Home League Guidelines

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The Salvation Army USA Western Territory
HOME LEAGUE

While Home League is a Women’s Ministries program, it is an international fellowship with specific required guidelines.

MOTTO
“I will live a pure life in my house…” (Psalm 101:2b, Good News Bible).

FOUR-FOLD AIM

The four-fold aim is central to the Home League. In order to reach the objectives of the Home League program successfully, the programs must be varied and interesting, thus maintaining the attention of the members and attracting new women. To ensure balance, variety and interest, the program must include these four elements:

  • Worship – to encourage spiritual growth and give opportunity to receive Christ (that we might know more of God and His will concerning us)
  • Education – to enhance personal and family life skills, and inform of social and moral issues affecting the community, the nation, and the world (that we might improve our skills and develop our powers of thought)
  • Fellowship – to nurture wholesome relationships and foster meaningful fellowship (that we might share in happy Christian comradeship)
  • Service – to produce active participation in giving and doing for others in the corps, community, nation and the world (that we might learn to know the joy of giving and doing for others)

PURPOSE

The fundamental purpose of the Home League is:

  • To win women for Christ, encourage spiritual growth, and provide Christian fellowship
  • To promote a purposeful life
  • To work toward the betterment of the home, the community, the nation, and the world
  • To recruit soldiers and link families to the fellowship of believers

HOME LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP

Person Eligible

After attending Home League meetings for a minimum of four weeks, not necessarily consecutively, women fourteen years of age and over, whether married or single, saved or unsaved, are eligible for membership in the Home League.

Recruitment of new members should be ongoing by all members of the Home League.

Membership Card & Pin

Upon enrollment each member receives a membership card and is eligible to wear either the Home League or Women’s Ministries pin, not both at the same time. Either pin should be presented to each member at the time of her enrollment. The membership card, duly signed and supplied by the Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary, should also be given at this time. Membership cards and pins may be available from the Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary office or through Tradewest.

ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS

Members are encouraged to attend Home League meetings and activities regularly.

A woman who attends Home League meetings in two corps should be recorded as a member of one Home league and a visitor of the other.

Men who attend Home League meetings should not be recorded on the Home League roll but their attendance may be counted.

WEEKLY DUES

Each member and prospective member is encouraged to pay weekly dues determined by the Corps Home League. This is a contribution only. When any member is unable to make the usual contribution, this must not prevent her from being welcomed at and participating in the meetings.

ROLLS

An official Home League members’ roll should be kept by the Home League Recorder, always available to the Home League Secretary and Corps Officer or other authorized person and brought up-to-date annually at a meeting of the Women’s Ministries review and revision team. Upon enrollment the names, addresses and enrollment dates of the women must be entered into the database.

It is important to have a record of the address and phone numbers of every member. Birthdates and other important data are helpful so that cards may be sent and special days acknowledged. When working with groups, it is important to have emergency contact names and numbers. Some HL groups have their members and regular attendees fill out forms requesting this information. The forms are kept in a binder and available whenever the group meets. It is updated on a yearly basis or as changes occur.

REVISIONS OF CORPS HOME LEAGUE ROLLS

The Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary, 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 available. The Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries will ensure that this review takes place in accordance with territorial policy. (See Procedures for Removal of Home League Members under this section).

Home League Records

  • The official membership and visitors record book is kept by the Record Sergeant (Home League Recorder if warranted). This should include those members who are interested in the Home League but unable to attend meetings because of ill health, infirmity or personal reasons.
  • Home League funds are kept in the corps custodial account, in accordance with Salvation Army policy.
  • A minute book should be kept by the Record Sergeant.
  • Where necessary, a history book should be kept by the Record Sergeant.
  • Membership cards are issued by Divisional Headquarters.
  • An up-to-date inventory of Home League equipment should be kept.

