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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

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Who We Are Image

Who We Are

 

General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham

The General and Commissioner Peddle for The Salvation Army International Headquarters. 

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National Commander and National Secretary for Program

Commissioners Merle and Dawn Heatwole are the National Commander and National Secretary for Program for The Salvation Army in the U.S.

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Salvation Army Officers

Operations of The Salvation Army are supervised by trained, commissioned officers. They proclaim the gospel and serve as administrators, teachers, social workers, counselors, youth leaders, and musicians.

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Salvation Army Soldiers

The soldiers of The Salvation Army (wearing blue epaulets), the committed laity, are local citizens in communities throughout the U.S. who give allegiance to the doctrines and disciplines of the Army. There are approximately 450,000 soldiers in the United States. 

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National Advisory Board

Distinguished members of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board are notable community leaders who voluntarily use their professional skills and knowledge to plan, advise, and generally assist The Salvation Army on issues of national significance. 

 

 

Volunteers

From its inception, The Salvation Army has relied heavily on volunteers who support its programs. Often referred to as “the army behind The Army,” volunteers play a crucial role The Salvation Army’s ability to provide quality social services for the entire community. 

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GENERAL LYNDON BUCKINGHAM & COMMISSIONER BRONWYN BUCKINGHAM

The Salvation Army International Headquarters

General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, originally from the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory, are passionate representatives of The Salvation Army.

They have served as officers since they were commissioned in 1990 as members of the Ambassadors for Christ Session. Commissioner Lyndon was appointed Chief of the Staff on 3 August 2018 and Commissioner Bronwyn as World Secretary for Spiritual Life Development on 1 January 2021, having previously served as World Secretary for Women’s Ministries.

They assumed their current responsibilities as General and World President of Women’s Ministries on 3 August 2023.

Over the years of their officership they have served in corps appointments in New Zealand and Canada, as Territorial Youth and Candidates Secretaries, Divisional Leaders and Territorial Program Secretaries.

On 1 February 2013 the Buckinghams were appointed to the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, firstly as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries respectively, before assuming territorial leadership in June 2013. On 1 January 2018 they were appointed to lead the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham as Territorial Commander and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham as Territorial Leader for Leader Development.

Bronwyn and Lyndon are blessed to be parents and grandparents. They are continually encouraged and challenged by the desire of their adult children to serve God in their generation.

In each of their appointments the Buckinghams have displayed a desire to see the great news of the gospel shared.

Bronwyn is inspired by the belief that God has a new truth to reveal to her daily and compelled by the promise that he is continuing to grow and stretch her (Philippians 1:6 NIV). She desires to be the woman God is calling her to be and is passionate to be part of an Army where the next generation will choose to embrace their leadership calling.

Lyndon is passionate about finding ways for The Salvation Army to be more effective in fulfilling its mission. He is determined to be faithful to the covenants he has made and is motivated by verses from Paul’s letter to the Colossians: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men’ (Colossians 3:23 NIV 1984).

Both are intent on enjoying life, endeavoring to stay fit by walking and rowing. They enjoy reading, watching good movies and are avid supporters of New Zealand’s ‘All Blacks’ rugby union team!

COMMISSIONERS Merle & Dawn Heatwole

The Salvation Army National Headquarters

Commissioners Merle and Dawn Heatwole are the national leaders of The Salvation Army in the United States of America with Merle serving as the National Commander and Dawn serving as the National Secretary for Program. They assumed these appointments on March 1, 2025. 

Immediately preceding this appointment Merle served as Territorial Commander and Dawn as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in the Latin America North Territory.

Merle and Dawn are both children of Salvation Army officers, Lt. Colonels Merle L. and Vivian Heatwole and Colonels Thomas C. and Mary Lewis. The Heatwoles met when their parents were both stationed at the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Divisional Headquarters. They were married in 1981, entered the College for Officer Training the next year and were commissioned in 1984 as a part of the Servants of God session.

