Strategic Priorities for the Central Territory

 
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USA Central Candidates Discussion

Salvation Army Intern Program

Dawn Heatwole  11 October 2009 17:44:10
About six weeks ago, over 200 Salvationists met in the greater Chicago area for the Territorial Commander's Conference on Strategic Planning.  There were six strategic priorities that we reviewed, with Candidates being one of those priorities.

In our small group time, there were several items that came up in discussion.  One that resonated with a lot of people both in our group, as well as the Multi-Cultural group, is the need for an expanded program for internships for ministry within The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army presently has several different opportunities for ministry internships, with many divisions having one type or another for teaching our young adults more about The Salvation Army and what our ministry is in the community, as well as the World Wide Church.  

The Central Territory presently has such a program, called the Ministry Discovery Program.  This allows 15 individuals across the territory to see what Salvation Army Officership is all about, prior to deciding if that is the path that is right for them.  Of those 15 presently in the program, 10 are relatively new to the Army (been with us 2 years or less as a soldier).  We also have 10 participants of the 15 who are presently applying for CFOT in 2010.  

This program varies a little from being a corps helper.  Presently you are given a significant salary (over $20,000) plus either housing or a vehicle.  You are considered an exempt employee of the corps that your are "appointed" to.  You apply through the office of the Territorial Candidates Secretary, and are placed in a location somewhere in the Central Territory.  You are asked to commit to one full year of service, and that can be renewed for up to one more term, for a total of two years.  This gives the participant the opportunity to see if officership is really for them.  There is a set of guidelines to be sure the participant gets experience in every aspect of Corps Work - stats, meeting planning and leading, Christmas activities, Day Camp/Residential Camp, youth activities, Bible Study, Salvation Army History, financial information (budget reviews, how to read a financial print out), Advisory Board, Corps Council, Hospital Visitation, preaching, teaching a Bible Study/Sunday School Class, and others.

Your input is needed.  Is 15 enough in a territorial program? What types of services, programming, benefits, etc. could be offered?  How do we go about recruiting non-Salvationists to the program so that they can see who we are, and what we believe?

I am looking forward to seeing your responses, and let's see if we can build a great program to get as many people as possible involved in ministry!