Worship in the Salvation Army does not include sacraments or observance of the traditional church year. Salvationists regard these practices as unnecessary to the life of consecration to God, experienced through the inward power of the Holy Spirit. They do, however, believe in the importance of ceremonies such as child dedication, enrollment of soldiers (members), and commissioning of officers (clergy), events that recognize and celebrate decisive moments in an individual’s spiritual life.
The Salvation Army is nonsacramental, practicing neither water baptism nor the rite of Communion in its corporate worship. Like the Quakers, Salvationists believe that sacraments and ordinances are symbols of spiritual truths and seek to experience the realities these symbols represent.
A Spiritual Approach
General Frederick Coutts explains The Salvation Army’s position on sacraments in his book In Good Company: “Our witness is simply that the presence of Christ may be realized, and His grace freely received, without the aid of any material elements. Our testimony is not against the sacraments—and never has been—but to the truth that the unsearchable riches of grace can be communicated by the Holy Spirit and received directly by the believer who comes to the throne of grace in faith.” (Allan Satterlee, Notable Quotables: A Compendium of Gems from Salvation Army Literature [Atlanta: The Salvation Army, 1985], 177).
For Salvation Army founder William Booth, the one true sign of the church and of conversion was participating in the work of redemption. (Roger Green, War on Two Fronts: The Redemptive Theology of William Booth [Atlanta: The Salvation Army, 1989], 56). In an 1889 address, he declared, “Neither water, sacraments, church services not Salvation Army methods will save you without a living, inward change of heart and a living active faith and communion with God … and an active, positive, personal consecration of yourself and all you have got to help Him who hung upon the cross to fill the world with salvation and bring lost sinners to His feet.” Periodic observances of the sacraments were not to be criticized but simply deemed unnecessary for experiencing and demonstrating holiness of heart. For Booth, as for Salvationist today, the scriptural essentials were baptism by the Holy Spirit and constant communion with God.
General Albert Orsborn portrays the Army’s spiritual approach to the sacraments in his song, “My Life Must Be Christ’s Broken Bread”:
My life must be Christ’s broken bread,
My love his outpoured wine,
A cup o’erfilled, a table spread
Beneath his name and sign,
That other souls refreshed and red,
May share his life through mine.
Sacramental Ceremonies
The Salvation Army’s spiritual approach does not exclude all ceremonies, however. Salvationists recognize that ceremonies help individuals and congregations mark spiritual milestones. For that reason, the Army practices the dedication of children, the enrollment of soldiers, and the commissioning of officers (clergy) and local officers (lay leaders).
With the flag of the Salvation Army as a backdrop, each of these ceremonies marks a solemn covenant and a joyous celebration. In the dedication ceremony, parents affirm their desire for the child to live entirely for God and serve wherever God leads. They promise that they will not keep their child from “hardship, suffering, poverty or sacrifice in the service of Jesus Christ and the Salvation Army” and that they will be to the child true examples of salvationism. The congregation is asked to participate by declaring their intention to pray for parents and children and to help them carry out the promises made in the dedication ceremony.
The enrollment of soldiers (members) begins with the signing of “The Articles of War” (a soldier’s covenant), which affirms agreement with Salvation Army doctrine and principles. Soldiers (members) promise, among other things, to abstain from alcohol and tobacco and to pursue a life of holiness.
Officers (clergy) are ordained and commissioned after signing a covenant promising to love and serve God, to make soul-winning the first purpose of their life, and to uphold the doctrines and principles of the Salvation Army. Local officers (lay leaders) are commissioned by their corps officer for specific tasks at the local corps (church) level.
While they are not intended as replacements or substitutes for traditional sacraments, each of these Salvation Army ceremonies is, in some measure, sacramental because they are external symbols of inexpressible inward works of grace.