Adherent:
A person who regards The Salvation Army as their spiritual home but has not chosen to make the commitment of 'soldiership' in The Salvation Army

Advisory Board:
A group of influential citizens who, believing in the Army’s programme of spiritual, moral and physical rehabilitation and amelioration, assist in promoting and supporting Army projects.

Area Commander (AC):
The leader of a group of ministry units (corps or social work) usually within a specific geograhpical area within a Division and typically reports to a Divisional Commander.

Articles of War (Soldier’s Covenant): The statement of beliefs and promises which every intending soldier is required to sign before enrolment

Auxiliary-Captain:
A mature Salvationist beyond the age limit for full officer-training, who holds a warrant of appointment as distinct from commissioned rank, and who may undertake corps or social work similar to that of a commissioned officer.

Auxiliary-Lieutenant:
A Salvationist who chooses not to become a commissioned officer, who holds a warrant of appointment as distinct from commissioned rank, and who may undertake corps or social work similar to that of a commissioned officer on a fixed term contract.

Battery:
A van by which officers travel among the villages, holding meetings and distributing literature.

“Blood & Fire”:
The Salvation Army’s motto, referring to the symbolism of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and the purifying, illuminating fire of the Holy Spirit

Cadet:
A Salvationist undertaking theological and practical training for officership

Candidate:
A soldier who has been accepted to enter training as an officer

Cartridge:
An envelope for the weekly offering of officer, soldier or recruit towards corps expenses.

Census Board:
Established in a corps; responsible for the addition of names to, and removal of names from, the rolls.

Chief of the Staff:
The leader second in command of The Salvation Army worldwide. The Chief of the Staff is appointed by the General

Chief Secretary:
An officer, second in command of a territory or, in come cases, of a department.

Circle Corps:
See Society.

Citadel:
The property or church building where Salvationists meet for worship. Other terms used are 'fortress' and 'temple'

Colonel:
A rank appointed to Salvation Army officers on merit by the General

Colours: The tricolour flag of the Army. Its colours symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ (red), the fire of the Holy Spirit (yellow) and the purity of God (blue).

Command:
A smaller type of Salvation Army Territory directed by a designated 'Officer Commanding'

Commission:
A document conferring authority upon an officer, or upon an unpaid local officer, eg secretary, treasurer, bandmaster, etc.

Commissioner:
The highest rank of a Salvation Army officer except for General, appointed on merit by the General. Most Territorial Commanders are Commissioner in rank

Community Care Ministries:
Salvationists who visit prisons, hospitals and needy homes, in their own time, bringing the gospel and rendering practical aid.

Company Meetings:
The Sunday meeting at which children are taught the Bible in companies or classes under the direction of a Company Guard (teacher).

Congress:
Central gatherings held in divisions, regions, territories or internationally, attended by officers and their fellow Salvationists

Conversion:
See Salvation.

Corps (pronounced ‘core’):
A Salvation Army church, similar in concept to that of a parish, sometimes comprising several congregations

Corps Cadet:
A young Salvationist who undertakes a course of Bible study, Salvation Army doctrine and history, and practical training in their corps

Corps Officer:
A Salvation Army officer who is appointed a leader of a Corps

Corps Sergeant Major (CSM):
Similar to the chief 'elder' or lay leader in other Christian denominations, the CSM is the chief local officer for public work who assists the corps officer with meetings (worship services) and usually takes command and responsibility in the corps officer’s absence

Dedication Service:
The Salvation Army's equivalent to a christening service, it consists of a public presentation of infants to God. It differs from christening or infant baptism in that the main emphasis is upon specific vows made by the parent/s concerning the child's upbringing

Disposition of Forces (‘dispo’):
A directory of contact details used within The Salvation Army mainly for Army officers, programs and centres

Division:
A grouping of districts, similar to a diocese in the Anglican Church. Territories are divided into Divisions, each of which has a number of Corps and social centres which are mostly run by officers

Divisional Commander (DC):
The leader of a Salvation Army division

Divisional Headquarters (DHQ):
The administrative headquarters of a division

Envoy:
A local officer whose duty is to visit corps, societies and outposts, for the purpose of conducting meetings. An envoy may be appointed in charge of any such unit.

Evangeline Residence:
A home away for unweb mothers

Eventide Home:
A residence for retired men.Eventualy they became homes for elderly men and womem.

Farewell Orders:
The transfer of officers to new appointments

Field Car or Field Unit:
See Battery.

Field Secretary:
An officer responsible to the Territorial Commander for corps officers and their interests.

Fire a volley:
Means a Salvationist should shout Scripture verses.

Fishing:
Speaking with individuals during a prayer or after-meeting, in order to help them decide to follow Christ.

Furlough:
Holidays for officers

General:
The General is the officer elected (by the High Council) to lead The Salvation Army worldwide, and is based at International Headquarters in London. All appointments are made, and all regulations issued, under the General's authority

Goodwill League:
An association of persons who undertake to assist in caring for the neediest, both by daily prayer and by personal service rendered either locally or in connection with a Goodwill Centre.

Grace-before-meat:
A scheme for raising funds for social work by means of small sums placed in a box, usually at meals.

Half-way House:
A centre for the rehabilitation of alcoholics or parolees (USA). Harbour-Light Centre. A reclamation centre, usually located in inner city areas.

Harbour Light Centre:
A reclamation centre, usually located in city 'downtown' areas.

High Council:
A group called together on a needs-basis, the High Council elects the General in accordance with The Salvation Army Act 1980.The High Council comprises the Chief of the Staff, all active (as opposed to retired) commissioners except the spouse of the General, and all territorial commanders

Holiness:
See Sanctification.