Procedures of Removal of Home League Members

According to USA National and Territorial guidelines for the Home League, names may be removed from the Home League rolls of members who have:

  • Passed away
  • Moved away
  • Transferred to another League
  • Requested removal
  • Been absent for at least twelve (12) months, provided the member has been visited and every effort has been made for her return

In cases other than death or transfer, every effort must be made to contact the member being proposed for removal through one of the following ways:

  • Telephone call
  • Letter
  • Personal visit

HOME LEAGUE MEETINGS

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 national objectives of Women’s Ministries. Regular meetings should include:

  • A devotional period
  • Announcements of the corps
  • Invitation to members and their families to attend corps activities Meetings may include:
  • Enrollment service
  • Worship programs that encourage spiritual growth and give opportunity for the women to receive Christ
  • Educational programs dealing with such concerns as social, moral or ethical issues; information on practical matters, such as health and family issues; crafts and home management
  • Fellowship programs that include informal celebrations of birthdays, holiday observances, etc.
  • Service programs that give members opportunity for active participation in helpful projects for the corps, community, nation and the world

Suggested meeting procedure (the format is flexible; variety is the key)

  • A warm welcome
  • Introduction of visitors
  • Devotions
  • Business
  • Recording of attendance and dues – weekly
  • Finance report – monthly or quarterly
  • Committee reports as necessary
  • Announcements
  • Program feature
  • Courtesies
  • Refreshments
  • Benediction

The format used for meetings in many leagues is to rotate the four program emphases (worship, education, fellowship, service) on a weekly basis. In other leagues the four elements are carried out in each meeting. There is no set pattern. It is important to remember that the four elements should be implemented in program planning.

DISCONTINUING A HOME LEAGUE

Discontinuation of an established Home League will need approval from THQ. Corps Officers contact the DWMS for the proper guidelines.

Home-League-Womens-MinistriesDownload

Defining What We Value

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What if what we traditionally think of as a “program” is actually just a community?

Flourishing in life doesn’t always come naturally, but it has a greater chance to when a place is created for a gathering, where women come together, and find just what they need for life: connection, belonging and community.

What does gathering look like if you focus on building community around needs, interests, or seasons of life?

Adult Literacy

Baby Care

Bible Journaling

Bible Study/Mentoring

Book Club

Budgeting for Home

Coffee & Canvas

Coffee & Conversation

Cooking

Crafting

DYI Saturdays

Exercise

Foodies

Gardening

Healthy Living

Ladies Night Out

Literature & Lattes

Mom’s & Tots

Movie Night

Pinterest Party

Quilting Club

Recovery or Support Groups

Single Moms Club

Spiritual Gifts Assessment

Strength’s Finder

Supper Club

Vocational Training

Walking/Hiking Club

Defining-What-We-ValueDownload

A Fresh Assessment

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Are we flourishing in our ministry to women?

A new and fresh design for a ministry to women has to begin with an assessment of what has been done in the past – whether it is working well and bearing incredible fruit for the Lord or needing a new and fresh start. We need to ask the question of what is working or not working in reaching the women in our communities.

Gather your ministry to women leaders and work through these questions together. This is a key time to assess what already exists for women in your corps and what needs a fresh and innovative approach to ministry.

  • Dream BIG! What does a vibrant and flourishing ministry look like to you? If you had all the resources you need, what would you do with them to attract and meet the needs of women in your communities?
  • What ministry does your corps offer women? Who are the women that come? What are their interests? Why are they coming? What needs do you meet for them?
  • Who are the women that do not come anymore? Is there anyone in the corps that is still in contact with them? Has anyone visited them or sent them an invitation to a ministry to women event or meeting?
  • Who are the women that come to other corps activities, but not to a ministry to women event or meeting? Be honest, why haven’t they come? What unmet needs might they have?
  • Who are the women who surround The Salvation Army in your communities? Is there a shelter, an apartment complex nearby with moms, or older adults? What are the unmet needs of female clients that visit our social services? Who are the moms with kids that come to youth activities? What are their unique needs?
  • What are the age demographics of your city? Is it primarily retirees, young people, working moms, others?
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A-Fresh-AssessmentDownload

Your Roots, Your Strength

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We don’t usually “ooh” and “awe” over the beautiful look of tree roots. We don’t always see them and even when we do, they’re not always beautiful but boy are they essential to growth and flourishing! Without deep roots, the plant dies. Roots need space to expand and that’s why sometimes if a plant is left in a small pot, it can get root bound. The growth is stunted, and you never see the real beauty because it’s not given room to grow. However, transplanting the plant to a larger pot can work wonders! It’s amazing the growth and beauty that can happen as a result!

As we engage in ministry to women, there is a good lesson here for us. If our ministry to women is to grow and flourish, we need our roots to go deep in Christ. Our purpose in programming, while it includes fun and fellowship, is ultimately to lead women into a deeper relationship with Christ. A program with deep roots is one with a rich spiritual focus.

PLANTING IT DEEP IN CHRIST:

Bible Studies

Spiritual Gifts Survey

Enneagram Study

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Lectio Divina

Contemplative Prayer

Journaling Class

Spiritual Reflection Exercises

Spiritual Formation Podcasts

ADDING BRANCHES:

Caring for Caretakers

Women with All Abilities

Widows/Widowers

Young Girls (BRAVE)

Strengths Finder Class

Working Women (Ladies Night Out)

Mom’s with Young Children (Baby Song)

Your-Roots-Your-StrengthDownload

Healthy Work/Life Balance for Soul Care

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As women of The Salvation Army, it is vital that we take the opportunity to assess our own emotional, physical, and spiritual health on a regular basis. Flourishing in life starts with caring for ourselves well so that we can care for others well. It is vital to assess where we are in these areas and make a reasonable plan for how to be a loving, wise, and mindful steward of ourselves and others.

Healthy Work/Life Balance:

  • Be honest with where you think you’re at emotionally, spiritually & physically. Are there any of these areas in need of nurturing, rethinking, and refreshing?
  • Do you have a healthy work & life balance? If not, how can you adjust your daily life to be more balanced?
  • Does your time with God feel balanced and spiritually filling for you?
  • Can you set (and keep) boundaries that are healthy and reasonable?
  • Do you have time for rest and renewal?

In what ways do you take time to refresh and restore your soul on a regular basis? Is this enough or do you need to add something else that’s life giving?

  • Daily time with God that isn’t rushed and feels like a relationship, not a daily duty
  • Spiritual retreats (one day or weekends)
  • Sharing a meal with family & friends
  • Time to journal your thoughts & feeling
  • Walks, hiking, the beach or being out in nature
  • Play music & dancing, worship
  • Prayer walks just with you and God
  • Exercising in ways that you enjoy
  • Down time with your spouse or close friend

Do you have a mentor or close friend to support you when:

  • Heavy emotions are weighing you down
  • Life throws you a curve ball and stress is running high
  • You’re losing your joy for life and ministry
  • You need accountability to maintain a balanced life

Restorative Resources:

  • Personal Devotions podcasts, books & apps
  • Day, weekend or week-long retreats
  • Boundaries books by Cloud & Townsend
  • Arrow Leadership resources
  • Prayer Walks
  • Healthy Living websites
Healthy-Work-Life-Balance-for-Soul-CareDownload

Our Fundamental Purpose

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Women’s Ministries is the umbrella term that covers all ministries offered to women in The Salvation Army, which includes Home League and Women’s Ministries Outreach Groups.

Fundamental Purpose – Women’s Ministries Mission

  • To win women for Christ, encourage spiritual growth, and provide Christian fellowship
  • To promote a purposeful life
  • To work toward the betterment of the home, the community, the nation and the world
  • To recruit soldiers and link families to the fellowship of believers

Aim
Women play a vital and definitive role in shaping society through their influence in the home and family. The aim of any Women’s Ministries program is to provide Christian fellowship and practical help that will benefit not only the individual and her family, but also the nation.

