Salvation Army

is an evangelical Christian church known for its charity campaigns. It was founded in 1865 [according to other sources: founded in 1875?] by the evangelical protestant minister William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth.

Following the Slogan of the three S´s, which stand soup, soap, and finally salvation and the idea of actively helping the destitute and sinners and spread the word of God the founders went into the streets of East London to do charity work and preach.

Quasi-Military, hierarchical Organisation The Salvation Army was and is organized militarily. Booth understood his church as the "Army of God" whose purpose it is to fight against the sins of this world.

Booth took the rank of “General”, the ministers are called “officers” while members are ranked “soldiers”. The Salvation Army has its own flag.

Music as a means Equality In the Salvation Army since the beginning women and men have equal rights.

Mission

Sources

Gnewekow, Dirk/Hermsen, Thomas, Die Geschichte der Heilsarmee.Das Abenteuer der Seelenrettung. Eine sozialgeschichtliche Darstellung, Opladen: Leske+Budrich, 1993.

http://www.salvationarmy.org/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/salvationarmy_1.shtml