Army announces 2023 High Council

IHQ

THE 2023 Salvation Army High Council will commence formally on 18 May 2023 at Sunbury Court Conference Centre.

Mark Bennett, Senior Legal Counsel to the General and International Headquarters (IHQ), explained: ‘The purpose of the High Council is to elect a new General for The Salvation Army in accordance with the Salvation Army Act.’

Recognised as a deeply spiritual occasion as well as being a legal requirement, the High Council offers the international leadership of the Army the opportunity to elect the person to lead the Army for the next five years. Every active Salvation Army officer is eligible to be elected as General.

Global leaders will be issued with a formal summons to attend the High Council by the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham. He will then preside over the opening of the High Council until a president has been elected.

The public welcome to the High Council and farewell to General Brian Peddle and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Rosalie Peddle will be held on 20 May in Westminster Central Hall, London.

Free tickets for this event will be available on a first come, first served basis. For regular updates, visit sar.my/ highcouncil. – AR

DROITWICH SPA The red carpet was rolled out as children’s musical theatre group the Star Project kindly shared a video of their recent production of We Will Rock You with the Friendship Group and their parents. They also performed a few of the songs live, to the delight of all. The group uses the hall for rehearsals each Saturday but have been keen to link with the corps through community projects and fundraising. – MM

Event

CHIPPENHAM The young people spent a morning at the pottery store Glazed decorating coasters, egg cups, mugs and decorations before a lunch of pizza and hot dogs at the hall. The following day, at the annual YP prizegiving, they received prizes from corps officers Major Chris and Captain Sandra Hall. – JD

EVENT

Corps helps families cook on a budget

Oldham Fitton Hill

THE corps held a Meet, Cook and Eat programme over four weeks, which saw families learn to cook well-known takeaway dishes on a budget.

The scheme was run in association with Real Education Empowering Lives to help households as they continue to struggle with the rising cost of living.

Stephanie Brown, the community worker at the corps who led the course, said: ‘People can often rely on takeaways if they don’t have the skills to cook, which can be convenient, but it is just not financially viable to live like that anymore.

‘All the recipes on the course were cheap, healthy and quick, with prepping and cooking in under 20 minutes so no need to worry about energy prices.’ – AR

Lifehouse

RIVERSIDE COMPLEX Displays in the reception areas celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month, showing that all residents and visitors are welcome and included. – DT

GREAT YARMOUTH Corps leader Territorial Envoy Ali James has been braving the cold for charity by taking a daily dip in the North Sea. The money raised is going towards the food bank and Sally’s Store, the corps community supermarket that provides access to affordable food. Ali said: ‘I’d seen someone else had done a 24-hour danceathon and thought what a great idea! I wanted to do something that acknowledges people are suffering to show solidarity with them. This is such a difficult time for everybody.’ – AR

Community

LARNE The town centre’s police officer visited the drop-in during half-term and spoke about local concerns and what life is like working in the force. The adults and children present were allowed to sit inside a squad car and some volunteers even found themselves handcuffed! – PC

Fundraising

MERTHYR TYDFIL Cadet

Paul Sass was presented with a cheque for £550 from a quiz team that raises funds for local charities. Cadet Paul had previously spoken at one of their meetings on the community work undertaken by the corps. – LB

Whittlesey celebrates the hall’s reopening with a Lighthouse mosaic created by the community

Ecumenical

STAPLE HILL As part of a Churches Together pulpit exchange, the Rev Dr Aboseh Ngwana visited the corps to deliver the sermon. Coming from the Methodist church, he also spoke about his journey to becoming an ordained minister and his current role. Corps officer Major Colin Hylton-Jones visited St James Church in Mangotsfield and was warmly received by the congregation. – VW

Event

DUNSTABLE Wearing traditional Salvation Army uniform from Pakistan, Territorial Environmental Officer Major Heather Poxon launched the corps SelfDenial Appeal. She thanked those who had dressed in clothing from different countries and invited others to take an item of clothing from a table. She spoke about her experiences of visiting international projects and how people at the margins of society had affected the thinking of those at the centre. She challenged the congregation to meditate on their prejudices and stereotypes. – JB

Sunderland Citadel

ON Covenant Sunday the corps thanked God for prayers answered as Stephanie was enrolled as a soldier, Penny was welcomed as an adherent, and Jessica and Christian were enrolled as junior soldiers – the first within the corps for many years. As they all dedicated their lives to God, taking this step on their journeys of faith, the fellowship celebrated with them and recognised what an amazing Saviour they serve. Pictured with them are corps officers Majors David and Meshiel Brown and CSM Valerie Sinclair. – JJ

KEITH Boon had been an adherent for just over a year when he decided to take the next step on his Christian journey and became a soldier of the corps. Keith is pictured with corps officer Captain Gayner Ward.

– CW

Willenhall

ON Covenant Sunday the corps celebrated by welcoming Mary Williams and Seetha Rupasinghe as adherents. Mary and Seetha have been worshipping at the corps for a while and decided to make a further commitment. – SM

ANDRAYAS and Anisha were welcomed as adherents by corps leader Territorial Envoy Lee Highton-Nicholls. They came to England to study during the Covid-19 pandemic but did not attend church for a couple of years. Recently, when their relative started worshipping at the Army, they responded to his invitation to come along. They testified to how they have found a family in the corps and a place to belong. Captain Rajan Gill (Gurdaspar, India Northern Territory) recorded a prayer in Punjabi, and a Hindi worship song was introduced to the congregation. During the service their son, Azai, was dedicated to God. – LH-N

Brighouse

OLUWAKEMI Babatope Fayomade was welcomed as an adherent by Divisional Support Officer Major Joy Allchin. Following a move to the town, Kemi and her three young boys have attended the corps for almost two years, making it their spiritual home. The family have become valued members of the fellowship. Kemi wanted her relationship with God and commitment to the corps to be recognised through becoming an adherent. – CC

ROBERT WILSON BURTON-ONTRENT

ROBERT was born in Cumnock in 1948, the only child of James and Jean Wilson. In his early twenties, he moved to London and eventually lived in Luton.

It was there Robert was converted, met his wife-to-be Margaret, and became a soldier at Luton Temple.

Robert and Margaret married in March 1973 and, having secured a job with the Wesleyan Assurance Society, they came to live in the Burton area. Transferring to Burton-on-Trent Corps, Robert was very involved in the corps, organising the youth fellowship, singing in the songsters and eventually becoming the band colour sergeant. The latter was a position that he took great pride in and held for many years.

Robert was a loving husband to his late wife, a devoted father to Andrew and Lindsay and a much-loved grandad to Elliott and Harris. He will be deeply missed by all. – CM

Phillip Pinfold Rugby

PHILLIP was born and bred in Rugby. He left school at 17 and enjoyed many activities, particularly climbing, and was a proud scout.

He served an engineering apprenticeship with British ThomsonHouston and, after gaining experience in research and development, worked for British Aerospace. He was proud to have worked on the last Vulcan in service, which flew to the Falklands conflict, and afterwards worked on Red Arrows. He then became an advanced motoring instructor.

Phillip married Monica in 1963. They came to the Army through his mum and became soldiers at Rugby in 1997. A valued member of the corps, he was part of the pastoral team, a songster, served as a chaplain at a young offenders’ prison, sold the Army papers in town, assisted with the winter shelter, and was proud to be the corps flag bearer. Phillip leaves his widow, Monica, two children, three granddaughters and one great-grandson.

Colonel Edward Cotterill

BORN in Folkestone in 1926, Ted, with his brother and sister, were raised singlehandedly by their mother, Olive, under difficult circumstances. An invitation by a school friend commenced Ted’s association with The Salvation Army but, with the onset of the Second World War, Ted’s school was evacuated to south Wales.

As soon as he was 14, Ted rejoined his family, who were now living in Aston, Birmingham. He was employed in a paper mill that one night was completely destroyed in the bombing. He joined the Royal Navy, becoming a signalman on the aircraft carrier HMS Venerable, was involved in the surrender of the Japanese army in Hong Kong and became a member of the Burma Star Association.

Returning to the UK and called by God to officership, Ted entered the Peacemakers session of cadets in 1948 and met Eva Leed. They married in 1951, beginning more than 71 years of marriage and ministry. Together they served as faithful corps officers at Burgess Hill, Dorking, Herne Bay, Fakenham, Walsall, Birmingham Hockley, Gateshead Teams, Cannock, Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls, Croydon Citadel, Boscombe Citadel and Regent Hall. Divisional leadership followed in Yorkshire and later Canterbury but, in 1982, a love affair with Africa commenced, firstly in East Africa as chief secretary and then in Ghana in 1986 when Ted was appointed territorial commander.

The Cotterills retired in 1991, returning to London and Regent Hall. Many more adventures and opportunities awaited, as Ted continued for another 31 years to serve God intentionally in a variety of ways at the Rink and later Penge Corps and with his neighbours. His love and devotion for Eva, who has been in a nursing home for the past four years, was remarkable, as was his encouragement, love and care for his three sons and their families. – AC

Territorial Envoy Paul Stanford

PAUL was born in 1946 and brought up in a Salvationist family at Cheltenham Citadel Corps, the second eldest of four children. He was a member of the band and became young people’s sergeant-major.

In the 1960s, he played bass guitar in a rhythm group, called the Essays. At one of these concerts, he met his future wife, Sandra.

Paul retired as young people’s sergeant-major after 25 years’ service for a break. Within a few weeks, together with Sandra, he was leading meetings around the team ministry in Stroud, Cirencester and Tewkesbury.

In 1993, the opportunity for corps leadership opened to them and they became envoys at Tewkesbury. A few years later, in addition, they took charge of Evesham Corps, enjoying many years of ministry.

They retired from Evesham in 2015 but continued in leadership at Tewkesbury. After the promotion to Glory of Sandra, Paul continued ministry at Tewkesbury. Officially, Paul was to retire in December 2022, but he was promoted to Glory a month before.

Paul touched the lives of many people of all ages throughout his ministry. He is greatly missed by his family, friends and corps family at Tewkesbury.

Servant of God, well done! – KS/MM

Please note that members’ tributes that are submitted for publication should be no longer than 150 words. Good quality pictures will be included. Please do not send your copy to any individual’s email address as this could delay publication. Copy should be sent to salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk

Army People

International appointments

The following appointments and promotions, decided upon by the General, have been announced by the Chief of the Staff

Effective 1 May

LIEUT-COLONELS JOHN

WILLIAM AND RATNA

SUNDARI POLIMETLA , officers of the India Central Territory, are appointed as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, India South Western Territory, with the rank of colonel

Local officers appointed

ASST CT KUDA CHIUTSI, Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls

SINGING COMPANY SGT

JO-ANNE KENYON, Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls

SINGING COMPANY SGT

NYBELLE WENAZO, Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls

Promoted to Glory

MANDY ROBINSON, Shoeburyness, on 19 January

FRANCES COOK, Maidstone, on 4 February

Bereaved

MAJOR ELAINE CAVANAGH, THQ, of her father Bill Piercy

MAJOR NEIL DAVIES, Yeovil, of his mother Pearl Davies

MAJOR DAWN EVANS, Redditch, of her brother

Trevor Martin

Engagements

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle

Sat 11 Mar – Sun 12 Mar Chatham

Chief of the Staff Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham

Sat 25 Feb – Sun 5 Mar SPEA Zonal Conference

Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill and Commissioner Gillian Cotterill

Sat 4 Mar – Sun 5 Mar Bedford Congress Hall

Thu 9 Mar Buckingham Palace*

Thu 9 Mar William Booth College (Confirmation in Officership Conference)**

Sat 11 Mar Chatham

Mon 13 Mar William Booth College (Into Officership Spring Seminar)

Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main and Colonel Jenine Main

Sat 4 Mar – Sun 5 Mar Scarborough

Mon 6 Mar – Wed 8 Mar North East Division officers’ retreat

Sun 12 Mar William Booth College (Exploring Leadership Day guest speaker)***

* Commissioner Anthony Cotterill only

** Commissioner Gillian Cotterill only

*** Colonel Jenine Main only

Notices

Generous Discipleship

Encourage your corps to gift their time, talents and treasure using new resources from the Generous Discipleship programme, including a guide to help answer questions, a PowerPoint presentation and a six-part Bible study based on Psalm 100:1–5. Read more on salvationist.org.uk or contact generous.disciples@salvationarmy.org.uk

Thriving Families

Organised by the Methodist Children, Youth and Family team, Learning Network North West and Bible Reading Fellowship, this free online event is an opportunity to learn about ways to support family wellbeing. It takes place on Thursday 23 March from 11am to 2pm. Find out more at eventbrite.co.uk/e/526461228707

Sounds

Beyond Me

Journey through Lent with an audio version of Beyond Me by Major John McLean (Hendon), produced by the online Plexus Corps. Episodes are released daily and a Facebook group provides a forum for responses: facebook.com/groups/beyond.me.devotional

Listen online at selahtimetobreathe.podbean.com

Salvationist Radio

This weekend marks the first Sunday of the new programming line-up, with shows for all ages. Tune in for Sunday Wake-Up with Lyndall Bywater at 7am, Morning Praise with Kids Alive! at 9am, Sunday Worship at 11am, Sunday Lunch at 1pm and Sing to the Lord with the ISS at 5pm. For the latest on apps, smart speakers and podcast availability, visit salvationist.org.uk/radio

Listen live on salvationist.org.uk/radio

Saturday 11 March, 5.30pm