Salvation Army H.q. Wants ‘gays’ Report (Press, 12 April 1985)

On 12 April 1985, it was reported that the Salvation Army's support for a petition against homosexual law reform in New Zealand prompted its international headquarters in London to request a detailed report regarding the matter. Commissioner William Cairns, who serves as the international secretary for the Army’s South Pacific and East Asia department, indicated that he had sought insights from Colonel Donald Campbell, New Zealand's territorial commander, and was awaiting a response. Cairns noted that the situation was being closely monitored by the international headquarters. He explained that it was standard protocol to request a full report, especially when an issue gains significant attention, as this one had. While the international headquarters expressed full support for Colonel Campbell in his leadership role, Cairns clarified that he had the authority to intervene, although no such action was anticipated. Despite receiving letters from both Salvation Army members and the public in New Zealand, dissatisfied with the Army's involvement in the petition effort, Cairns stressed that these communications were not the sole reason for the decision to call for a report. Instead, it was the overall gravity of the issue that prompted the request. Cairns articulated the Salvation Army's general reluctance to engage in political matters, emphasising the importance of maintaining this tradition. However, he acknowledged that Colonel Campbell may see the petition effort differently, as it pertains to what he considers a moral issue rather than strictly a political one. Cairns mentioned that, although Colonel Campbell did not seek prior endorsement from the international headquarters for coordinating the petition, he was not obligated to do so. The report requested by the headquarters seeks to assess the broader implications of the petition campaign, including public support and potential repercussions for the Salvation Army. Cairns expressed concern that the Army's involvement in political matters could lead to a loss of support among certain community segments. Nonetheless, he reassured that the Salvation Army had successfully navigated through even more significant issues in the past.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand