Guidelines for Home Leagues in the USA
The Home League is distinguished among Salvation
Army Women’s Ministries by its international member-
ship and organization. Founded in 1907, with the four-
fold aim of worship, education, fellowship and service,
it is one of the largest Christian women’s organizations
in the world. For international purposes, the unifying
name, the Home League will remain in use but may be
programmatically adapted at territorial discretion with
International Headquarters approval.
Motto
“I will live a pure life in my house”
(Psalm 101:2b, Good News Bible).
Home League Fundamental Purpose
1. Win women for Christ, encourage spiritual growth and
provide Christian fellowship.
2. Promote a purposeful Christian life.
3. Work toward the betterment of the home, the
community, the nation and the world.
4. Recruit soldiers and link families to the fellowship
of believers.
Home League National Objectives
1. To win women for Christ and to encourage
spiritual growth.
2. To incorporate the elements of worship, fellowship,
education and service in the programs.
3. To emphasize leadership development.
4. To participate in projects.
5. To encourage regular worship, Bible study and the
recruiting of soldiers.
Commencing a Home League
At every corps where the Home League is not in
operation:
1. The corps officer/officer–in–charge/corps administra-
tor or other suitable Salvationist may give leadership in
the formation of a new Home League until local leader-
ship is acquired.
2. Any woman deemed suitable for the position of Home
League secretary and of treasurer must first be selected
by the corps officer/officer–in–charge/corps administra-
tor in charge and approved by the Divisional Women’s
Ministries Secretary and the Divisional Commander.
3. The Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary will
meet with the women of the corps and others to explain
the purpose and procedures of the Home League.
4. The first meeting should be well announced through-
out the community.
Home League Administration
The Home League comes under the following
leadership:
1. World President
2. World Secretary
3. International Zonal Secretary for the Americas
and Caribbean, Women’s Ministries
4. National President, Women’s Ministries
5. Territorial President, Women’s Ministries
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6. Territorial Secretary, Women’s Ministries
7. Territorial Women’s Ministries Secretary/Assistant
Territorial Women’s Ministries Secretary
8. Divisional Director, Women’s Ministries
9. Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary/Assistant
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary
10. Corps Officer/officer–in–charge/corps administrator
Note: Among other duties, the corps officer/officer–in–charge
takes responsibility for The Home League.
The Corps Officer/Officer–in–charge
1. Gives oversight to all Home League groups, periodi-
cally leading the meetings.
2. Ensures a regular spiritual emphasis at the Home
League meetings and encourages the spiritual
development of those attending.
3. Convenes the Home League Quarterly Council.
Leadership
Local Leadership
The leadership of the Home League should be
committed Christian women who may be commissioned
(if a Salvationist) or warranted (if a non–Salvationist) at
territorial discretion.
Leadership Position Duties
That the duties of the Home League leaders be outlined
in the Guidelines for Home Leagues as follows:
1. Home League secretary, when commissioned, is one
of the Senior Census Board local officers representing
women’s groups and is responsible for the following:
a. Upholding the aim and purpose of the Home
League with special concern for the spiritual welfare
of the women.
b. Planning for meetings and special events.
c. Endeavoring to increase membership.
d. Overseeing that Home League finances are managed
in accordance with Salvation Army guidelines.
e. Assuring that the attendance at each meeting is
carefully counted and properly recorded.
f. Where needed, assuming responsibility for the
leadership of the Quarterly Planning Council.
g. Supports and attends territorial and divisional
conferences, rallies, annual reviews and other Home
League events.
Note: Recognition of the Home League secretary at the
conclusion of her term of service shall be according to
territorial policy.
2. The Home League treasurer should possess a
knowledge of accounting. She is a commissioned or
warranted leader who:
a. Is responsible for receiving dues, keeping the
records and taking care of the funds as directed.
b. Is a member of the Quarterly Planning Council.
c. Attends the annual review and other Home League
events.
 Note: Where there is no Home League treasurer, the Home
League secretary and the corps officer/officer–in–charge-
corps administrator accept joint responsibility for the
finances.
3. Assistant Home League secretary supports the Home
League secretary and takes charge in her absence.
4. Home League chaplain is responsible for the spiritual
development of the members, which includes a regularly
scheduled devotional period at meetings.
5. Program chairman assists the Home League secretary
in carrying out a creative four–fold program.
6. Membership chairman assists the Home League
secretary in securing new members and generating a
warm spirit of fellowship among all members.
7. Home League record sergeant/recorder records the
attendance and minutes of the meetings.
8. Assistants will be appointed according to territorial
policy for the purpose of:
a. Welcoming members to the meeting.
b. Visiting members, particularly those who are sick
or absent.
c. Assisting in recruiting new members.
d. Writing to absentees and the bereaved and assisting
with general correspondence.
e. Recording the birthday of each member.
f. Functioning as hostesses.
g. Providing musical assistance.
Note: Further responsibilities of local leaders will be as
indicated in the territorial guidelines/directives.
Local Officer Warrants in the Home League
Any suitable member of the Home League may be
appointed to a leadership position by warrant, subject
to territorial discretion. Warrants may be issued for
positions that meet special local leadership needs.
Leadership Training
Home League leaders and prospective leaders as des-
ignated by the corps officer/officer–in–charge/corps
administrator, should make every effort to attend all
Home League Local Officers’ Institutes (territorial, divi-
sional and sectional) and should take advantage of other
local Christian leadership training courses designed to
improve and strengthen leadership skill.
Home League Quarterly Planning Council
The corps officer/officer–in–charge/corps administrator
shall convene the Quarterly Council and where possible,
the Home League secretary shall preside over the meet-
ing. A member of the Council should record the minutes
of the meeting.
