|
•Commissioner Christine MacMillan, Director of The Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission at the United Nations
•Dr. Donald Burke, President of Booth College in Winnipeg, Canada
•Mr. John Cleary, Salvation Army historian on the Social Reform Movement from Australia
•Alesia Adams, Territorial Services Coordinator Against Human and Sexual Trafficking, The Salvation Army Southern Territorial Headquarters
•Marty Kooistra, CEO, Habitat For Humanity Seattle/South King County
•Angelo Biasi, Vice President, National Business Services Alliance
•Kevin W. Tomson-Hooper, Territorial Director for Social Services, The Salvation Army Southern Territorial Headquarters
•Dr. James Read, Executive Director of the The Salvation Army's Ethics Center in Winnipeg, Canada
•Sharon Jones-Ryan, Consultant, Management and Organizational Ethics, The Salvation Army Ethics Centre.
•Sara L. Tomson-Hooper, Consultant, Atlanta, Georgia
•Major John T. Needham, Divisional Commander, Kentucky-Tennessee Division
|
|
 |
Director
International Social Justice Commission
Christine MacMillan was born in Montreal and grew up in Toronto where, following high school, she trained as a social services worker. Prior to entering The Salvation Army Training College in 1973, she served as a social service worker in Metropolitan Toronto Community Services and later as Director of Social Services with The Salvation Army in the City of North York, Ontario and as a corps assistant, with a congregation in Toronto.
In 1975, following her ordination as a Salvation Army officer, she was appointed to The Homestead, a treatment centre for women with addictions in Vancouver, British Columbia. During the fifteen years spent there; she earned professional qualifications as an addictions counselor.
In 1976, she founded The Cross Walk, a drop-in centre and base for street work in Vancouver's downtown eastside. In 1985, at the request of the Government of British Columbia, she founded the Kate Booth House, a haven for battered women and children. Throughout this period she participated in a major building project designed to provide residential facilities for women and children undergoing treatment for substance abuse. The centre opened in 1986. Throughout her Vancouver appointment, vital bridge-building methodologies were successfully established within Salvation Army Community Churches.
In 1990, she was transferred to London, England, where she chose to spend her orientation period living and working in Hopetown, a Salvation Army hostel for women in London's East End - the same district in which William Booth founded The Salvation Army in 1865.
In 1991, she was appointed to The Salvation Army's Social Services Headquarters in the United Kingdom Territory as the Associate Director of the London Homelessness Project which focused on addressing the challenges cited in a major study of homelessness and poverty undertaken by The Salvation Army. This project, with a price tag of £35 million, included more than 20 capital and program projects designed to effectively address a wide range of social concerns. Inclusive of this activity was the opening of an outreach corps.
In 1994, as Assistant Secretary for Operations, Social Services within the United Kingdom Territory enabled Christine to travel throughout the UK to develop program and evaluation strategies in both social services and corps (community church) centres.
In July, 1995, Christine was appointed back to the Canada and Bermuda Territory as the Territorial Director of Program - Social Services within the newly-integrated Social Services Department and in July 1996 became the Assistant Social Services Secretary. In 1999 she was appointed as the Ontario East Divisional Secretary for Program - a role which encompasses social services and church ministry from a development, administrative, and pastoral perspective.
In 2000, Lt. Colonel MacMillan undertook a key leadership role in the Australia East Territory as the territory's Secretary for Program. Later, in February of 2002, she was appointed Territorial Commander for the Papua New Guinea Territory - a needy, but vibrant expression of Salvation Army ministry in the developing world.
In June 2003, Colonel MacMillan returned to Canada as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women's Ministries for the Canada and Bermuda Territory with a promotion to the rank of Commissioner. During the period June, 2003 through 2007, Commissioner MacMillan served as Chancellor of the William and Catherine Booth College, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On June 5, 2004, Commissioner received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Canada Christian College at its 36th graduation exercises - the first women to be so honored.
On July 1, 2007, Commissioner MacMillan was appointed International Director for Social Justice thereby becoming the first Director of the International Social Justice Commission (ISJC). While based in New York, Commissioner MacMillan and the Commission are part of the office of the Chief of Staff, International Headquarters, London, England.
On a personal level, Christine appreciates exploring creative expressions of sharing the Gospel and to this end has written lyrics and directed plays for a variety of settings. An appreciation and value for people is her primary focus. She is committed to officership in the belief that a redemptive capacity must be the influential thread through all of the Army's activities and thinking.
The life of Christine MacMillan knows the imprint of residing in 5 countries picking up on culture, values, faith and approaches to living out her mission as a Salvation Army officer.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Dr. Donald Burke is the President of William and Catherine Booth College in Winnipeg where he has served since it opened in 1982. From 2000-2006 he served as Vice President and Academic Dean. In addition, he is Professor of Biblical. Dr. Burke has also served as Adjunct Professor of Religion at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Burke is a biblical scholar whose studies and teaching have focused on the Old Testament. However, his broad theological interests include the New Testament, church history, Wesleyan studies and theology. His B.A. is from Wilfrid Laurier University and both his M.A. and Ph.D. are from the University of St. Michael=s College (Toronto School of Theology) in Toronto.
