General is the title of the international leader and chief executive officer 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). The General is elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army and serves a term of five years, which may be extended to seven years. According to the organization, the General is purported to be chosen by God, and the council identifies that person. The position is roughly equivalent to the position of Archbishop in many other Christian denominations. Lyndon Buckingham is the current General, who assumed office on 3 August 2023 upon the retirement of Brian Peddle. The organization's founder, William Booth, was the first and longest-serving General. There have been 22 Generals as of 2023.
History and procedures for election
Usage of the title "General" within the context of The Salvation Army, began with the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth. His wife, Catherine Booth, the organisation's co-founder, became known as the "Mother" of The Salvation Army. General Booth served as General until his death in 1912; Booth selected his son, Bramwell Booth as his successor. It was William Booth's intention to have each General dictate their successor, but the Salvation Army Act 1931 passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom requires that each General is selected by the High Council of The Salvation Army. Every General after Bramwell Booth has been selected by the High Council. In accordance with the Salvation Army Act 1931, a General must retire at age 68 and may serve as long as seven years. The General is elected by the High Council when their predecessor retires or dies (known within the Salvation Army as being promoted to Glory). William Booth was the only General to die in office. The High Council is composed of the Chief of the Staff, all active commissioners, except the spouse of the incumbent General, and all territorial commanders. The High Council may also remove a General from office for violations of their "covenant to God", disability, or the inability to fulfill their duties, though this has never happened.
The officer of the Salvation Army who is elected General is the worldwide spiritual leader of the Salvation Army and the chief executive officer of the organization. The General has a role that is similar to the Pope's role within the Catholic Church. Since The Salvation Army maintains a hierarchical, quasi-military structure, all appointments and regulations are issued under the General's authority.
Three women have been elected General of the Salvation Army: Evangeline Booth, William Booths's daughter, in 1934, Eva Burrows in 1986, and Linda Bond in 2011.
On January 31, 2011, after 10 days of meetings which began on January 21, 2011, the 17th High Council elected Linda Bond as the 19th General of The Salvation Army. Bond was the third woman to hold the post and the fourth Canadian. This election was handled by the largest High Council in history and was especially significant due to the number of women delegates (57) outnumbering the number of men delegates (52).
On 3 August 2013 the then-Commissioner André Cox was elected by the High Council of 2013 as the 20th General of The Salvation Army. The High Council of 2018 selected Brian Peddle as Cox's successor in May 2018; he took office in August 2018.
On 26 May 2023 the High Council of 2023 elected Lyndon Buckingham as Peddle's successor.
Vacancy
In the event of vacancy, either by death or resignation, the Salvation Army Act 1980 requires that the Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army serve as acting General if a successor had not already been elected. The most recent instance of vacancy was in 2013 when Linda Bond retired unexpectedly; Andre Cox served as acting General.
List of living retired Generals There are three retired Generals living. The most recent General to die was Paul Rader on 18 January 2025.
Linda Bond André Cox Brian Peddle
Leadership The General serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Salvation Army at the international level, but the organization is divided into many subunits controlled by other individuals. For instance, Commissioner Merle Heatwole, appointed by Buckingham, serves as the National Commander of The Salvation Army of the United States.
Generals of The Salvation Army
Portrait Name Term of office NationalityChief of the Staff Took office Left office Time in office 1 William Booth 2 July 1865 20 August 1912 † Bramwell Booth2Bramwell Booth 21 August 191213 February 1929 T. Henry Howard Edward Higgins 3 Edward Higgins 14 February 1929 11 November 1934 Henry Mapp4Evangeline Booth 11 November 19341 November 1939John McMillanAlfred G. Cunningham5George Carpenter1 November 193921 June 1946 Charles Baugh6Albert Orsborn21 June 19461 July 1954 John AllanEdgar Dibden7Wilfred Kitching 1 July 195423 November 1963William J. DrayNorman F. DugginsErik Wickberg 8 Frederick Coutts 23 November 1963 21 September 1969 9 Erik Wickberg 21 September 1969 6 July 1974 Arnold Brown 10 Clarence Wiseman 6 July 1974 5 July 1977 Arthur E. Carr11 Arnold Brown 5 July 197714 December 1981 W. Stanley Cottrill12Jarl Wahlström14 December 19819 July 1986 Caughey Gauntlett13Eva Burrows 9 July 19869 July 1993 Ron CoxBramwell Tillsley 14 Bramwell Tillsley 9 July 1993 18 May 1994 Earle Maxwell 15 Paul Rader 23 July 1994 23 July 1999 16 John Gowans 23 July 1999 13 November 2002 John Larsson 17 John Larsson 13 November 2002 2 April 2006 Israel Gaither18Shaw Clifton2 April 20062 April 2011 Robin DunsterBarry Swanson19Linda Bond2 April 201113 June 2013 Andre Cox20André Cox3 August 20133 August 2018 William A. RobertsBrian Peddle 21 Brian Peddle 3 August 2018 3 August 2023 Lyndon Buckingham22 Lyndon Buckingham (born 1962)3 August 2023IncumbentEdward Hill
Timeline Below is a timeline of Salvation Army Generals' terms in office.
Notes
References
External links