The High Council

Posts at the moment are a little sparse due to events like Officers' Fellowship, Furlough and the upcoming Brengle Institute. It would be amiss, however, if we didn't note the 18th High Council of The Salvation Army underway at the moment in the United Kingdom.

This council has been convened with the sole purpose of electing the 20th international leader of The Salvation Army. It's gathering was necessitated by the sudden retirement of General Linda Bond a few months back.

The High Council must meet in the UK and is comprised by constitution and law of all active Salvation Army Commissioners from around the world and all Territorial Commanders and Territorial Presidents of Women's Ministries regardless of rank. There are over 110 members of whom around 60% are women. About 1/5 are from Africa and 1/5 from southern Asia. The rest are a spread of nationalities with heavy American and British representation.

Australia is represented by Commissioners Jan and James Condon, currently Territorial Leaders in the Australia Eastern Territory, Commissioner Aylene Finger, and Colonels Robyn and Wayne Maxwell, currently Territorial Leaders in the Philippines Territory. Our Territorial leaders, Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd are also present.

The candidates for General have been nominated this week by the Council. They can technically nominate any active officer, meaning that there are around 17,000 potential candidates for the office! However, tradition dictates that they will nominate from among their own membership, and this is reasonable as these are the people with the experience in leadership necessary for the role.

The Council has nominated:

Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (The Netherlands - currently TC in Norway)
Commissioner James Knaggs (USA - currently TC in USA Western)
Commissioner Andre Cox (Swiss - currently Chief of the Staff, International Headquarters)
Commissioner Barry Swanson (USA - currently TC in USA Eastern)
Commissioner Kenneth Hodder (USA - currently TC in Kenya West)

For profiles on each of the candidates visit: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/highcouncil2013

Today (Friday), UK time, the Candidates will each be required to address the Council and answer a series of questions predetermined by a select committee. Following this time (which may stretch into tomorrow or later) voting will commence. To be elected, one of the candidates must receive 2/3 of the vote on any of the first three ballots. After each ballot, the person with the least votes will be removed from the ballot paper. If the election makes it to a fourth ballot only a simple majority will be required for election.