Mission & Values

AN ARMY OF SALVATION

MISSION AND VALUES
The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda Territory

Approved by Territorial Commander
August 2002

IDENTITY STATEMENT

The Salvation Army is an international Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible; its ministry is motivated by love for God and the needs of humanity.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

CORE VALUES

Salvation	We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all our ministries
Holiness	We are shaped by the Bible and the example of Jesus through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit
Prayer	We commune with God through prayer
Compassion	We embody God’s love, reaching out to others and caring for them
Respect	We promote the dignity of all persons
Excellence	We are innovative and effective
Integrity	We are honest and trustworthy, accountable to God and each other
Relevance	We seek to understand and meet the needs of people in our communities
Co-operation	We encourage and foster teamwork and partnerships
Celebration	We are thankful to God for blessing The Salvation Army

core values - description

Salvation

We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all our ministries.

God’s mission is a mission of love and restoration. Through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God provided a way of salvation culminating in the gift of eternal life for all who respond in faith. We value this gift of grace, believing that it has the power to liberate, heal and transform individuals and communities. We seek to embody this same grace and mission in our thoughts, words and deeds.

Holiness

We are shaped by the Bible and the example of Jesus through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

We acknowledge our total dependency on God. We pray, follow God’s Word and live by faith. Our mission demands that we respond to the lordship of Jesus Christ and remain radically obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are committed to a disciplined Christian lifestyle and service in Christ’s name.

Prayer

We commune with God through prayer.

Prayer is both our privilege and responsibility. Disciplined and persistent prayer, along with meditation, studying God’s word, solitude and self denial, is essential to our faith, spiritual growth and mission. Jesus prayed and taught His disciples, encouraging them to pray to the Father in His name. We follow the example of Jesus, and we cultivate the practice of prayer in everything we do.

Compassion

We embody God’s love, reaching out to others and caring for them.

God reaches out to every person in love. Our mission is always in response to that love. We strive to meet the needs of vulnerable groups and those overlooked or ignored in our communities. When needed, we will stand for them and advocate on their behalf. We accept that showing compassion may threaten those who benefit from present arrangements of power. Our desire is for God to work through our ministries to renew broken families, empower the poor and transform neighbourhoods.

Respect

We promote the dignity of all persons.

We believe that all people are created in God’s image. Although we are sinful creatures, we believe that Jesus was sent to restore the relationship between God and humanity. We treat people with dignity, recognizing that they are loved by God. We work to break down barriers that promote an us/them perception. We do not see only the needs and weakness of people, but also the gifts and strengths that God has given them. We work alongside people helping them to recognize their worth in Christ.

Excellence

We are innovative and effective.

We require our ministries to establish measurable goals and objectives and to evaluate results. We measure mission effectiveness and adjust or prune as necessary. We allocate our resources to maximize the benefits to individuals and communities. We equip and empower our men and women and deploy them according to their abilities, talents, training and expertise. We plan for future leadership. We pray that God will provide highly-motivated, committed, skilled and productive people to carry out our mission.

Integrity

We are honest and trustworthy, accountable to God and each other.

Everything we do is a reflection of God and the name of The Salvation Army, therefore our actions will be transparent and hold up to scrutiny.

RELEVANCE

We seek to understand and meet the needs of people in our communities.

We adapt our methods to meet changes in those needs. We are progressive, and pursue innovation and effectiveness. Our ministries respond to the demographics of the people living in their communities. We undertake studies to determine how we can serve best.

Cooperation

We encourage and foster teamwork and partnerships.

Our congregational and social ministries work cooperatively and collaboratively to fulfil our mission. We recognize that volunteers, employees, adherents, soldiers and officers are our greatest asset in fulfilling our mission. We value partnerships with individuals and groups beyond the Army.

Celebration

We are thankful to God for blessing The Salvation Army.

We believe God raised up the international Salvation Army and gave it a unique identity. We celebrate our rich heritage; our people; our unity and diversity; our observance of a sacramental lifestyle; our communities; and our joyous expressions of faith.

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