent of total revenues, in the form of grants and payments for services), it has a stated policy of "discrimination" against applicants and employees whose faith or sexual orientation are not acceptable to The Salvation Army. The Army's position is that because it is a church, Section VII of the US [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] explicitly guarantees its rights to discriminate in hiring.

In a recent case, the New York Federal Court ruled that organization could use religious criteria in its hiring; that ruling is being appealed by the New York Civil Liberties Union. Other issues in the lawsuit by 19 current and former employees are still under consideration by the trial court.

The State of New York has proposed legislation that requires businesses to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of employees. The Salvation Army opposes this policy and has threatened to close its soup kitchens and shelters across New York.

In July 2001, [[The Washington Post]] published a Salvation Army internal memo. According to that document, the Salvation Army and President [[George W. Bush]] made a deal: the Salvation Army would support Bush's push on faith based initiatives if Bush made sure that the Salvation Army would be exempt from local and state legislations that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. The leak created considerable amount of protest from the gay community and other liberal groups.

==See also==

*[[Generals of The Salvation Army]]

*[[Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army]]

*[[High Council of The Salvation Army]]

*[[Officer of The Salvation Army]]

*[[Soldier of The Salvation Army]]

*[[The Salvation Army U.S.A. Western Territory]]

*[[The Salvation Army in Chepstow|History of the Salvation Army in Chepstow]]

*[[The Salvation Army in Manchester]]

*[[Maidenhead Citadel Band]]

==External links to websites of The Salvation Army and its members==

*[http://www.salvationarmy.org The Salvation Army (International)]

*[http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army (UK)]

*[http://www.salvationist.org The Salvation Army Community]

*[http://www.armybarmy.com ArmyBarmy]

*[http://www.thewarcollege.com The War College]

*[http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/ycm/sagala/ SAGALA - Salvation Army Guards and Legions Association]

*[http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/663BDA33EED2D5C180256FC100328C4B?openDocument International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army]

*[http://www.theisb.com/ International Staff Band of The Salvation Army]

*[http://www.heilsarmeemuseum-basel.ch/ Salvation Army Museum Basel, Switzerland]

*[http://groups.msn.com/TheSalvationArmy The Salvation Army Message Board in MSN Groups]

*[http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove Alove Website]

*[http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf Salvation Army International Heritage Centre]

*[http://www.unsite.org Unsite.org - Free Resources and Ideas for Salvation Army Ministry]

*[http://www.salvationarmy-newyork.org/star_lake/homepage.html - Star Lake Camp]

*[http://www.salvationist.org/highcouncil 2006 High Council webpage]

*[http://www.armybarmy.com/blog.html armybarmy Blog]

*[http://tsa.ismckenzie.com/ With Heart to God Blog]

*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A37723-2001Jul9 Wahsington Post article regarding the deal between Salvation Army and the Bush administration]

*[http://www.mcband.co.uk Maidenhead Citadel Band]

==Other external links and references==

* The General next to God (Collier Richard)

* God's Army: The Story of the Salvation Army (Brook Stephen)

*{{Book reference

| First=E.H.

| Last=McKinley

| Year=1995

| Title=Marching to Glory: The History of the Salvation Army in the United States, 1880-1992

| Publisher=Eerdmans Pub Co

| ID=ISBN 0802837611

}}

*{{Book reference

| First=Lillian

| Last=Taiz

| Year=2001

| Title=Hallelujah Lads and Lasses: Remaking the Salvation Army in America, 1880-1930

| Publisher=University of North Carolina Press

| ID=ISBN 0807826219

}}

*{{Book reference

| First=Pamela J.

| Last=Walker

| Year=2001

| Title=Pulling the Devil's Kingdom Down: The Salvation Army in Victorian Britain

| Publisher=University of California Press

| ID=ISBN 0520225910

}}

*{{Book reference

| First=Diane

| Last=Winston

| Year=2000

| Title=Red-Hot and Righteous: The Urban Religion of the Salvation Army

| Publisher=Harvard University Press

| ID=ISBN 0674003969

}}

*{{news reference

|firstname=Richard N.

|lastname=Ostling

|title=The Salvation Army: A distinctive corps simultaneously expands and shrinks

|date=December 15, 2005

|org=Associated Press

|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/16/special_reports/religion/19_11_1312_15_05.txt

}}

*[http://www.peterellis.org.nz/Institutions/SalvationArmy/2003/index.htm Allegations of Abuse in Institutions, Salvation Army Homes]

[[Category:The Salvation Army]]

[[Category:Christian denominations]]

[[Category:Protestantism]]

[[Category:Religion in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Religious organizations]]

[[Category:International charities]]

[[Category:British charities]]

[[Category:Social welfare charities]]

[[Category:1878 establishments]]

[[da:Frelsens Hær]]

[[de:Heilsarmee]]

[[fr:Armée du salut]]

[[he:צבא הישע]]

[[hu:Üdvhadsereg Szabadegyház Magyarország]]

[[nl:Leger des Heils]]

[[ja:救世軍]]

[[no:Frelsesarmeen]]

[[pl:Armia Zbawienia]]

[[pt:Exército da Salvação]]

[[ru:Армия спасения]]

[[simple:Salvation Army]]

[[sv:Frälsningsarmén]]

[[vi:Cứu Thế Quân]]