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Commissioners announce Women in Leadership Program

16 September 2013
Commissioners announce Women in Leadership Program

Dear colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a new Women in Leadership Program for The Salvation Army. 

Inspired by the courage of Catherine Booth, we empower, encourage and celebrate women within The Salvation Army. We advocate for leadership equality at every level. We help women recognise their value and build their confidence, to reach for and say yes to new opportunities.

Research into this area reveals some very telling statistics regarding the number of women in leadership positions within The Army1:

  • 53% of Salvation Army Officers are female
  • 7.9% are women in ‘decision making’/leadership positions2
  • 1.7% are married women in ‘decision making’/leadership positions2

If we are to move to more leadership equality for Salvation Army women, we must actively engage and purposefully address this issue that affects not only us, but is a challenge in organisations and countries around the world.

To launch the Women in Leadership Program, a forum will be held on 28 October 2013. Employees and officers will be invited (or can apply) to attend a day of inspiration, learning and encouragement.

To kick off this event, we have an open address in Congress Hall from acclaimed international speaker, Major Danielle Strickland and author or The Liberating Truth, How Jesus Empowers Women’.

In preparation for our launch and the inaugural Women in Leadership Forum, we would be grateful if you could provide some valuable assistance. In particular we are requesting that you open up the conversation about equality in the workplace and actively encourage your teams, men and women alike, to come to hear Danielle speak about this important issue.

Further details will be circulated in the coming days. For further enquiries please contact maria.fragatti@aue.salvationarmy.org

God bless you,

James and Jan Condon

1 — Statistics are for The Salvation Army internationally
2 — Territorial\Regional Commander, Chief Secretary, Divisional Commander, Training Principal

Comments

  1. I'm delighted to see this initiative. One small point: in order to underline the inequities of our current set-up, we also need percentages to show how many of the 47% of male officers are in leadership positions

  2. Sylvia Eilermann
    Sylvia Eilermann

    In Social Program this is also very evident. In Tasmania staff in Community services are approximately 85% female yet Stream Managers are 100% male. There is very clear favouritism to males, very discouraging.

  3. Congratulations on this initiative.
    Wishing all involved every success.
    May God guide and bless all involved.

  4. Waouh! congratulations! I wish you days of inspiration and creativirty! God bless your initativ!

  5. Is this a one-day forum only, or are there additional plans?

  6. What about the number of Single MALE Salvation Army Officers. First they are very Few and Second It seems that when the wife of male officers are promoted to glory, it is not long before the now single Male officer leaves the work. The Salvation Army seems to be designed for married couples with many children. Thus the wife is very much occupied with child rearing.
    (I am a soldier of the Pasadena Tabernacle. Our son was single male officer who left the work to return to being a school teacher after being confined to headquarters desk jobs. He felt he could better reach the youth being a school teacher as there are few places being a SINGLE officer.

  7. Wonderful initiative, so many good, Godly women undervalued and overworked in our 'army' but faithfully not expecting acknowledgement or even investment in themselves.

  8. My husband wants to know where the stats come from. the 1.7% of married women in leadership decision making role... he says is a lie. That married women officers in corps officer role is a leadership/decision making role. Are you talking about DHQ, THQ, IHQ position?

  9. @susan: Hi Susan. To answer your question, this study defined decision-making roles as "Territorial\Regional Commander, Chief Secretary, Divisional Commander, Training Principal." Thanks for your comment!

  10. This is a good initiative and to be commended.

    Please make sure the end result is not about tokenism but is about equal opportunity and recognition of ability and skill combined with aptitude and good attitude. Please don't take the quota approach for either gender as the individuals application to developing skill and ability should be a strong indicator of their suitability to be chosen for a leadership role. Tokenism will not lead to good leadership.

    Am curious that the forum on 28th October is only for Officers and Employees! So where do Soldiers fit in to this?

  11. This sounds great!! Congratulations. Now I wish our USE Territory would enroll in this program. Blessings.

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