Roles+of+Females

=__Roles of Females__= The Salvation Army was the **First** Christian Church to give full and equal rights to women in the ministry.It has included a Women Ministry for over 140 years. This could be because the religion was co-founded by a married couple, William and Catherine Booth.



__Catherine Booth__ Catherine Booth was a leader of holiness in the Salvation Army from it's start to her death. She believed in the salvation of the souls of all. Catherine was horrified by cermonial acts and rituals as she viewed them as changing and brainwashing an individual. Catherine was known for preaching abstinence to the women of the corps.

__The Women Ministry__ At the beginning of The Salvation Army women had no salary, voice or authority within the church. However, Catherine Booth changed all that. She persuaded the people of the church to loose their old Christian views of women not being allowed equal rights. Soon, women were allowed to become officiers. In 1888, women were allowed to hold all ranks, authorities and duties of the church. However, single women were paid very little, while married women were paid nothing. In 1995, married women were given all the rights and ranks as single women. In 2005, all women, no matter what marital status, were given everything that the members of the Men Ministry was given, for example the same wages, benefits, retirement plan, etc.