Editing The Salvation Army (section)

==Beliefs==
[[File:Salvation Army Citadel, Crescent Road, Worthing (March 2012) (2).JPG|thumb|right|A Salvation Army [[:wikt:citadel|citadel]] (Corps) with a charity shop attached, in [[Worthing]], West Sussex.]]
The official [[mission statement]] reads:

<blockquote>The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Do We Do? |url=https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/about/ |website=salvationarmyusa.org |publisher=The Salvation Army}}</ref></blockquote>

Early beliefs of the Salvation Army were influenced by the book ''Helps to Holiness'',<ref>{{Cite book|title=Helps to Holiness|last=Brengle|first=Samuel Logan|year=1896|publisher=Salvation Army Printing and Pub. House}}</ref> which influenced spiritual life in the Army for a generation.<ref name=Salvationists>{{Cite book|title=The Salvationists|last=Coutts|first=John|publisher=A R Mowbray & Co Ltd|year=1977|isbn=0-264-66071-4|location=Oxford, Great Britain}}</ref>{{rp|57}} The [[sacred text]] of the Salvation Army is the [[Bible]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/bible|title=Daily Bible Reading Guide|publisher=Salvation Army International|access-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174437/https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/bible|archive-date=14 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the beliefs of the Salvation Army rest upon these eleven doctrines:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/doctrine/doctrines |title=The Doctrines of The Salvation Army |work=The General of The Salvation Army |access-date=9 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010548/https://www.salvationarmy.org/doctrine/doctrines |archive-date=10 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

# We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
# We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
# We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost – undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
# We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
# We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
# We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
# We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
# We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
# We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
# We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
# We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

[[File:The Mercy Seat in a Salvation Army church London England.jpg|thumb|The [[Mourner's bench|Mercy Seat]] in a Salvation Army citadel.]]
The denomination does not celebrate [[sacrament]]s, such as [[Baptism]] and [[Holy Communion]]. The position of the International Spiritual Life Commission, which is convened by the general to examine and identify aspects of the Army's life which are essential or integral to the spiritual growth, opinion is that enrollment as a Soldier by accepting the call to discipleship should be followed by a lifetime of continued obedient faith in Christ.<ref name="hod">{{cite book | title=Handbook of Doctrine | year=2010 | url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/doctrine/handbookdoctrine | publisher=Salvation Books | isbn=978-0-85412-822-8 | access-date=13 March 2018  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042742/https://www.salvationarmy.org/doctrine/handbookdoctrine | archive-date=14 March 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|298}} The Commission's considered opinion of Holy Communion is that God's grace is readily accessible in all places and at all times, although Salvationists may participate in Holy Communion if attending a service of worship in another Christian denomination if the host Church allows.{{r|hod|p=300}} 

Although its officers conduct marriages, the Salvation Army holds a traditional Protestant belief that marriage was not instituted by [[Christ]] and therefore is not a sacrament. The [[Mourner's bench|mercy seat]] is a focal point in a Salvation Army Church, symbolizing God's call to his people, and a place for commitment and communion, and is available for anyone to kneel at in prayer.{{r|hod|p=304}}

===Worship services===
The Salvation Army does not require anyone attending a service to be a member of the Salvation Army in any capacity (as a Soldier, Adherent, or Officer). Services in Salvation Army churches feature a variety of activities:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/worship|publisher=Salvation Army International|title=Worship|access-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174100/https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/worship|archive-date=14 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The service often begins with a greeting from the Minister.
* Hymns are sung, accompanied by backing music.
* There is a scripture reading from the Bible.
* Prayers are led by the Minister leading the service.
* Depending on demand, a Sunday School may be run in another room.
* A collection is held to receive a financial offering, either loose money or coins in a ''cartridge envelope''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Weapons of Goodwill|last=Coutts|first=Frederick|publisher=The Salvation Army|year=1986|isbn=0-340-39086-7|pages=47}}</ref> This is sometimes referred to as "Tithes and Offerings".
* The congregation sings the [[doxology]].
* A sermon on the Bible reading is then given.
* The service concludes with a benediction.

Local corps usually sing [[contemporary worship music]] songs in Sunday worship services and traditional hymns from the official Songbook of the Salvation Army. Music is often accompanied by a brass band. Many American corps adopted a mainstream Christian format with video screens showing words to music so that the audience can sing along. The early Salvation Army bands were known for their excitement and public appeal, and the modern ensemble keeps to this ideology. Traditional hymns are blended with other musical pieces from Christian Music Publishers such as [[Vineyard Music]], [[Hillsong Music Australia|Hillsong]], and [[Planet Shakers]] to name but a few.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

