Women Will Outnumber Men at 2011 High Council
For the first time in its 82-year history The Salvation Army’s High Council will have more female members than males.
The 17th High Council convenes on Friday 21 January 2011 at Sunbury Court, United Kingdom, to elect the 19th General of The Salvation Army in succession to General Shaw Clifton who will retire at midnight on 1 April 2011. This will also be the largest-ever High Council with 109 members—57 women and 52 men.
Salvation Army officer leaders are appointed to their tasks; they are not elected. The one exception is for the General.
The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, issued summonses on 1 December to those Salvation Army leaders qualified for membership. All active commissioners, territorial commanders and territorial presidents for women’s ministries were summoned. There will be 83 commissioners and 26 colonels present.
Commissioners Don and Debi Bell, leaders of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, will attend the High Council as will New Zealanders Commissioners David and Grace Bringans, who lead The Salvation Army Mexico Territory.
Prior to the High Council, members will also meet at Sunbury Court, from Tuesday 18 January until Thursday 20 January, for a plenary session of the General’s Consultative Council led by General Clifton.
A public welcome to the High Council takes place on Saturday, 22 January at 4 pm in the Nine Kings Suite of the Lancaster London Hotel, Hyde Park. This gathering will incorporate a Retirement Salute to General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton.