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Table of Contents
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.
1929
The first High Council occurred from January 8 until February 13. The President was Commissioner James Hay and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner William Haines. General-Elect Edward Higgins was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner James Hay
- Commissioner Edward Higgins
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
- Lt. Commissioner Charles Rich
Candidates
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Edward Higgins
1934
The second High Council ran from August 28 until September 3. The President was Commissioner Karl Larsson and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner George Carpenter. General-Elect Evangeline Booth was announced.
Nominees
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner James Hay
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner David Lamb
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
- Commissioner John McMillan
Candidates
- Commander Evangeline Booth
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner David Lamb
- Commissioner Henry Mapp
1939
The third High Council ran from August 15 to August 24. The President was Commissioner Edward Parker and the Vice President was Commissioner Charles Baugh. General-Elect George Carpenter was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner George Carpenter
- Commissioner Alfred Cunningham
- Lt. Commissioner William Dalziel
- Commissioner Alexander Damon
- Commissioner Samuel Hurren
- Commissioner John McMillan
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Lt. Commissioner Albert Orsborn
Candidates
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner George Carpenter
- Lt. Commissioner William Dalziel
- Commissioner Alexander Damon
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Lt. Commissioner Albert Orsborn
1946
The fourth High Council ran from April 25 to May 9. The President was Commissioner Frank Dyer and the Vice President was Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall followed by Commissioner Ejner Thkjaer. General-Elect Albert Orsborn was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Frank Barrett
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner William Dalziel
- Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner William Maxwell
- Commissioner Donald McMillan
- Lt. Commissioner Tobias Ögrim
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Commissioner Albert Orsborn
- Commissioner Ernest Pugmire
- Commissioner Phyllis Taylor
Candidates
- Commissioner Frank Barrett
- Commissioner Charles Baugh
- Commissioner Catherine Booth
- Commissioner William Dalziel
- Lt. Commissioner Norman Marshall
- Commissioner William Maxwell
- Commissioner Benjamin Orames
- Commissioner Albert Orsborn
1954
The fifth High Council ran from April 29 to May 11. The President was Commissioner William Dalziel and the Vice Presidents were Commissoner Emma Davies and Commissioner Ejner Thkjaer. General-Elect Wilfred Kitching was anounced.
Nominees
- Commissioner John Allan
- Lt. Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Edgar Dibden
- Commissioner Wilfred Kitching
- Commissioner Herbert Lord
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
- General Albert Orsborn
Candidates
- Lt. Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Wilfred Kitching
- Commissioner Herbert Lord
- Commissioner Norman Marshall
1963
The sixth High Council ran from September 19 until October 1. The President was Commissioner Norman Marshall and the Vice President was Commissioner Owen Culshaw. General-Elect Frederick Coutts was announced.
Nominees
- Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Frederick Coutts
- Commissioner Edgar Grinsted
- Commissioner Glenn Ryan
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
- Lt. Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
Candidates
- Commissioner Wycliffe Booth
- Commissioner Frederick Coutts
- Commissioner Edgar Grinsted
- Commissioner Glenn Ryan
- Commissioner Erik Wickberg
- Lt. Commissioner Clarence Wiseman
1969
General-Elect Erik Wickberg was elected on July 23.
Candidates
1974
General-Elect Clarence Wiseman was elected on May 13.
Candidates
1977
General-Elect Arnold Brown was elected on May 5.
Candidates
1981
General-Elect Jarl Wahlström was elected on October 23.
Candidates
1986
General-Elect Eva Burrows was elected on May 2.
Candidates
- Colonel Wesley Harris
1993
Commissioner James Osborne was elected President to oversee this committee. General-Elect Bramwell Tillsley was elected on April 28.
Candidates
- Commissioner Paul Rader
1994
General-Elect Paul Rader was elected on July 23.
Candidates
- Commissioner Paul Rader
1999
General-Elect John Gowans was elected on May 15.
Candidates
2002
General-Elect John Larsson was elected on September 6.
Candidates
2006
General-Elect Shaw Clifton was elected on January 28.
Candidates
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)