Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a Methodist Christian church and an international charitable organisation aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. It was founded and headquartered in London, England. The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million Salvationists, consisting of "soldiers", officers, and adherents who are collectively known as salvationists. Its founders sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". It says it has an official presence in 133 countries, running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless, and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries. The theology of the Salvation Army derives from Methodism, although it differs from other Methodist denominations in institution and practice; an example is that the Salvation Army does not observe sacraments. As with other evangelical denominations in the Holiness Methodist tradition, the Salvation Army lays emphasis on the New Birth (referred to as the first work of grace) and entire sanctification (second work of grace). A distinctive characteristic of the Salvation Army is its use of titles derived from military ranks, such as "lieutenant" or "major". The Army's doctrine is aligned with the Wesleyan–Arminian tradition, particularly the holiness movement. The Army's stated purposes are "the advancement of the Christian religion... of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole". The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 as the "East London Christian Mission" in London by Methodist preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine. It can trace its origins to the Blind Beggar Tavern. In 1878, Booth reorganised the mission, becoming its first "general" and introducing the pseudo-military structure, which it has retained as a matter of tradition. The Salvation Army's highest priority is its Christian principles. As of 2023 the international leader...