The Salvation Army

Overview

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth in the East End of London as a Christian mission to the urban poor; it took the name "Salvation Army" in 1878 and spread to dozens of countries through vigorous evangelism and social work. The Army holds Wesleyan-Arminian theology and Holiness teaching, ordains officers (both men and women) to pastoral ministry, and notably does not practice water baptism or the Lord's Supper — a position unique among historic Protestant bodies. AskCredo places the Salvation Army in the B-tier as a broadly evangelical body whose absence of the visible sacraments puts it outside the historic Reformed and Reformational confessional stream, even as its charitable and evangelistic work remains substantial.

Confession / Standard

Salvation Army Articles of War (11 Doctrines)

Governance

military-style hierarchical

Soteriology

arminian

Key Beliefs

• Wesleyan-Arminian soteriology
• No formal sacraments (Lord's Supper and Baptism as ordinances not practiced)
• Social ministry as integral to gospel
• Traditional marriage

Distinctives

• No Lord's Supper or Baptism — unusual among Christian bodies
• Arminian soteriology

Background

Global · Founded 1865

Official Website

https://salvationarmy.org