Groundbreaking change to officership in Australia
Salvation Army cadets in Australia will be able to train for a specific role in social and community services from 2020.
In an Australia Territory first, a new specialised Salvation Army officer role has been created. Called ‘Social and Community Services Officer’, it will allow people to train as an officer for one specific area and serve their appointments in that area only.
“This is a major change that is supported by International Headquarters and is an exciting opportunity for us to develop different pathways of officership,” said Australia Territory Secretary for Personnel Lieutenant-Colonel Kelvin Merrett.
In order to prepare for the specific training required for this role, Eva Burrows College has developed a new pathway for Salvationists who sense God’s leading towards the field of social and community services and full-time service as an officer.
After training, they will be commissioned as a Salvation Army officer and, like all officers, they will make themselves available to serve anywhere in the new Australia Territory, but exclusively in social and community services appointments.
“While officership typically requires people to generalise in a wide range of areas, now there is an opportunity to train as an officer for one specific area and have confidence that this is where you will be appointed,” said Eva Burrows College Leader of Officer Formation Captain Richard Parker. “Our new approach allows leaders to be equipped to serve as an officer in their areas of gifting and passion.
It also allows for highly individualised training, resulting in officers who are especially equipped for a challenging yet rewarding ministry in social and community services.”
The Salvation Army will commence training with three cadet positions in 2020 for this opportunity to serve as a specialised officer. The requirements for those wanting to apply are the same as anyone who expresses an interest in becoming a Salvation Army cadet, although the new pathway will offer specialised training for social and community services while also covering all essential officer training.
Alternate Training Mode Coordinator Captain Andrew Walton said it’s an exciting opportunity for future leaders of The Salvation Army and is the first step in creating more pathways to officership. “We hope to further diversify training into other specialised modes of officership in the not too distant future to help us minister to more people, more effectively,” he said.
People interested in applying for one of the first three cadet positions to start their training in the 2020 intake at Eva Burrows College can contact 03 9847 5400 or enquiries@ebc.edu.au
This article was originally published in Others on 17 October 2019. The Salvation Army publication connecting Salvos in mission. Subscribe today.