Shaw Clifton
Encyclopedia
Shaw Clifton is a former General
of The Salvation Army
. He succeeded John Larsson
as the 18th General on 2 April 2006.
, Northern Ireland
.
Clifton was commissioned as an officer of The Salvation Army on 5 July 1973. His first appointment was to the Burnt Oak corps (London
), in the British territory in July 1973. He went briefly to continue his theological studies at international headquarters in October 1973, before being appointed in January 1975 with his wife, Helen, to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), initially to the Mazowe Secondary School and then to Bulawayo as corps officers.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1979 to take charge of the Enfield corps, North London. In June 1982 he became the legal and parliamentary secretary at international headquarters (IHQ). This was followed by an appointment in 1989 to the Bromley corps in South London. In May 1992 he became divisional commander in the Durham & Tees division of the United Kingdom territory with the Republic of Ireland. He would serve in that post until 1995. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and appointed to be the divisional commander in the Massachusetts division of the U.S.A.
Eastern territory for a two years. He was appointed as the territorial commander of the Pakistan territory for The Salvation Army in 1997 with the rank of colonel, later promoted to the rank of commissioner whle still in Pakistan where the work of the Army prospered during his service there. In 2002, he became the territorial commander for the New Zealand
, Fiji
and Tonga
territory.
In 2004, he was returned to the United Kingdom territory this time as territorial commander until, at the Army's 16th High Council held at Sunbury Court, Sunbury-on-
Thames, London, he became General-elect for The Salvation Army on 28 January 2006, taking office in succession to General John Larsson on 2 April 2006. He will serve a five-year term, although he is not required to step down until his 70th birthday on 21 September 2015.
He married Commissioner Helen Clifton
(née Ashman), who was born in 1948 in Edmonton, London
, on 15 July 1967. They have three children, Matt, John and Jenny (Collings). All three are officers in The Salvation Army.
Commissioner Helen Clifton was world president of women's ministries and has been a Salvation Army officer since 1973. In 1984 they jointly edited a book 'Growing Together' about marriage and family life. http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/events/uk_conf/uk_speakers_bio.shtml
On 13 September 2007 General Clifton became a Freeman of the City of London
.
In November 2007 he was diagnosed with early and operable cancer and, on medical advice, all overseas travel was canceled or postponed until the end of June 2008. Meanwhile he continued to carry out all the usual functions of the office of the General of The Salvation Army. Medical treatment and surgery led to a return to full health. Overseas travel with full public engagements resumed in August 2008.
General Clifton along with his wife Commissioner Helen Clifton
entered into retirement on 2 April 2011. Commissioner Helen Clifton
, diagnosed with cancer in August 2010, was Promoted to Glory (died) on Tuesday 14 June 2011 at 9:20pm GMT.
For more, see the 'General of The Salvation Army' website.
He is known for writing and speaking on the practical possibility of living a pure and holy life in the secular world, by divine indwelling and grace. He draws upon the writings of the Reformers, John Wesley, William Booth, Catherine Booth, Samuel Logan Brengle, and Edward Read.
Clifton advocates a role for churches in social action, not just in social service, important though the latter is. Such a role should be a non-party role and it is not for the churches to tell believers or members how to cast their vote.
As world leader of The Salvation Army Clifton is actively working for heightened awareness of, and greater opposition to, human trafficking. His convictions on the Army's calling to work for social justice have given rise to the establishing of the international social justice commission based in New York near to the United Nations.
He brings to his present role the same interest in ecumenical relations shown in earlier appointments around the world. He is encouraging still greater freedom of contact between the Army and other branches of the Body of Christ, including the Roman Catholic Church and enhanced communication with the Vatican.
A strong believer in the equality of men and women in Christian leadership, Clifton has consistently sought to promote talented women Army leaders into more senior roles.
He is emphasizing the use of modern communication techniques in Christian ministry, though still encouraging a proactive book publishing program by the Army's international headquarters in London and around the world.
Generals of The Salvation Army
thumbnail|left|1st General, William BoothGeneral is the title of the international leader of The Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers .Usage of the term General began with the Founder of The Salvation...
of The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. He succeeded John Larsson
John Larsson
John Larsson is the Swedish-born 17th General of The Salvation Army .The son of officer parents, he spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile and Argentina...
as the 18th General on 2 April 2006.
Career
Shaw Clifton was born on 21 September 1945 in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Clifton was commissioned as an officer of The Salvation Army on 5 July 1973. His first appointment was to the Burnt Oak corps (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), in the British territory in July 1973. He went briefly to continue his theological studies at international headquarters in October 1973, before being appointed in January 1975 with his wife, Helen, to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), initially to the Mazowe Secondary School and then to Bulawayo as corps officers.