As a professor, Dr. Burke's passion is to help make the Scriptures and the Christian faith come alive for his students. Frequently, he teaches, conducts Bible studies and preaches in a variety of settings both within and beyond The Salvation Army. Dr. Burke has contributed articles to a number of Salvation Army publications, was a contributor to the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Inter-Varsity Press), writes book reviews and, most recently, published an article in the Salvation Army journal Word and Deed.
A lifelong Salvationist, Dr. Burke was raised in the Brantford Citadel Corps where he received his earliest introduction to Christian faith. He is married to Sherilyn and has a daughter (Laura) age 17 and a son (Graham) age 13.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Salvationist Biography
John Cleary is a Salvationist well known in Australia as the presenter of the nationally broadcast, ‘Sunday Night' on ABC Radio. He has been a producer and presenter of Religious Radio and Television programs since joining the ABC in 1980. He served two terms as staff elected Director on the ABC board of Directors, and was for a number of years President of the ABC Staff Association.
John Cleary is the Author of ‘Salvo! - The Salvation Army in the 1990's' which won the Australian Christian Book of The Year Award for both content and design in 1994. John was one of the keynote speakers at the Salvation Army International Literary Conference held in Washington DC in 1994. He is also the author of the entries on Salvation Army music in both the Oxford Companion to Music in Australia, and the Currency Press Companion to Music and Theatre in Australia. He has recently contributed the Australian section to an international history of ‘Brass Bands of the Salvation Army', edited by Ronald Holz.
John is the co-author of a Website on The Salvation Army's historic Australian film production company, The Limelight Department. It is available on the internet at www.abc.net.au/limelight.
As part of the Australian Southern Territory Mission & Theology group, John is responsible for the development of their core document, ‘Boundless Salvation - A Historical Reflection on the Theology of Salvationist Mission' which has become the basis of a four part DVD series, ‘Boundless Salvation'.
John Cleary will be presenting 'Boundless Salvation' - Reflections on Salvationist Mission.
Back to top.
|
|
|
|
Territorial Services Coordinator Against Human and Sexual Trafficking, The Salvation Army Southern Territorial Headquarters
For the last ten years Ms. Alesia Adams has been actively involved in advocating on behalf of young women and children who have been sexually exploited. Ms. Adams has lectured nationally in over 150 conferences for the U.S. Department of Justice, schools, churches, law enforcement, therapists and judges. As a frequent and sought after public speaker, she has been instrumental in increasing public awareness about the issues surrounding youth and teens that are recruited, kidnapped and indoctrinated into prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation.
Ms. Adams was the founder and developer of the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE). CEASE provided advocacy on behalf of sexually exploited children involved in the juvenile court process. In 2003, the CEASE program was selected by the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency as a demonstration project, receiving a three-year million dollar grant as a best practice model program and slated for duplication in fourteen states across America. Ms. Adams was also instrumental in the passage of new legislation that made pimping and pandering of a minor a felony in the State of Georgia and the development of Angela's House, the first safe house for sexually exploited females in the southeastern United States. Ms. Adams has been quoted in numerous publication and studies and appeared as a guest speaker on Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Channel, PBS and CNN.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Territorial Director for Social Services
The Salvation Army Southern Territorial Headquarters
Kevin Tomson-Hooper has been the Territorial Director for Social Services in the Southern Territory since August 2005, based in Atlanta, GA. Through this executive level position he is responsible to provide oversight, direction, and consultation to field operations throughout the territory covering a broad spectrum of social services programming.
He is responsible for the administrative management of the Social Services Department at territorial headquarters, serves as an internal consultant and technical advisor to both the territorial and divisional administration regarding social services administration, policies, and procedures.
He has twenty-nine years experience in management, which has included providing leadership in the areas of program development, program and fiscal management, personnel management, resource development, and community networking.
Mr. Tomson-Hooper has also had extensive training and facilitation experience throughout the United States; Canada, Israel, Switzerland, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and a Master of Arts in Administration with a concentration in Organizational Development from Antioch University.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Ethics
Senior Policy Analyst, The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission
Executive Director of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre
Dr. Read has been a professor at Booth College since 1982. From 1990 to 1995 he was Academic Dean of the College. Prior to that he held academic appointments at Miami University in Ohio and East Tennessee State University.
In 1994 Dr. Read was appointed the first Executive Director of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre.
