Recognizing the growing need for Salvation Army leaders, a group of Salvationists from across the territory met December 8 at territorial headquarters to discuss a territorial leadership development strategy. Participants acknowledged that leadership in these days is increasingly complex and demanding. In future, leaders may be in short supply if the Army does not adapt to changing needs.

Facilitators Carol MacKinnon and Charles Holmes inspired participants to think about a concrete plan for leadership development. Helping articulate the strategy were Colonel Donald Copple, chief secretary, Lt-Colonel Jean Moulton, secretary for personnel, Major Mona Moore, (leadership development secretary), Lt-Colonel Floyd Tidd, divisional commander, Ontario Central-East Division, Major Fred Waters, area commander, Prairie and Northern Territories Division, as well as representatives from Booth College, the Ethics Centre, the College for Officer Training and experts in leadership development, human resources, business administration and spiritual direction.

What emerged was a Vision of Leaders in 2015. This vision includes a growing diversity (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.) among leaders at all levels and individualized personal development plans and career paths for officers and lay employees. These plans will reflect individuals' aspirations as well as the organization's leadership needs. The group also anticipates that all new officers will be educated in a style of leadership that uses the concept of coaching as its guiding philosophy.

The team committed to a series of specific projects, including:

- the creation of an education and training council to provide territorial oversight of leadership development and harness best practices

- the recruitment of some non-traditional lay leaders into executive roles

- the ongoing development of all officers and lay leaders as leader coaches

- an assessment of the curriculum at the College for Officer Training, with links to Booth College's programming

- research into the specific values of new recruits and candidates with a focus on Generation Y/Millennials (those in their mid-20s or younger)

- intentional contact with leaders to value their diverse gifts and contributions, and to encourage their continued development

- a pilot project on succession planning in key non-reserved roles (those not established by IHQ)

“The Canada and Bermuda Territory has developed many wonderful leaders,” notes Major Mona Moore. “The current challenge is to leverage experiences of the past to meet present and future challenges. The culture of the emerging Army needs to be diverse and flexible enough to attract and retain a broad range of adherents, soldiers, employees, officers and lay leaders at every level.”

Photo: Participants in the planning session surround Mjr Mona Moore, leadership development secretary, and Charles Holmes and Carol MacKinnon, facilitators