Shaw Clifton

Shaw Clifton (born September 21, 1945 in Belfast ) was General (international leader) of the Salvation Army from April 2, 2006 to April 1, 2011 . Successor was General Linda Bond .

Life

His parents were Salvation Army officers. He spent his youth in Scotland and England before beginning to study law at the University of London. Shaw Clifton received a first class honors Bachelor of Divinity degree from the University of London. After his studies he taught law at the "Inns of Court", London, and at the University of Bristol, until in 1971 he and his wife Helen entered the Salvation Army International Officers School in London.

Clifton was named a Salvation Army officer on July 5, 1973. His first appointment was in the Burnt Oak Corps (London / Great Britain). He continued his theological studies at the International Headquarters of the Salvation Army in London before he and his wife Helen began working in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) in January 1975, at the Mazowe Secondary School, and later as a corps officer in Bulawayo.

In 1979 he returned to Great Britain and took over the management of the Enfield Corps, north London. In June 1982 he was appointed Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs at International Headquarters. This was followed in 1989 again by a corps leadership in Bromley, South London. In May 1992 he became Division Officer of the Durham and Tees Division in the Territory of Great Britain with the Republic of Ireland.

In 1995 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and became a division officer in the Massachusetts Division in the US East Territory. In 1997 he was appointed Territory Chief for Pakistan and received the rank of Colonel. During his appointment in Pakistan, while the work of the Salvation Army in the country was growing, he was promoted to commander. In 2002 he became Territory Manager for New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga.

In 2004 he returned to Great Britain again, this time as Territorial Leader, until the 16th Salvation Army High Council elected him on January 28, 2006 at Sunbury Court, Sunbury-on-Thames, London, as the 18th General of the Salvation Army. On April 2, 2006, he took over the post of General John Larsson .

Clifton was married to Commander Helen Clifton (née Ashman), born in Edmonton, London in 1948 , from July 15, 1967 until her death on June 14, 2011 . The couple had three children, Matt, John and Jenny (Collings). Matt and Jenny are Salvation Army officers as well.

Commander Helen Clifton was International President of Salvation Army Women's Organizations and a Salvation Army officer since 1973. In 1984 she and her husband published a book about marriage and family life called "Growing Together".

On September 13, 2007, General Shaw Clifton became an honorary citizen of the City of London.

In November 2007 he was diagnosed with an operable cancer in the early stages. On medical advice, he canceled all international trips, but continued to carry out the duties of his office. In August 2008 he was able to resume his international travel activities after his recovery.

Clifton is very interested in the connection between Christian faith and socio-ethical issues. He initiated current positions of the Salvation Army on relevant topics. He is known for his writings and sermons on the practical implementation of a pure and holy life in a secular world, through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. He advocates the role of the churches as socially active, not just socially serving. Such a role does not apply to any particular political party and it is not appropriate for the churches to dictate which party to vote for believers.

As the international leader of the Salvation Army, Clifton worked actively to better educate and fight against sexual exploitation. Because of his belief that the Salvation Army must stand up for social justice, an international commission for social justice was set up based in New York near the United Nations.

In his administration he brought his great interest in ecumenical cooperation, which he has already shown in previous appointments worldwide. He encouraged closer contact between the Salvation Army and other churches in the body of Christ, including the Roman Catholic Church, and has improved communication with the Vatican.

As an advocate for equality between men and women in Christian leadership positions, Clifton has worked hard to find suitable women in leadership positions.

Clifton attaches great importance to the use of modern communications technology in Christian ministry, and he also promoted the publication of books from the international headquarters and around the world.

Web links

predecessor	Office	successor
John Larsson	General of the Salvation Army 2006–2011	Linda Bond

personal data
SURNAME	Clifton, Shaw
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	British General of the Salvation Army
DATE OF BIRTH	September 21, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH	Belfast