Leadership has never felt like a solo journey for me. From the very beginning of my calling to Salvation Army officership, I often wrestled with doubt. My first instinct was usually, “Me, Lord, really?” That inner hesitation, what many call imposter syndrome, was a voice that questioned whether I truly belonged in leadership. Over the years, I
Coming Alongside
Being an Ally and Advocate for Our Salvationist Theology of Gender Equity
By Lennard Johnston
I have learned from my study of theology at Tyndale University that if someone starts off with “The Bible clearly states,” then they are probably going to talk about something that the bible does not clearly state. I’m not saying that the Bible is not our source of dogma, doctrine and belief. We humans simply have tendency to form an opinion and
Equity in Policy and Practice: A Welcome Step Forward
Reflecting on Parental Leave Progress for Officers
By Lieutenant Emily Newbury
When I became a parent in June 2023, I experienced a love deeper than I ever imagined. It was also a whirlwind of exhaustion and learning and emotional adjustment. I clearly remember wondering early in my pregnancy what it would be like to balance motherhood and full-time ministry with an infant on my hip. At the time, The Salvation Army
A New Way of Seeing
Applying a gender equity lens to reframe how we look at the world
By Captain Jaclyn Wynne
Growing up in The Salvation Army, I deeply appreciated how our denomination was built on a theology and practice that affirms the right of both female and male officers to fulfil the same or similar leadership roles. This inclusive vision shaped my understanding of ministry. However, as I’ve grown and engaged more deeply with the lived
Leading the Way Toward Gender Equity Through Cultural Transformation
By Lieutenant Tharwat Eskander
I grew up in the Middle East, where patriarchy was not only common, but deeply integrated into church and society. Men ruled, women followed and no one argued. As a child, I didn’t think much of it: it was just the way things were. But, as I grew older and started to study Scripture for myself, I saw something else, something new, something that
Gender Representation on Boards and Committees
By Captain Laura Van Schaick
How do we ensure the certainty of “all voices heard and engaged”? In striving for gender equity, one important marker of progress has become equitable representation of women and men on decision-making committees. Who can forget the buzz that ensued when Justin Trudeau famously formed the first gender-balanced cabinet in November of 2015? The
Gender Equity in The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory—What we are doing and why
By Lieut.-Colonel Wanda Vincent
Welcome to our newest gender equity (GE) communications initiative—the GE blog. This space will be populated monthly by a variety of writers sharing the heart and work of gender equity in the territory. I am delighted to be the territorial gender equity officer who works with a passionate group of committee members overseeing the actions and