The Ethics Centre which he now heads is the only such institution sponsored by The Salvation Army anywhere in the world. The work of the Centre is to ensure that The Salvation Army and its constituents address ethical issues using Christian principles, and achieve congruency between organizational values and practice. In addition to its work as a resource to The Salvation Army internationally, the Centre is contracted to serve other institutions, communities, and individuals as well.
Through the Ethics Centre, Dr. Read teaches ethics seminars and credit courses for Booth College; publishes articles on ethical issues; presents at national and international conferences; serves on various ethics committees; provides case consultation; and conducts ethics research on a broad range of topics. Since assuming responsibilities in 2007 as a senior policy analyst for The Salvation Army's new International Social justice Commission, a primary focus for his research and writing has been global Christian social justice..
Dr. Read is a graduate of Glendon College, Toronto (where he majored in English and Philosophy) and the University of California at Los Angeles (which conferred on him the Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1988).
Dr. Read and his wife Laurie are members of The Salvation Army Heritage Park Temple in Winnipeg, where they both have held a variety of lay leadership responsibilities.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Consultant, Management & Organizational Ethics
The Salvation Army Ethics Centre
Sharon has been with the Ethics Centre since its inception in 1994. Her background in hospitality management has provided a strong foundation for her responsibilities as a consultant in management and organizational ethics. Sharon's current focus is a project entitled "Values at Work" which examines congruence between core values and operational culture. She also provides support to the Social Issues Committee of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Sharon holds a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado and is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.
Outside of work, Sharon, her husband Bram and children Benjamin and Emma enjoy exploring the world beyond Winnipeg. One of their more memorable forays was a six month back-packing sojourn around the Mediterranean in 2004.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
CEO, Habitat For Humanity Seattle/South King County
Marty Kooistra is an innovative, collaborative, entrepreneurial Habitat for Humanity leader with a proven track record in strategic leadership in social and community transformation.
Mr. Kooistra is a senior non-profit manager with more than 20 years of progressively responsible experience and knowledge in housing, community development and family support. He is a hands-on, practical, tested, people-oriented leader whose methods integrate grassroots, community-based approaches with data-based decision-making, knowledge of relevant research and public policy issues. Mr. Kooistra has demonstrated experience in the areas of board, organizational and fund development as well as team-building, consulting, facilitation and public relations.
Marty Kooistra recently left his position as Senior Director, Global Program Design and Implementation for Habitat's global programs to take on the role of CEO for the Seattle/King County branch of the organization.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Vice President, National Business Services Alliance
Angelo Biasi serves as Vice President of the National Business Services Alliance (NBSA) and has served as liaison to The Salvation Army for over two years supporting training and re-employment for thousands of clients via Disaster Relief, Area Commands, Adult Rehabilitation Centers, and other programs within the organization.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Consultant
Sara L. Tomson-Hooper holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Wartburg College and a Master of Social Work from Washington University George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Her achievements include over twenty years working with government, non-profit and community-based organizations providing consultation and direct management in the areas of program development, fund raising, personnel and resource management, curricula development and fiscal planning and management.
Ms. Tomson-Hooper worked seven years with The Salvation Army's Midland Division, Central Territory, during which time her positions included Divisional Director of Social Services, Associate Director of Social Services and Assistant Director of Flood Relief and Recovery Operations. As Divisional Director she served as a member of the Divisional Finance Council and executive management team with responsibility for managing the social services department. This included direct oversight of three homeless shelters with comprehensive services, one hundred transitional housing units, a correctional services program, two substance abuse treatment programs, residential and outpatient treatment for abused and neglected children, therapeutic foster care, day care and community based supportive services. In addition, she worked closely with corps and social service programs thoughout the Midland Division providing ongoing consultation, as well as conducting annual program evaluations for the purpose of quality assurance.
Over the past twenty years, Ms. Tomson-Hooper has participated in a broad spectrum of community networking activities; serving on advisory boards/committees and working with government agencies, universities and community organizations. Experience in academia includes previously serving as adjunct faculty for St. Louis University, teaching various bachelor level college courses for Booth College, as well as teaching social work courses at the College for Officer Training in The Salvation Army's Southern and Eastern Territories. Following her time as a professor at Booth College, Ms. Tomson-Hooper worked approximately seven years with The Salvation Army's National Headquarters and The Salvation Army World Service Office, consulting on numerous international development projects and providing expertise for resource development, program design and project monitoring and evaluation.
Back to top.
|
|
 |
Divisional Commander, Kentucky-Tennessee Division
While serving as the Director for the School for Urban Mission Training, Major Needham was given a life-changing opportunity to grapple with the distinctives of Salvation Army mission in terms of the spiritual and cultural kaleidoscope now making up the communities in which our Corps Community Centers are located. Years of giving leadership in local communities, training future leaders in similar communities, and divisional leadership, formulating strategies which will keep the Gospel relevant and relational provided a 3-dimensional perspective on how corps must have a meaningful relationship with their community in order to be effective in transformational ministry.
Back to top.
|