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High Council
The High Council is an international group of Salvation Army officers composed of active Commissioners and Territorial Commanders with the rank of full Colonel who have held the rank for at least two years, who elect the General.
It was established in 1904 by General William Booth as a safeguard to allow the removal from office of an incumbent General who had become, for whatever reason, unfit to continue to exercise oversight, direction and control of The Salvation Army. He intended that the normal method of succession would be for the General in office to select his successor. General Bramwell Booth was the only General ever selected this way in 1912.
By November 1928, Bramwell Booth had been absent from International Headquarters for seven months on account of illness, and a High Council was called. The 63 members, being all the commissioners on active service and certain territorial commanders, gathered at Sunbury Court near London on January 8, 1929 and eventually voted that the General, then aged 73, was 'unfit on the ground of ill-health' to continue in office. On February 13, 1929, the High Council elected Commissioner Edward J. Higgins as the Army's third General.
1954
General-Elect Wilfred Kitching was announced.
Candidates
- Comissioner Wycliffe Booth
1986
General-Elect Eva Burrows was announced.
Candidates
- Colonel Wesley Harris
2011
The 17th High Council convened on Friday, January 21, 2011, at Sunbury Court, United Kingdom. On January 31, General-Elect Linda Bond was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Linda Bond
- Commissioner Max Feener
- Commissioner William Francis
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek
- Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan
- Commissioner John Matear
- Commissioner William Roberts
- Commissioner Robert Street
- Commissioner Barry Swanson
2013
The 18th High Council convened on Monday, July 29, 2013, at the Renaissance Hotel, London Heathrow, United Kingdom. On August 3, General-Elect André Cox was announced with immediate effect.
Candidates
- Commissioner André Cox
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Commissioner James Knaggs
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek
- Commissioner Barry Swanson
2018
The 19th High Council convened on May 17, 2018. On May 24, General-Elect Brian Peddle was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Brad Bailey
- Commissioner William Cochrane
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Commissioner E. Jane Paone
- Commissioner Brian Peddle
- Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Benjamin Mnyampi (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Floyd Tidd (Nominated but declined)
- Commissioner Mark Tillsley (Nominated but declined)
2023
The 20th High Council was convened on May 24, 2023. General-Elect Lyndon Buckingham was announced.
Candidates
- Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham
- Commissioner Merle Heatwole
- Commissioner Kenneth G Hodder
- Colonel Diana MacDonald
- Commissioner Keith Conrad (Nominated but declined)