Welcome to the 2023 High Council and Farewell to the General and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle
Thank you for joining us for this important moment in the life of The Salvation Army!
Watch again
The welcome and farewell event took place in London on Saturday 20 May. A recording of the event is available to watch.
Share your prayer for the High Council: you can still share a prayer using the online form.
Participating groups
African Praise Fellowship Zimbabwe (APFZ) A praise collective with more than 800 members from across the United Kingdom, APFZ was created by a Salvationist who migrated from Zimbabwe. Though membership is not exclusively Zimbabwean, worship in Zimbabwean expression and style underpins the fellowship's core values. Konverse Dance Crews (KDC) KDC was founded in 2014 by 14-year-old Elvire Mavusi Matu, a member of The Salvation Army in Barking, London, as a platform for young people to express themselves through dance. Since then, KDC has worked with over 700 young people aged between 5 and 18, and now offers classes for parents too. International Staff Songsters (ISS) Founded in 1980, the International Staff Songsters is at the forefront of Salvation Army vocal music making in the UK and Ireland Territory and around the world.
Their repertoire offers a range of styles to suit all tastes, including music by Salvation Army composers and other artists including John Rutter, Will Todd and Mark Hayes. International Staff Band (ISB) Officially formed in 1891, the ISB constantly aims to achieve the very highest stands in communicating the Christian message through its music. Conducted by Staff Bandmaster Stephen Cobb, the band consists of 32 musicians from across the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. International Headquarters Praise Team Made up of officers and employees based at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ), the praise team will support worship throughout the meeting. They are not an official Salvation Army group, and the members offer their time and musical ability within this IHQ praise team as volunteers.
Premiere of 'Called to Serve' - a new brass band piece by Kevin Larsson
The event featured the premiere of 'Called to Serve', a new piece written by Salvationist Kevin Larsson (USA Western Territory). Based on the late General John Larsson's song 'I'll not turn back', the work was premiered by the International Staff Band.
Kevin Larsson writes, 'The piece is entitled “Called to Serve.” As Salvationists, we respond to the calling to serve. Therefore, the slow section of the piece is built on the line of the chorus, “I’m called to live to love and save the lost” and this line is developed through a cornet and euphonium duet, which is a reference to Ivor Bosanko’s brilliant arrangement.'