Home League:
A fellowship designed to influence women in the creation and development of Christian standards in personal home life.

Home Missions Appeal:
An annual effort to raise funds for to support local Army initiatives, typical a offering taken during thanksgiving period.

Holiness Table:
see Mercy Seat

International Headquarters (IHQ):
The General directs Salvation Army operations throughout the world through the administrative departments of International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, which are headed by International Secretaries

International Secretary:
An officer appointed by the General to supervise administrative departments at International Headquarters representing various parts of Salvation Army work worldwide

Junior Soldier:
A child who, having come to faith in Christ and signed the Junior Soldier's Promise, is enrolled as a Salvationist

Knee Drill:
A prayer meeting, held generally early on Sunday morning.

League of Mercy:
See Community Care Ministries

Lieutenant-Colonel:
This is a rank appointed to Salvation Army officers on merit by the General

Local Officer:
A soldier appointed to a position of responsibility and authority in the corps, who carries out the duties of the appointment without being separated from his/her regular employment/lifestyle and without receiving remuneration from The Salvation Army

Major:
The rank of a Salvation Army officer who has completed further studies and 15 years service

Medical Fellowship:
An international fellowship of dedicated medical personnel.

Meeting:
Church service

Mercy Seat (penitent form, holiness table):
A bench or table provided as a place where people can kneel to pray, seeking salvation or sanctification, or making a special consecration of their life to God's will and service

Mobile Unit:
See Battery.

Nurses' Fellowship, The Salvation Army:
A worldwide association of Salvationist and other Christian nurses, both men and women.:

Officer:
Ordained Salvation Army clergy, who wear uniforms with red epaulettes indicating their rank

Orders and Regulations for The Salvation Army:
Effectively a 'Code of Conduct' for all Salvation Army soldiers and officers.

Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service:
An order created to mark the Army's appreciation of distinguished service rendered by non-Salvationists who have helped further its work in a variety of ways.

Order of the Founder (The):
An order of merit marking meritorious Christian example and witness, and distinguished or memorable service

Order of the Silver Star (The):
An order expressing gratitude to parents of commissioned officers in The Salvation Army

Outpost:
A locality in which Army work is carried on and where it is hoped a society or corps will develop

Penitent form:
see Mercy Seat

Prison Gate Home:
A temporary reception centre for released prisoners and parolees.

Promotion to Glory:
The Army's description of the death of a Salvationist, with 'glory' symbolising life after death in God's presence

Quarters:
The house provided for Salvation Army officers, their spouses and their families

Ranks:
Officers in The Salvation Army have different ranks. These include Cadet, Captain, Major, Lieut-Colonel, Colonel and Commissioner. In the the past the following addition ranks have been used - Probationary 2nd. Lieutenant, Probationary Lieutenant, Probationary Captain, Senior Captain, Ensign, Adjutant, Senior Major, Staff Captain, Field Major, Brigadier, Lieutenant Commissioner, Commandant.

Red Shield:
A widely recognised Salvation Army symbol of caring service for those in need

Red Shield Appeal:
An annual financial appeal to the general public to help fund The Salvation Army's extensive social programme

Red Shield Centre:
A club for military personnel.

Salvation:
The work of grace which God accomplishes in a repentant person whose trust is in Jesus Christ. The deeper experience of this grace, known as holiness or sanctification, is the outcome of wholehearted commitment to God. Read more in Our Faith

Salvationist:
Member of The Salvation Army, whether an officer, soldier, adherent or friend

Sanctification, Entire (or Holiness):
Complete deliverance from sin and the dedication and devotion of the whole being, with all its gifts and capacities, to the love, will and service of God.

Secretary:
Departmental head

Self-Denial Appeal:
An annual effort to raise funds for the Army’s worldwide operations; also known as the annual appeal, or Partners in Mission appeal in some countries.

Sergeant:
A local officer appointed for specific duty, usually in a corps.

Sergeant-Major:
The chief local officer for public work; assists the corps officers with meetings and usually takes command in their absence.

Shelter:
A home for the otherwise homeless poor.

Society:
A small company of soldiers working together regularly in a district.

Soldier:
A Christian person who has, with the approval of their corps' senior pastoral care council, been enrolled as a member of The Salvation Army after undertaking soldiership classes and signing the Articles of War (Soldier's Covenant).

Soldier's Armory, The:
Successor of the Sword and Shield Brigade, an international association whose members read an appointed Bible portion daily and pray during each week for some specific phase of Army warfare or world need.

Songster Bridgade:
Salvation Army choir

Student's Fellowship, The Salvation Army:
A worldwide movement whose aim is to unite Salvationist students and graduates of universities, colleges and other centres of higher education in Christian fellowship and service.

Swearing-in:
The public enrolment of Salvation Army soldiers

Timbrel:
Musical instrument, similar to a tambourine, often used in Salvation Army worship

Territory:
For administrative purposes, The Salvation Army internationally is divided into world Territories. Usually, each country forms a single Salvation Army Territory, but somewhere the Army is numerically strong are divided into two or more

Territorial Commander (TC):
The leader of a Salvation Army Territory

Territorial Headquarters (THQ):
The administrative headquarters for a Territory

War Cry:
The Salvation Army's official flagship journal, many issues of which are published in many countries. The War Cry was first published in England in 1879. In Canada it has been renamed 'Salvationist'.

Young People’s Sergeant Major (YPSM):
A local officer responsible for the young people's work, under the commanding officer.