The Heatwoles served in appointments as corps officers, divisional officers, and territorial officers in addition to appointments at National Headquarters in the USA and International Headquarters in London, England.

The Heatwoles have three adult children Michael, Michele and Melissa who live in the United States. Michael and his wife, Linnea, live in Carpentersville, Illinois, with the Heatwoles’ granddaughters, Elin and Audrey. Michele and her husband, Dan Penning, live in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the Heatwoles’ grandson, Carter.  Melissa and her husband, Kenyon Sivels, are the corps officers in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, with the Heatwoles’ granddaughters, Trinity and Eden.

SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS

Operations of The Salvation Army are supervised by trained, commissioned officers. They proclaim the gospel and serve as administrators, teachers, social workers, counselors, youth leaders, and musicians.

These men and women have dedicated their lives, skills, and service completely to God. Lay members who subscribe to the doctrines of The Salvation Army are called soldiers. Along with officers, they are known as Salvationists.

Candidates for officership undergo an intensive two-year course in residence at Salvation Army colleges in Chicago; Suffern, New York; Atlanta; and Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The curriculum combines theory and field practice, including Salvation Army doctrine, sociology and social work, psychology, Salvation Army regulations, homiletics, public speaking, Bible studies, church history, composition, community relations, business administration, accounting, and vocal and instrumental music.

After two successful years of training, cadets are commissioned as lieutenants, ordained as ministers, and assigned to active duty while continuing their education. Lieutenants are required to devote five years to additional studies.

Numerous advanced training courses are available for officers wishing to specialize in a particular discipline. Institutes, seminars, and conferences have been established to ensure that officers are informed of new and innovative programs and developments.

Promotion is based on length of service, character, efficiency, capacity for increased  responsibility, and devotion to duty. The ranks are lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, and commissioner. The international leader holds the rank of general and is selected by a high council of active-duty commissioner and territorial commanders.

Salvation Army officers must devote full time to Army work. An officer who marries must marry another Salvation Army officer or leave his or her officer status. Married captains and majors will individually carry the rank applicable to their own length of service, not that of their spouse. In case of married officers, the conferred ranks of lieutenant colonel, colonel, and commissioner will be held jointly. As ordained ministers of the gospel, they are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies, funeral services, and infant dedications. They also provide counseling and consolation to the bereaved.

The Salvation Army provides officers’ living quarters, furnishings, and official transportation. Officers qualify for retirement once they are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.

SALVATION ARMY SOLDIERS

The soldiers of The Salvation Army (wearing blue epaulets), the committed laity, are local citizens in communities throughout the U.S. who give allegiance to the doctrines and disciplines of the Army. There are approximately 450,000 soldiers in the United States.

These soldiers may take on volunteer responsibilities in the congregation or help in the Army’s social service outreach. Many soldiers give valuable service in directing and leading youth groups in character-building activities. Many take part in the Army’s musical programs and teach young people to sing and play.

As a valuable means of service to the community, soldiers visit the sick and lonely in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional institutions. Social service programs are enhanced by the commitment of soldiers who often give their time in the Army’s basic ministries of shelter and food provision.

Soldiers abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and tobacco. Trained and qualified soldiers are appointed as “local officers.” This corresponds to a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces. Other members of the congregation are adherents who participate in church activities but have not signed on as soldiers. Adherents may take on some lay responsibilities, such as teaching Sunday School classes.

VOLUNTEERS

From its inception, The Salvation Army has relied heavily on volunteers who support its programs. Often referred to as “the army behind The Army,” volunteers play a crucial role The Salvation Army’s ability to provide quality social services for the entire community.

Volunteers are valuable assets in The Salvation Army’s efforts to meet the changing needs of our world. Through the skills and experience they bring to The Army, volunteers make significant contributions to society by positively impacting the lives of those they assist. Salvation Army volunteers change lives, uplift families, and support communities throughout our nation every day.

Thank you for exploring the many opportunities to help those in need and enhance your community as a volunteer within The Salvation Army.