===Soldier's Covenant===
{{wikisource|Articles of War}}
The Soldier's Covenant<ref>{{cite book | title=The Salvation Army Year Book 2018 | year=2017 | isbn=9781911149408 | page=20| publisher=Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters }}</ref> is the [[creed]] of the Salvation Army. All members of the church are allowed to subscribe to this creed; every person has to sign the document before they can become enrolled as a Soldier.<ref>{{cite book | isbn=9781911149408 | title=The Salvation Army Year Book 2018 | year=2017 | page=20| publisher=Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters }}</ref> Members have traditionally been referred to as "soldiers" of Christ.<ref name="BehernsAbuse">{{cite news|last1=Beherns|first1=David|title=One Army's Crusade in the Salvation Army, all officers are ordained ministers. Soldiers' are congregants who have taken a special vow called Articles of War.' Their enemy: homelessness, poverty, alcohol and drug abuse|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|date=19 December 1990|id={{ProQuest|278336519}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/0/fea4acf97c61102c80256a2200443120?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,doctrines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024013917/http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/0/fea4acf97c61102c80256a2200443120?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,doctrines|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2005|title=Articles of War For Salvation Army Soldiers|date=24 October 2005|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="SandinSalvation">{{cite news|last1=Sandin|first1=Jo|title=Salvation Army rallies troops, spirit Recruiting mission brings a general here for only third time since 1865|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=26 March 1997|id={{ProQuest|260508955}}}}</ref> These were formerly known as the "Articles of War", and include "Having received with all my heart the salvation offered to me by the tender mercy of God, I do here and now acknowledge God the Father to be my King; God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be my Saviour; and God the Holy Spirit to be my Guide, Comforter and Strength, and I will, by His help, love, serve, worship and obey this glorious God through time and in eternity."{{r|Salvationists|p=4}}

===Positional Statements===
Positional Statements<ref>{{cite web |title=International Positional Statements |url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/isjc/ips |website=www.salvationarmy.org |access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref> describe Salvation Army policy on various social and moral issues. They are carefully considered by the [[International Headquarters of The Salvation Army]]. They are derived from work by the International Moral and Social Issues Council. The Salvation Army opposes [[euthanasia]] and [[assisted suicide]]. Its official stance on abortion is that "The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and considers each person to be of infinite value and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed. Human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God and has an eternal destiny. (Genesis 1:27) Sacredness is not conferred, nor can it be taken away by human agreement." The Salvation Army official stance admitted in 2010 exceptions in cases such as rape and incest: "In addition, rape and incest are brutal acts of dominance violating women physically and emotionally. This situation represents a special case for the consideration of termination as the violation may be compounded by the continuation of the pregnancy."<ref>{{Citation
 | title = International Social Justice Commission: Abortion
 | publisher = The Salvation Army
 | date = November 2010
 | url = http://www1.salvationarmy.org/IHQ/www_ihq_isjc.nsf/vw-sublinks/FE3C992C78838853802577DF0071D796?openDocument
 | access-date = 22 November 2015
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151118035918/http://www1.salvationarmy.org/IHQ/www_ihq_isjc.nsf/vw-sublinks/FE3C992C78838853802577DF0071D796?openDocument
 | archive-date = 18 November 2015
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref> It is also against the [[death penalty]]: "The Salvation Army recognises that the opinions of Salvationists are divided on the moral acceptability of capital punishment and its effectiveness as a deterrent. However, to advocate in any way the continuance or restoration of capital punishment in any part of the world would be inconsistent with the Army's purposes and contrary to the Army's belief that all human life is sacred and that each human being, however wretched, can become a new person in Christ."

In 2012, the Salvation Army, Australian Territories published a "Positional Statement on Homosexuality" after receiving adverse publicity about their position on [[homosexuality]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3532177.htm|title=Salvation Army apologises after 'homosexuals should die' statement|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=24 June 2012|access-date=28 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313150607/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3532177.htm|archive-date=13 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|The Bible teaches that God's intention for humankind is that society should be ordered on the basis of lifelong, legally sanctioned heterosexual unions.... A disposition towards homosexuality is not in itself blameworthy nor is the disposition seen as rectifiable at will.... Homosexual practice however, is, in the light of Scripture, clearly unacceptable. Such activity is chosen behaviour and is thus a matter of the will. It is therefore able to be directed or restrained in the same way heterosexual urges are controlled. Homosexual practice would render any person ineligible for full membership (soldiership) in the Army.<ref>[http://salvos.org.au/about-us/overview/documents/Human-Sexuality.pdf Salvos questioned over stance on homosexuality] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617043431/http://salvos.org.au/about-us/overview/documents/Human-Sexuality.pdf |date=17 June 2012 }} – The Salvation Army Australian Territories Positional Statement</ref>}}

On 8 December 2017, the Salvation Army released an International Positional Statement on racism which says that racism is "fundamentally incompatible with the Christian conviction that all people are made in the image of God and are equal in value. The Salvation Army believes that the world is enriched by a diversity of cultures and ethnicities."<ref name="SAI2017">{{cite web | title=International Positional Statement on Racism | website=The Salvation Army International | date=2017-12-08 | url=https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/news/inr081217 | access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref>