• Who We Are

  • Who We Are

General Brian Peddle and
Commissioner Rosalie Peddle 
The General and Commissioner Peddle for The Salvation Army International Headquarters. Read more

National Commander and National President of Women’s Ministries
Commissioners Kenneth G. and Jolene K. Hodder are the National Commander and National President of Women’s Ministries for The Salvation Army in the U.S. Read more

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. Read more

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. Read more

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. Read more

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. Read more

THE GENERAL BRIAN PEDDLE AND COMMISSIONER ROSALIE PEDDLE

The Salvation Army International Headquarters

Commissioned and ordained as a Salvation Army officer in 1977 as a member of the Companions of Christ Session, General Brian Peddle has served in partnership with his wife, Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, since their marriage in 1978. Initial service in his home territory of Canada and Bermuda, included corps, divisional and training college appointments.

The General’s first international appointment was to Auckland, in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, as divisional commander. He was transferred to territorial headquarters in the United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland Territory to serve as chief secretary, with the rank of colonel. A return to the Canada and Bermuda Territory followed in 2011, to take up leadership as territorial commander, with promotion to the rank of commissioner.

Service at International Headquarters initially came on 1 September 2014 as International Secretary for Americas and Caribbean, prior to his appointment as Chief of the Staff on 1 November 2015.

It was on 25 May 2018 that Commissioner Brian Peddle was elected as the 21st General of The Salvation Army, to assume office on 3 August that same year.

Outside of his ministry, the General enjoys kayaking, cycling, hiking and fishing. The General and Commissioner Peddle have two daughters, Stephanie and Krista, as well as five grandchildren.

The General has a strong sense of calling as a Salvation Army officer, fueled by his conviction that God continues to use The Salvation Army to impact the world. The General and Commissioner Peddle are convinced of their responsibility to preach the gospel, encourage the saints and serve those in need.

COMMISSIONERS KENNETH G. AND JOLENE K. HODDER

The Salvation Army National Headquarters

Commissioners Kenneth G. and Jolene K. Hodder serve as the National Commander and National President for Women’s Ministries respectively for The Salvation Army in the United States of America.

Commissioner Kenneth Hodder is a graduate of Harvard College (A.B. magna cum laude, 1980) and Harvard Law School (J.D., 1983).  Commissioner Jolene Hodder holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Los Angeles (1982), and a Masters of Religion from Trevecca Nazarene University (2018).

In 1986, after several years in their chosen professions, Commissioners Hodder responded to God’s call to service as Salvation Army officers.  Commissioned in 1988, they subsequently served in corps appointments in Glendale and Torrance, California, as instructors at the School for Officers Training, and later as staff officers at USA Western Territorial Headquarters.  In 1997, they served for three years as Coordinators for the International Millennial Congress.  Later they served at Southern California Divisional Headquarters in Los Angeles, and then as divisional leaders for the Cascade Division.

Commissioners Hodder were appointed in March, 2006 to serve as Chief Secretary and Territorial Leader of Women’s Ministries in the Kenya Territory.  Three years later, the Hodders were appointed to International Headquarters, where Commissioner Kenneth Hodder served in dual roles as International Secretary for Personnel and as Legal and Constitutional Adviser to the General and Commissioner Jolene Hodder served as Associate International Secretary for Personnel.  They were subsequently appointed as the Territorial leaders for Kenya West in January of 2013, and then Territorial leaders of The Salvation Army’s USA West Territory in 2017. They were appointed to their current roles at National Headquarters on July 1, 2020.

Commissioner Jolene Hodder is the author of two books, Walking in White and A Bend in the Road.  They have one daughter, Jessica Fagerstrom, and they recently experienced the privilege of becoming grandparents to their pride and joy, Everett Kenneth.

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.