Salvation Army

The Australian Territory or the Australia Territory was founded in 1880 when Edward Saunders and John Gore opened the work in Australia. The territory was original known as The Australasian Territory until it was renamed The Australian Territory in 1907 when the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa Territory was created.

Under Herbert Booth's tenure, the territory saw the creation of the Federal Band and Federal Choristers, a national training college for officers in East Melbourne, and motion picture productions.

In 1909, Commissioner James Hay arrived to take command. Hay deplored the regime of his predecessor, Herbert Booth and ordered the removal of his name from foundation stones and closed down his motion-picture work. In 1921, he oversaw the territory split in two, The Australia Eastern Territory and The Australia Southern Territory. On November 30, 2018, General Brian Peddle through the Australia One project reunited the two territories back into one unified Australia Territory.

News has been announced of a significant decision made by the General in relation to the future of The Salvation Army’s work in Australia. With effect from 1 January 2019 the Army’s two Australian territories, Australia Eastern and Australia Southern, will operate as one territory – the Australia Territory.

The intricate process of bringing these two significant territories together will begin on 1 June 2016, when a National Commander will be appointed to guide the changes that will be involved in achieving this momentous change. At the beginning of 2017 a National Chief Secretary will be appointed to give support to the National Commander as the momentum of the merging process increases.

The target date of 1 January 2019 for launching the Australia Territory may seem far distant, but the General wants to afford ample time for the intricacies of the process to be worked through efficiently and effectively, without undue haste. If, at a later stage, it is felt that the target date could realistically be brought forward, that possibility will be given serious consideration and, if deemed appropriate, adjustments will be made to the timetable.

The developing national team, under the leadership of the National Commander and National Chief Secretary, will support the process until such time as the single territory becomes operative, and at that point the terms ‘National Commander’ and ‘National Chief Secretary’ will be replaced by the usual ‘Territorial Commander’ and ‘Chief Secretary’, with a single territorial headquarters providing oversight for the Army’s mission throughout Australia.

The national leaders will work closely with both territorial leadership teams as steps are taken towards the implementation of a single territorial team that will ultimately head up the Australia Territory. The eventual location of the territorial headquarters for the one territory is yet to be determined.

This decision has been reached following a lengthy and exhaustive review which has involved in-depth discussion with Salvation Army leadership, officers and soldiers in Australia, advisory board input from both existing territories, the administrative expertise of Colonel Glen Shepherd (Canada), to bring an independent mind to the proposal and, finally, consideration by the International Management Council at International Headquarters, under the chairmanship of the General.

At various times since The Salvation Army in Australia was separated into two territories in 1921, there have been discussions within Australia, and at International Headquarters, concerning whether the mission of The Salvation Army might be better served by the unification of the two territories.

In early 2015 Colonel Shepherd – a retired officer currently serving as a divisional secretary in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, and having seen service as both chief secretary and territorial commander during his years of active service - was engaged by the Australian territories to determine if there is a business case for their unification. The study was mandated to examine the costs and benefits (financial and missional) of such an approach, as well as the issues to be considered in the implementation of any form of unification.

A financial analysis of the proposal has resulted in a confident expectation that the unification of these territories will bring about substantial savings, which will be invested in a Mission Development Endowment Fund to ensure the sustainability and further development of effective mission in a single Australia Territory. The creation of this single territory will also ensure that the Army speaks in Australia with a single voice and has a consistency of approach in all of its programmes, personnel management and business dealings.

The Salvation Army today announced the appointment of Commissioner Floyd Tidd as its inaugural National Commander in Australia, effective from 1 June 2016. Commissioner Tidd is currently Territorial Commander for the Australia Southern Territory and has had an extensive international career with the organisation. Commissioner Tracey Tidd is appointed National President of Women's Ministries.

'This is an important milestone that will further enhance The Salvation Army’s ability to provide life‐changing social and spiritual services to the people of Australia,' said Commissioner Floyd Tidd. 'I am delighted yet humbled by my appointment and ready to meet the challenge to ensure we strengthen our ability to provide social and spiritual services around the country.'