He returned to the United Kingdom in 1979 to take charge of the Enfield corps, North London. In June 1982 he became the legal and parliamentary secretary at international headquarters (IHQ). This was followed by an appointment in 1989 to the Bromley corps in South London. In May 1992 he became divisional commander in the Durham & Tees division of the United Kingdom territory with the Republic of Ireland. He would serve in that post until 1995. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and appointed to be the divisional commander in the Massachusetts division of the U.S.A.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Eastern territory for a two years. He was appointed as the territorial commander of the Pakistan territory for The Salvation Army in 1997 with the rank of colonel, later promoted to the rank of commissioner whle still in Pakistan where the work of the Army prospered during his service there. In 2002, he became the territorial commander for the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
territory.
In 2004, he was returned to the United Kingdom territory this time as territorial commander until, at the Army's 16th High Council held at Sunbury Court, Sunbury-on-
Thames, London, he became General-elect for The Salvation Army on 28 January 2006, taking office in succession to General John Larsson on 2 April 2006. He will serve a five-year term, although he is not required to step down until his 70th birthday on 21 September 2015.
He married Commissioner Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton was a British Salvation Army Commissioner. She spent her childhood in London, connected to the Edmonton Corps of The Salvation Army. She was a teacher before entering the International Training College at Denmark Hill, London, to become a full-time Officer of The Salvation Army...
(née Ashman), who was born in 1948 in Edmonton, London
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, on 15 July 1967. They have three children, Matt, John and Jenny (Collings). All three are officers in The Salvation Army.
Commissioner Helen Clifton was world president of women's ministries and has been a Salvation Army officer since 1973. In 1984 they jointly edited a book 'Growing Together' about marriage and family life. http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/events/uk_conf/uk_speakers_bio.shtml
On 13 September 2007 General Clifton became a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
In November 2007 he was diagnosed with early and operable cancer and, on medical advice, all overseas travel was canceled or postponed until the end of June 2008. Meanwhile he continued to carry out all the usual functions of the office of the General of The Salvation Army. Medical treatment and surgery led to a return to full health. Overseas travel with full public engagements resumed in August 2008.
General Clifton along with his wife Commissioner Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton was a British Salvation Army Commissioner. She spent her childhood in London, connected to the Edmonton Corps of The Salvation Army. She was a teacher before entering the International Training College at Denmark Hill, London, to become a full-time Officer of The Salvation Army...
entered into retirement on 2 April 2011. Commissioner Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton
Helen Clifton was a British Salvation Army Commissioner. She spent her childhood in London, connected to the Edmonton Corps of The Salvation Army. She was a teacher before entering the International Training College at Denmark Hill, London, to become a full-time Officer of The Salvation Army...
, diagnosed with cancer in August 2010, was Promoted to Glory (died) on Tuesday 14 June 2011 at 9:20pm GMT.
For more, see the 'General of The Salvation Army' website.
Education
- LLB, King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
- Bachelor of Divinity, University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
- AKC (Associate of King's College, London)
- PhD (History of Religion) at King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
Views and politics
Clifton has maintained a close interest in the connection between Christianity and social-ethical issues. He has helped to shape current Salvationist positional statements on issues such as abortion, war, race and ethnicity, gender, marriage and family life, euthanasia, human sexuality, pornography.He is known for writing and speaking on the practical possibility of living a pure and holy life in the secular world, by divine indwelling and grace. He draws upon the writings of the Reformers, John Wesley, William Booth, Catherine Booth, Samuel Logan Brengle, and Edward Read.
Clifton advocates a role for churches in social action, not just in social service, important though the latter is. Such a role should be a non-party role and it is not for the churches to tell believers or members how to cast their vote.
As world leader of The Salvation Army Clifton is actively working for heightened awareness of, and greater opposition to, human trafficking. His convictions on the Army's calling to work for social justice have given rise to the establishing of the international social justice commission based in New York near to the United Nations.
He brings to his present role the same interest in ecumenical relations shown in earlier appointments around the world. He is encouraging still greater freedom of contact between the Army and other branches of the Body of Christ, including the Roman Catholic Church and enhanced communication with the Vatican.
A strong believer in the equality of men and women in Christian leadership, Clifton has consistently sought to promote talented women Army leaders into more senior roles.
He is emphasizing the use of modern communication techniques in Christian ministry, though still encouraging a proactive book publishing program by the Army's international headquarters in London and around the world.
External links
- STRONG DOCTRINE, STRONG MERCY: a salvationist looks at some major moral questions of the late 20th century, by Shaw Clifton
- The Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 31, June - July 2004
- The Salvation Army International Homepage
- General of The Salvation Army Homepage
- General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton