A Look Inside the High Council

At the end of May, Salvation Army leaders from across the globe were summoned to Sunbury Court in London, to begin the serious task of electing the new general to lead the international Salvation Army. The general serves an elected term of five years, with General Brian Peddle having served since 2018.

It was announced on May 27 that Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham, previously the chief of the staff, had been elected as the 22nd General of The Salvation Army. Lyndon is the first New Zealander to hold this office. Aside from his most recent appointment as the chief of the staff, Lyndon has also been the territorial commander for Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, and also for the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory.

The process for electing a new general is extensive and prayer-driven, and our Territorial Leaders Commissioners Mark and Julie Campbell had the privilege of being members of the council that discerned the Army’s next leader. ‘It was really humbling for us,’ Julie explains, ‘sitting in a room with 109 other leaders from all countries across The Salvation Army.’ The council met for just over a week to elect the new general, which included a farewell celebration for General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle.

Legal and spiritual imperatives

Mark and Julie explain that much of what occurred during each day of the process involved a lot of prayer and conversations between members. Each morning when the council met, prayers were read out from Salvation Army soldiers around the world, drawing the council back to the holy nature of their task.

‘Even though there was a process legally that we had to go through, we knew that we were there in the room to find the next leader who God was going to reveal to us, and who would be leading the Army in this next season. So, it was a spiritual exercise, even though we were all working within the law,’ Mark explains. The week included a few formalities: electing the president, vice-president and chaplain for the High Council, confirming the Orders of Procedure for electing a new general, deciding on the questions to ask candidates and finally the election itself.

Although the overall shape of the High Council’s procedure was reported on while it was in session, there were some aspects of the process that were not open to the public, including the contents of the candidates’ speeches, which were made to the council members prior to the vote. When it came to making the decision around who they would support to be the new general, Mark and Julie had some idea of what they felt would be important for the Army.

A general for the times

‘For me, I talk a lot about leadership, character and competency, I’m always looking for that. All the candidates are godly people, but we need someone who can step up, who has capacity and who has the heart to move into this role,’ Mark says.

Julie explains that she felt that the Army needed someone to hold steady, and yet motivate us in uncertain times. ‘We live in a really complex world. Life isn’t simple; it’s not black and white. I was looking for wisdom, for discernment. I wanted to see someone who was passionate and deeply in love with God, and absolutely committed to the mission and ministry of the Army. We need someone who would inspire and encourage us; someone who believed that as an Army, God wasn’t finished with us yet.’

Julie also wanted to acknowledge how significant it felt for her to have a woman officer as a candidate this year. ‘Colonel Diana McDonald had only been a territorial leader for a few months at the time, but I was really thankful to God that a woman was nominated—a married woman leader from Pakistan! Colonel McDonald spoke with assurance and had such spiritual authority and humility; she spoke about what she saw the Army needed going forward. I thank God that women’s voices were heard in this time, and that women leaders in The Salvation Army were seen and valued.’

Te reo Māori welcome

The election of Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham as the new general is particularly significant for our territory. Mark and Julie note that there was something special for them in welcoming a Kiwi to the role of general, and that they had the opportunity to honour the Buckinghams' heritage at the High Council. ‘We were with Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson (general’s representatives for Mission Effectiveness) and Lieutenant-Colonel Jennifer Groves (private secretary of the chief of the staff) and were wondering what our response should be if Lyndon was elected. Robert went away and prepared a waiata (song), a karakia (prayer) and some Scripture to share in te reo Māori. So, when Lyndon was announced as the general-elect, he and Commissioner Bronwyn stood together, and we blessed them with waiata and karakia.’

We are excited to announce that the General-elect Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham, along with Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, will be in attendance at this year’s Ordination and Commissioning service in New Zealand, as well as the 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Fiji.