The international leadership of the Army seeks the prayers of all for the ongoing process of bringing these two territories together. It is believed, most sincerely, that the outcome will be the strengthening of the Army’s ministry in the beautiful land of Australia, and the enrichment of officers, soldiers and friends who work within the Army structure or offer valuable support from the sidelines.

Report by IHQ Communications, February 29, 2016

In 2016, General André Cox announced that The Salvation Army’s two territories in Australia (Australia Eastern and Australia Southern) would amalgamate to create one national territory. The project, known as Australia One, aims to provide a structure for The Salvation Army to best deliver its spiritual and social mission to all Australians. The official start of the Australia Territory is planned for 1 January 2019.

Since the General’s announcement, significant work has been done to support an aligned vision and united voice for The Salvation Army in Australia. This has led to the creation of a structural foundation for a new Australia Territory, which was unveiled on 1 May 2017 by the National Commander, Commissioner Floyd Tidd.

Crucial to this foundation is the development of a new vision for The Salvation Army in Australia – a vision built on the back of broad and deep engagement. It states: 'Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos [a commonly used term in Australia for Salvationists] will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.' Speaking to this vision for the Army has been the creation of '12 Essentials' that define a vision of the Army (included below).



The structural foundation had been approved in London in April by The Salvation Army's International Management Council, including the General, the Chief of the Staff (Commissioner Brian Peddle), Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women's Ministries) and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (World Secretary for Women's Ministries).

Explaining the thinking behind the decisions, Commissioner Tidd said: 'These foundation blocks approved by our international leadership will be built upon in the coming months of transition and change. I am confident that the National Vision Statement can be realised through the continued dedicated service of Salvos in communities across Australia, supported by an appropriate national administrative structure. The days ahead will be filled with challenges and opportunities as together we work to position The Salvation Army for 21st century Australia.

'I am grateful to so many who have selflessly contributed to the development of these key components in the development of Australia One. I have been impressed by the engagement of officers, employees, soldiers and volunteers who have contributed to the process leading to these foundational steps for Australia One irrespective of personal implication, considering first the mission.'

The Australia One project has required a decision to be taken on the location of a territorial headquarters (THQ). Commissioner Tidd announced that the new united Australia Territory will have its headquarters in Melbourne. In a significant shift, though, leadership and support roles will be dispersed across the country.

The commissioner said the decision on where to locate THQ was 'probably one of the most grueling and difficult tasks undertaken by the Australia One Steering Committee'.

The creation of a new national territory provides The Salvation Army in Australia with an opportunity to be an early adoptee of the international move towards a new way of governing the Army, as outlined by the General as part of the Accountability Movement. The single governing authority will be a board chaired by the territorial commander. This board, which will be responsible for strategy and governance, will include officer leadership and five non-officers, with at least two being active Salvationists. All other members must have a strong Christian faith. Membership will be based on minimum one-third female and minimum one-third male. Appointments to the board, which will be made by the General, will also be conscious of 'broader diversity considerations'.

Further explaining the new senior board and council set-up (for a full version of his speech, click here) Commissioner Tidd also revealed that a Gender Equity Plan is being devised to 'address the systematic inequality faced by women officers'. The plan will implement the Army’s biblical teaching about women’s leadership and ensure that the new Australia Territory structures value the unique gifts of each individual.

As a result, an Advocate for Women’s Equity will be appointed, supported by a Women’s Equity Committee. The committee will have internal and external members, with equal representation of women and men. Its role will be to develop and implement strategies to achieve the goals of gender equity for women. The Advocate for Women’s Equity and the Women’s Equity Committee will report directly to the chief secretary.

Report by IHQ Communications, May 10, 2017

• The Salvation Army in Australia, Wikipedia
• The Salvation Army, Australia Eastern Territory, Wikipedia
• The Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory, Wikipedia
• Australian Territories To Be Merged
• Australia National Commander Reveals 'Structural Foundation' Of Australia One Initiative
• James Hay - Canada and Bermuda Territory
• Commandant Herbert - Australia's Adopted Booth
• The Salvation Army, Australian Territory
• The History of the Salvation Army, Vol. 4 by Arch Wiggins, pg. 92