Canadian woman elected to head Salvation Army
LONDON, ENGLAND - For the fourth time in its nearly 150-year history The Salvation Army International will be headed by a Canadian. And, it is only the third time it will be headed by a woman.
The Salvation Army elected Nova Scotia native Linda Bond as its 19th General on the first ballot. The vote of the Army High Council - comprised of senior leaders from around the world - was held January 31 in a retreat centre near London.
"I believe the most important thing for The Salvation Army to centre on (is to) uplift the name of Jesus," said Bond in her acceptance speech.
Bond has headed up the church and registered charity's work in eastern Australia since 2008. Since her 1969 ordination, she's served as a pastor, on staff at Salvation Army regional and national headquarters and as part of the Army's training staff in Canada. From 1999 to 2002 Bond served as the second-in-command at the Army's national headquarters in Canada.
She's also served at The Salvation Army's international headquarters in London, England, most notably as the Secretary for Spiritual Life and Development and International External Relations.
Bond assumed the post as general on April 1. As The Salvation Army's international head, she will lead more than one million members in 124 countries.
"It's a challenge to serve in a complex world without losing sight of our mission," Bond said about her new role in an interview following the election. "We must also serve in a secular world and never be ashamed of Jesus. Both will take courage, wisdom and grace."
In the same interview she said the main challenges facing The Salvation Army included being relevant to today's society, without compromising its mission.
"The primary one is the universal saviourhood of Jesus. He is the only Saviour and we must never compromise our stand on the gospel," says Bond.
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