Booths Writing Boldly: Part 5

by Colonel Richard Munn 

This 10-part series will look at bold written exhortations from William, Catherine, Bramwell, Herbert, and Evangeline. The force of their collective convictions still lands. Often quoted, they have the capacity to pierce straight into the heart of the matter, impatiently swatting aside distractions and equivocations. General John Larsson titled his 2015 book on the clan simply, Those Incredible Booths.

Booths Writing Boldly: Part 5

“Some of my best men are women.”

—William Booth

Here we find a well-known, bold William Booth quote, almost a clever quip. The punchy cadence sticks rhythmically in our mind. Deeper, of course, is the undeniable force and accuracy of the statement. 

While many denominations still grapple with the role of women in ministry, The Salvation Army has deployed women in formal leadership since its inception. In the mid-19th century this was revolutionary. The Army was a forerunner in the field, and the affirmation of women for leadership as equal with men remains an important value for us. 

The force of Scripture itself impelled Catherine Booth — “the Army Mother” — as a pioneer female preacher. Her influence and the role of women in the subsequent growth and development of the global Army is inestimable.   

Eliza Shirley was a 16-year-old officer released to America whose efforts led to the official start of the work in the United States. A “Mrs. Cottrill” opened her own London home to a trafficked girl in 1881, and from this began expanded “homes for women and children.” Prodigious pioneer Hanna Ouchterlony started the work in Sweden. The stories and accomplishments are legion. 

Some people may focus on isolated verses of scripture taken out of context and culture and transform them into restrictive church policies. But the principle that women as equals with men should share in the work of the Kingdom is crucial to our expression of “holistic ministry.” As we would want, the role of Salvation Army women in ministry is continuously under rigorous reevaluation and scrutiny, with real progress visibly evident. And yet, our theory in practice is often short of our espoused theory. 

Maybe a bonus Booth quote can be added here — “This and better will do.”