Commissioner in The Salvation Army
Encyclopedia
The rank of Commissioner in The Salvation Army
is the second highest rank attainable by Officers
in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank, as the rank of General
is by election. It has been an active rank since 1880, and is one of the original ranks created by General William Booth
, the first appointed Commissioner being George Scott Railton
.
All active Commissioners are called upon to take part in The Salvation Army High Council
in which a new General is elected upon the pending retirement or removal of the previous General. Notably, the only time a General has been forcibly removed from office was at the first High Council in 1929 when Bramwell Booth
was deposed.
In 1984, spouses of Commissioners, who previously were not promoted to that rank when their partners were, were given the rank in their own right, effectively increasing the amount of Commissioners by two-thirds.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
is the second highest rank attainable by Officers
Officer in The Salvation Army
An Officer in The Salvation Army is a Salvationist who is in essence a minister of the Christian faith, but who fulfills many other roles not usually fulfilled by clergy of other denominations...
in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank, as the rank of General
Generals of The Salvation Army
thumbnail|left|1st General, William BoothGeneral 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 .Usage of the term General began with the Founder of The Salvation...
is by election. It has been an active rank since 1880, and is one of the original ranks created by General William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
, the first appointed Commissioner being George Scott Railton
George Scott Railton
George Scott Railton was the first Commissioner of The Salvation Army and second in command to its Founder General William Booth.-Early life:...
.
Purpose
Commissioners are given the rank for a number of reasons, being given command of a Territory being the most common. Other reasons may include appointments to International Headquarters Secretarial positions or other top roles and less commonly other high-responsibility positions throughout the world.All active Commissioners are called upon to take part in The Salvation Army High Council
High Council of The Salvation Army
The High Council of The Salvation Army elects a new General in the event of a vacancy or prior to the retirement of the existing office holder. It can also remove a General who can no longer fulfil their duties. It is made up of the Chief of the Staff, all active Commissioners except the spouse of...
in which a new General is elected upon the pending retirement or removal of the previous General. Notably, the only time a General has been forcibly removed from office was at the first High Council in 1929 when Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth
Bramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
was deposed.
In 1984, spouses of Commissioners, who previously were not promoted to that rank when their partners were, were given the rank in their own right, effectively increasing the amount of Commissioners by two-thirds.
Notable Commissioners
- Theodore KitchingTheodore KitchingCommissioner Theodore Hopkins Kitching CBE was a prominent officer in The Salvation Army, acting as Secretary and confidant to Generals William Booth and Bramwell Booth, and was The Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916.Born in Ackworth in Yorkshire, the third of...
- George Scott RailtonGeorge Scott RailtonGeorge Scott Railton was the first Commissioner of The Salvation Army and second in command to its Founder General William Booth.-Early life:...
- Frederick Booth-TuckerFrederick Booth-TuckerCommissioner Frederick St. George de Lautour Booth-Tucker, was a senior Salvation Army officer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the son in law of General William Booth, the Army's Founder.-Early life:...
- Charles JeffriesCharles JeffriesCommissioner Charles Henry Jeffries was a British pioneer Salvationist and notable convert, after he left the Skeleton Army and attained the third highest rank possible as an Officer in The Salvation Army....
- Elijah CadmanElijah CadmanCommissioner Elijah Cadman was an evangelist, an early member of The Salvation Army and the originator of the idea that Salvationists should wear uniforms...
- Israel GaitherIsrael GaitherOn May 12, 2006, at the age of 61, Commissioner Israel L. Gaither was formally installed as the National Commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, the first black person to serve in that capacity. Gaither was selected for the position by General Shaw Clifton.Eva D...