To many, the Salvation Army is a second-hand store, or perhaps the people who come to pick up used clothing or furniture, but it is also a Protestant Christian Church whose theology is derived from Methodism.

The Salvation Army grew out of the East London Christian Mission, founded by William Booth, a Methodist Reform Church minister, and his wife, Catherine. This name was used from 1865 to 1878, when it became The Salvation Army.

The ministry of William and Catherine Booth was largely to the impoverished people of England's larger cities. Booth's main source of converts was found among the very poor, the prostitutes, alcoholics, and gamblers of London's East Side. Catherine spoke to London's wealthier people, from whom she sought financial support for her husband's work. She also served as a religious minister, which was unusual for the time.

The motto for the Salvation Army was "first, soup; second, soap; and finally, salvation."

Learning that the sort of people who he was converting were unwelcome in London's polite Christian society, the Booth's started their own church.

Unusual in Christian churches, the Salvation Army does not include the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, as the Booths believed that many Christians had come to rely on these outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself. The lack of observance of these sacraments has led some outside of the organization to allege that the Salvation Army is a cult, or to characterize it as a para-church organization rather than a church.

In keeping with the nature of many of its converts, the Salvation Army asks its members to completely abstain from drinking alcohol, smoking, using recreational drugs, and gambling.

Otherwise, Salvation Army doctrine is largely Methodist in nature, and its positions are not unusual in Christianity. The Salvation Army stands in opposition to assisted suicide, capital punishment, abortion, and homosexuality. From the start, the Salvation Army has ordained women.

Salvation Army members are known as soldiers, while ministers are officers. This is in keeping with the military model upon which the organization was built. Its creed, originally known as the Articles of War, is now called the Soldiers Covenant. The red shield of the organization has its origins in the work that the Salvation Army did during wartime, supporting British troops serving in the Boer War in South Africa. Salvation Army officers, cadets, and soldiers often wear uniforms, a practice that began in 1878, with varying colors and styles representing different ranks. The Salvation Army even has a salute, which involves raising the right hand above the height of the shoulder, index finger pointing upward.

The Salvation Army works in more than a hundred countries, preaching the gospel in nearly two hundred languages. The organization operates social institutions, schools, hospitals, and other agencies, as well as its evangelical centers, and rehabilitation centers. The Salvation Army operates day-care centers, missing persons bureaus, programs for the homeless, and correctional service bureaus for prisoners and their families.

The Salvation Army is known for its thrift stores that raise money for its rehabilitation programs through the sale of donated items. Clothing collected by the Salvation Army is not only sold on location, but often sold wholesale on the global second-hand clothing market. Salvation Army stores also sell on eBay.

Items that are not sold at its stores are often recycled and turned into other items, including carpets and rugs, rather than being discarded in landfills.

In some countries, including the United States, volunteers and employees of the Salvation Army can be seen standing outside of malls, stores, and other businesses, playing or singing Christmas carols, or ringing a bell to encourage passers-by to contribute to their work by placing cash or checks into a red kettle. Red kettles are also used for other fundraising events, not solely during the Christmas season.

The Salvation Army also sponsors several youth groups, including its Sunday Schools and Scout and Guide packs. Scout and Guide packs are affiliated with the Salvation Army but there are open units that allow anyone to join. These packs observe Christian standards and encourage young people to seek or develop their Christian faith. The Salvation Army Guards and Legions Association is active in some countries, and similar youth programs operate under other names.

The Salvation Army publishes books, several magazines, and sheet music.

The focus of this category is on the Salvation Army, and websites that are appropriate here include denominational sites or that of any of its national divisions, agencies, corporations, businesses, programs, or publications.

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