Positional Statements
The statements are based on the Army’s understanding of biblical truths and contemporary social science research.
The statements indicate the corporate view of The Salvation Army on each topic as at the date of issue and, as such, form the basis for any official comments on such matters. It is understood that some Salvationists may hold a different view. All statements are subject to periodic review.
International statements
The Salvation Army publishes International Positional Statements prepared by the International Moral and Social Issues Council — sometimes in collaboration with the territorial Moral and Social Issues Councils — and approved by the General. In 2014, the Australian Moral and Social Issues Councils took the decision to adopt all International Positional Statements as the official statements for Australia.
Consequently, previous national statements on these moral and social issues were discarded. The Salvation Army in Australia will now only write independent positional statements when the presenting issues are not addressed by the International Positional Statements, or require a distinctly Australian expression.
Australian statements
Within Australia, the statements are first prepared by the Moral and Social Issues Council, and endorsed by Australian leadership, before being reviewed by The Salvation Army’s International Moral and Social Issues Council. They are then submitted to the General for approval.
Prostitution
The Salvation Army believes human life is created in the image of God and is a gift to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed (Genesis 1:27). The sanctity of human life means we treat all people with dignity irrespective of past or present personal circumstance or social status. Dignity is neither conferred nor withheld by human choice; it is inherent in every person.
Many people are drawn into prostitution by conditions that include poverty, ignorance, trauma and coercion. People who work as prostitutes should not be treated as criminal offenders by virtue of their activities in the sex trade and should be viewed and treated with value and dignity.
The Salvation Army does not support treating prostitution as normative or acceptable practice, or as a socially or morally legitimate career choice. We recognise the negative consequences of prostitution on people and society, including personal degradation, exploitation, human trafficking and damage to psychological and physical health.
Legalisation of the sex trade is where the practice of prostitution is recognised as lawful by the State. Decriminalisation is where the practice does not attract any penalties of law even though it may be discouraged by the State. Both often unintentionally create a social climate in which those engaged in sexual exploitation can expand this industry.
The Salvation Army identifies a need to continually combat demand, develop sufficient support for people desiring to exit sex work, provide community education and challenge behaviours that devalue people through sexual exploitation.
We believe that any serious consideration of the sex trade should place more focus on all people involved — not just those working as prostitutes — and, subsequently, those who utilise prostitution services and those who organise the industry should also be the focus of community education and regulation where appropriate.
Because of our commitment to the inherent value and dignity of every person, The Salvation Army maintains its support and care for those people involved in prostitution while at the same time regarding the practice of prostitution as harmful.
Approved by the General of The Salvation Army, April 2015.
Moral and social issues
