Officer Training

The major focus of Booth College of Mission is that of training Salvation Army officers.  An Officer is a soldier who has responded to a calling from God to devote all their time and energies to the service of God. 

Booth College of Mission seeks to prepare people who know God, know themselves and know their mission.  Officer training is all about discovering what a person needs to know, what they need to do and who they need to be in order to be the best they can be as they outwork their calling through officership. 

Training is based around three distinct elements:

• Discipleship Formation
• Theological Formation and Biblical Understanding
• Mission and Ministry Formation

Interested in Training?

The need for Officers has never been greater! 

‘If God is calling you to become a Salvation Army officer, you will never find any peace or power till you become one.  Never!  Oh but, you say, I don’t know what He will want next.  No, we none of us know that, but we know that we shall be safe in His hands.’  - Catherine Booth

Stop no. 01: Register your interest and apply for training

God will confirm that He is calling you to officership in a number of ways. He may speak to you through Scripture, through His Holy Spirit or through people and circumstances.

The application process itself gives time and space for God's will to be tested and confirmed through a series of interviews, assessments, character references and a police background check.

If you believe God may be calling you to full time ministry as an officer, please talk to your Corps Officer, Divisional Youth Secretary or email us.

Stop no. 02: Officership Training

Once you have completed the application process and been accepted for training, an individualised study programme is designed for you based on prior learning and ministry experience.

The normal requirement is two years of residential training at Booth College of Mission in Upper Hutt. In some exceptional situations prior study and ministry experience may result in non-residential training options.

Training comprises theological and biblical study, practical ministry involvement, spiritual formation and leadership development.

Stop no. 03: Commissioning and appointing

Ordination and Commissioning take place on successful completion of training. New officers are then given their first appointment.

Consultation takes place prior to appointing and care is taken to fit officers into appropriate roles. Appointment type and length are as varied as the officers themselves and the skills and giftings they possess.

All officers are reviewed annually and encouraged to continue to develop their skills through further study and training options.

Stop no. 04: Officership - destination and journey...

The journey into officership has been expressed by officers as both a destination and a journey.

Officership is a destination in that saying yes to God's call brings with it a sense of peace through knowing that you are where He wants you to be. But officership is clearly also a journey because no two appointments are alike and no two life stages bring the same responses or learning opportunities.

The road can be rough at times but there is also incredible joy.

Officers testify to the immense fulfilment that comes through living the miracle that God does in fact use those He calls to achieve His purposes on earth.