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Salvation Army Organization

This is a brief description of the organization of the Salvation Army. It is aimed at an understanding of the place of the brass band in the organization. The Brass Crest is not an official Salvation Army site (please see the disclaimer at the bottom of this page). For more information about the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmy.org.

The Salvation Army can be thought of as a composite organization, with religious and service portions. The brass band is an expression of the religious part of the “Army” world, and is attached to the ecclesiastical structure.

Units

Corps

The basic unit of the Salvation Army’s ecclesiastical structure is the corps. This unit is analogous to a parish church. Corps are usually named for their town or location, often with “Citadel” or “Temple” attached. A corps is usually commanded by a corps officer, who serves as the pastor. Sometimes, additional officers are assigned to a corps to assist the corps officer.

Corps vary widely in terms of the size of congregation. In the United States, the largest corps have four to five hundred in attendance for a Sunday morning service.

The corps serves as the sponsor for a corps band. The corps is also a primary place for elementary music instruction.

City/Area Command

Sometimes when a city, town, or other geographic area has multiple corps, a city or area command will be established. The city command assists in coordination between the various units in the city, and presents a unified front to the community at large, especially in the fields of fund-raising and public relations. A city command is generally headed by a commander. Depending on the size of the area and the number of units, the area commander may also command a unit in the area.

Some city/area commands sponsor a regional band and/or a youth band.

Division

A division usually contains 25 to 50 corps. It is roughly equivalent to a diocese. Each division is headed by a divisional commander, supported by a headquarters staff. The divisional commander is responsible for Salvation Army operations in the division, including the appointment of corps officers.

The division to which the author’s corps belongs is the National Capital and Virginia Division. This division covers the city of Washington, DC, its Maryland suburbs (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties), and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Territory

Divisions are grouped into territories. Eaach territory is lead by a territorial commander, supported by a headquarters staff. The territorial commander is responsible for all Salvation Army operations in the territory, including the appointment of divisional commanders. Territorial commanders are directly appointed by the General. In the USA, there is a National Headquarters. However, the National Commander in the USA does not directly control the four USA territories.

The territory to which the author’s division belongs is the USA Southern Territory. This territory is composed of 9 divisions, covering 15 states in the southeastern United States, including Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

International Headquarters

International Headquarters, located in London, England, is the top of the Salvation Army hierarchy. The international leader is the General, assisted by the Chief of the Staff and International Secretaries.

The International Staff Band (the premier Salvation Army band) and Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd. (a majorpublisher of Salvation Army brass band music) were formerly administered by International Headquarters. Both organizations are now sponsored by the United Kingdom Territory.

People

Soldier

The soldiers are the lay members of a Salvation Army congregation. The minimum age for enrollment is 14 (children between 7 and 14 years of age can be enrolled as junior soldiers). In order to be enrolled as a soldier, a person must agree to and sign a statement entitled the Articles of War. Those persons wishing to attend the Salvation Army as a church, but not commit to the Articles of War, may be enrolled as adherents.

Soldiership is generally required in order to hold any of the lay leadership positions in a corps. Participation in a corps band is usually regarded as requiring enrollment as a soldier.

Local Officer

The lay leaders of a Salvation Army corps are called the local officers. Only a soldier can be commissioned as a local officer. The corps bandmaster is a local officer. Other major local officer positions include:

  • Corps Sergeant-Major – the lead local officer postion, somewhat similar to a chief deacon or elder
  • Young People’s Sergeant Major – responsible for the youth programs of the corps, sometimes including a corps youth band
  • Corps Treasurer
  • Songster Leader – choir director

Officer

In the Salvation Army, the term officer (distinct from “local officer”) refers to an ordained person in full-time service. An officer is commissioned (ordained) after two years of training. All officers are also soldiers, and can be commissioned as a local officer in the corps that they attend.

Corps Officer

A corps officer commands a corps. The bandmaster (and all other local officers) of a corps band is responsible to the corps officer. Corps officers can be of any rank (although few corps officers are above the rank of major). The divisional commander appoints an officer to a corps. The typical corps appointment lasts from two to four years.

Commander

Area commands, divisions, and territories are led by commanders. In addition to the commander, each unit has a number of staff members with “secretary” or “director” titles who function as department heads (finance, personnel, youth, etc.). Most area commands do not have these extra positions.

A divisional commander is roughly equivalent to a bishop or an archbishop. A territorial commander is roughly equivalent to an archbishop or a cardinal.

General

The General is the international leader of the Salvation Army. Only one General is active at any given time. The General is assisted by the Chief of the Staff, and the International Secretaries, who are assigned by geographic areas of the world. The present general, elected in August 2013, is André Cox.

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Articles

Two-Part Hymn Series: Ten More Tunes

1 June 2019 14:24

The latest set of ten tunes in our Two-Part Hymn Series has been released. There are now 90 tunes available in the second phase, and 210 overall. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music

STANDING ON THE PROMISES (Tune of the Week)

10 January 2019 06:05

Tune of the Week for 10 January 2019. Read more

Posted in: Tune of the Week
Ken Graham

Staff Band Marks Passing of Ken Graham (1936–2018)

9 January 2019 06:36

The Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster John Lam) has announced, with great sadness, the passing of Bandsman Ken Graham (North York Temple) on 24 December 2018. Graham was a member of the Staff Band cornet section for nine years, 1985–1994. Read more

Posted in: News

Joyful & Triumphant

8 January 2019 06:40

On 1 December 2018, the National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, for Joyful & Triumphant, a Christmas concert and carol sing-a-long. Read more

Posted in: News

NICAEA (Tune of the Week)

3 January 2019 07:23

This is the first of a new series, Tune of the Week, featuring tunes from our Two-Part Hymn Series. Read more

Posted in: Tune of the Week

Two-Part Hymn Series Reaches 200

29 December 2018 10:57

The latest set of ten tunes in our has been released. This brings the total number of tunes in the series to 200. All of these tunes are free to download and use. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music

Away In a Manger (Cornet Solo)

19 December 2018 05:40

James Allen has crafted a beautiful and simple cornet solo that blends together two familiar tunes associated with the much-loved Christmas carol. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music
The New York Staff Band at historic Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2018

NYSB Massachusetts Ministry Weekend

19 December 2018 05:23

On the weekend of 16 – 18 November 2018, the New York Staff Band (Bandmaster Derek Lance) traveled to the Massachusetts Division for a ministry weekend that included stops in Worcester, Canton, Boston, and Brockton. Massachusetts Divisional Music Director (DMD) Matthew Luhn and his team organized the events of the weekend. Read more

Posted in: News

Brass for GOSH Launched

3 December 2018 05:17

The London Central Fellowship Band (Bandmaster David Rudd) launched their latest recording with a concert at Regent Hall on 17 November 2018. Just under 300 people were in attendance for a fantastic night of music-making, raising funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Charity. All of the profits realized by Citadel Promotions, the producers, will benefit the hospital charity, leading to the title of the recording, Brass for GOSH. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, News, Recording
Kintambo Band at the 10th anniversary service for the Plateau District, eastern Kinshasa

Kintambo Band Supports Anniversary Service

1 December 2018 08:32

On Sunday, 28 October 2018, the Kintambo Band (Bandmaster Henri Makanda Nkodia) had the privilege of being on duty at the Menkao Post in the Plateau District (the eastern part of the city of Kinshasa) for the district’s tenth anniversary Thanksgiving service. Read more

Posted in: News
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