1. The Quarterly Planning Council will be comprised of
the following persons:
a. Corps Officer/officer–in–charge/corps administrator
b. Home League secretary
c. Assistant Home League secretary
d. Home League treasurer
e. Corps Women’s Ministries secretary
f. Program chairman and assistants
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g. Chaplain
h. Other members as appointed
2. The Quarterly Planning Council will be held for the
following purpose:
a. Program planning, including special events.
b. Attracting new members to Home League.
c. Seeking solutions to absenteeism.
d. Coordinating with other Women’s Ministries
programs.
Home League Annual Review
The DWMS, or her representative, will review the records
of every Home League annually, in the presence of the
Corps Officer/officer–in–charge/corps administrator, the
Home League secretary and other local officers as avail-
able. The DWM/ADC ensures that this review takes
place in accordance with territorial Home League policy.
Reviews also provide an opportunity for removals from
the Home League roll as approved by the DWMS or her
representative for the following reasons.
1. Deceased
2. Relocation
3. Transferred to another Home League
4. Unknown
5. Absent for 12 months or longer (at territorial discre-
tion) provided the member has been visited and every
effort has been made for her return.
Home League Membership
Membership in the Home League will be open to all
women. The minimum age of members will be deter-
mined at territorial discretion. A prospective member is
required to attend four (4) meetings prior to enrollment.
Home League Recruitment
Recruitment for new members should be ongoing by all
members of the Home League.
Enrollment
Each new member receives a card and pin. The card
and pin presented, whether it is a Home League or a
Women’s Ministries pin, is at territorial discretion.
Attendance
Members of the Home League are encouraged to attend
Home League meetings and activities regularly.
Home League Dues
Home League members are encouraged to pay dues.
Record of Names and Pertinent Information
Name and address of members and prospective members
are kept on a roll that records attendance and dues at
territorial discretion.
Outer Circle
Where no corps is within reach of a member’s new
address, a transfer to The Outer Circle can be arranged by
the DWMS. The Outer Circle is a correspondence
ministry for those living beyond the reach of an estab-
lished Home League or for members no longer able to
attend meetings.
Meetings
1. Number of Meetings Per Year
That a minimum of 44 weekly Women’s Ministries
meetings (including Home League, Focus Groups,
Reach Out and other women’s groups) be held annually
in each corps. This guideline to be implemented at
territorial discretion.
2. Meeting Content
The Home League secretary is responsible for meetings
as planned by the Quarterly Planning Council. Meetings
will include worship, education, service and fellowship,
in accordance with the fundamental purpose and nation-
al objectives of Women’s Ministries. Regular meetings
should include the following:
a. A devotional period.
b. Announcements of the corps activities.
c. An invitation to members and their families to attend
the corps activities.
Meetings May Include the Following
a. Enrollment service.
b. Educational meetings dealing with such concerns as
social, moral or ethical issues; information on practical
matters such as health and family issues, crafts and
home management.
c. Informal celebrations that can include birthdays,
holiday observances and other such occasions.
d. Worship programs that encourage spiritual growth
and give the opportunity to receive Christ.
e. Service programs that give members opportunity for
active participation in helpful projects for the corps,
community, the nation and the world.
Suggested Meeting Procedure
a. Welcome
b. Devotions
c. Business
d. Program feature
e. Courtesies
f. Refreshments
g. Benediction
Suggested Program Resources
Women’s Ministries Resources is produced yearly and
contains suggestions and ideas for Home League
programs. This excellent resource is available to every
officer and Home League leader. This enrichment
material can be used to supplement and enhance the
ongoing weekly program.
Finance
1. Each member should be encouraged to financially
contribute to the Home League program and projects.
2. A brief financial report should be given weekly or
monthly to each group that has a custodial account.
3. All money received must be counted and checked
by two unrelated responsible persons, then banked and
handled according to territorial policy.
4. Any Home League group may establish a custodial
account where money is directly deposited through the
corps financial books.
5. Where a group wishes to open a separate checking
account, approval and Power of Attorney must first be
obtained from divisional headquarters.
6. The account must be titled, The Salvation Army (name
of group). Checks must have two signatures, an officer/
corps administrator and a lay leader. All checks must be
made payable to The Salvation Army and be processed
through the corps financial records.
7. Any financial grant made to the corps funds from any
Home League fund must be done in full consultation
with the local officers/lay leaders of the Home League
group. Any transaction must also be done with the
consent of the officer/corps administrator and with
the endorsement of the Divisional Director of Women’s
Ministries/Associate Divisional Commander.
8. A receipt must be obtained for every payment made
and kept on file with the proper expense voucher which
has been signed by the recipient of the payment.
9. All Home League custodial accounts and checking
accounts must be audited annually.
10. An annual financial report should be prepared
and distributed at the Annual Home League/Women’s
Ministries Dinner.
11. An up–to–date inventory of equipment should be
kept. These items are Home League property and may
not be borrowed without permission.
12. Every Home League is to participate in three projects:
World Services and two other projects to be determined
by the territory/division.
Special Events
1. Women’s Sunday
One Sunday each year will be designated as “Women’s
Sunday.” In connection with this day:
a. Plans for the observance should be made at the
Quarterly Planning Council with due consideration
for the national theme and suggestions from territorial
and divisional headquarters.
b. In recording statistics it is to be noted that Women’s
Sunday attendance should be recorded as senior corps
activities and are not to be entered as Women’s
Ministries statistics.
2. Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting should be planned in each corps
with a special program and speaker. An invitation to
this meeting should be extended to all women associated
with any women’s group at the corps. This will help to
strengthen and build unity among all women’s groups.
Do not forget to invite those who are presently inactive.
3. Women’s Camps and Rallies
Home League members and prospective members
should be encouraged to attend women’s camps and
rallies. These programs are designed to be beneficial
spiritually, mentally and socially.