Programming of meetings and activities should be varied and informative and include the four-fold purpose of:

Worship
Education
Fellowship
Service

Expectation
A variety of Corps programs can be used to win women (and their families) for Christ, to minister to their needs, and to encourage their spiritual development. Among these: the Home League is unique in that common requirements must be followed to ensure its international unity and maintain the worldwide fellowship.

Minimum Standards – 24 combined Home League and Women’s Ministries meetings
Observance of Women’s Sunday, Annual Meetings and World Day of Prayer
Involvement – Corps, World Services, Territorial, Divisional, Corps Projects (financial/in-kind)

Where there are several women’s group leaders, one should be appointed as the corps Women’s Ministries Secretary.

Our-Fundamental-PurposeDownload

Qualities of a Leader

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Personal:
Integrity & courage
Emotional maturity
Vision & creativity
Positive self-Image
Teachable spirit
Servant heart
Welcoming nature
Compassionate, gracious & caring

Spiritual:
Intimate relationship with God
Sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit
Jealous for God’s honor, not her own
Devoted to prayer & Bible study
Committed to God and His Word
Committed to personal growth

Working:
Regular Attendance & Support of Corps
Team Player
Wears Salvation Army uniform (if soldier)
Faces and deals with issues
Thinks before acting (…or speaking!)
Serves, motivates, and can delegate to others

“Truly, the best thing any of us have to bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.” Ruth Haley Barton ~ Strengthening The Soul of Your Leadership

Qualities-of-a-LeaderDownload

September 2023 Flourish Newsletter

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Every Christian faces times of spiritual battle and struggle. We have an enemy of our souls, the devil, who wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). However, we have victory through Christ, and we don’t have to let the enemy win in our lives. That’s what this month’s newsletter is all about – flourishing in and through the times of battle.

This month’s verse promises us triumph – because of the shed blood of Jesus and by speaking our testimony of what the Lord has done for us!

They triumphed over him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11a

Download this month’s issue:

September-2023-NewsletterDownload

September 2023 Craft: Lamp Shade

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By Major Gaylene Yardley
Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Southwest Division

This month’s craft is a little different. No written directions, but Major Gaylene has created a video of how you can make a lamp shade from old slides.

This month as we focus on flourishing in the battle season, we need to never forget that the light defeats the darkness.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

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Flourishing Story: Flourishing through the Battle

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By Lisa Garcia
Director of Loss Control and Compliance
Risk Management Department – Territorial Headquarters

When I think of an example of flourishing, my first thought is something that is showing evidence of success. Maybe a plant that is growing tall and healthy with beautiful blooms or someone who has it all together and never seems to be struggling. By that definition, I was always resentful of those who were flourishing. Those who had it all together, did everything expected of them with minimal effort or was just thriving. I was never thriving – I was always in crisis or surrounded by drama and most of that was my own making. I was living by the seat of my pants and attempting to manipulate everything to be on my terms. So many times, that translated into not caring what happened to anyone, especially myself. I fumbled on that way until May of 2005, when I begrudgingly walked into The Salvation Army, Adult Rehabilitation Center in Pasadena and decided to try something different. I was going to, the first time in my life, try and not be an alcoholic and drug addict in active addiction.

Once I had some sobriety under my belt, I realized that I am a very proud alcoholic and drug addict.  You may be thinking that proud is a very strange way to describe an addict or addiction, but to understand why I am so proud, you would have to know where I came from and more importantly, where God has led me since then. 

I was raised mainly by my grandparents because of my parent’s addiction problems.  I always swore that I would never end up like my parents and I ended up worse. I started drinking socially in high school and loved how it made me feel. I was smarter, prettier, more personable. I went on to start college at USC and that’s where my drinking and using career really took off and I eventually had to drop out without one credit. My life with drugs and alcohol were not without brief periods of employment, stability and some happiness that came with the birth of my children, but they were always followed by lower lows.  I had brief periods of being clean from one substance or alcohol but was never completely abstinent from everything. Not exactly sure when it happened, but things progressed in a way that I could not get ahead of my addiction and started to spiral.  My spiral lasted several years and during that time, my life consisted of getting and losing jobs; being arrested and eventually, serving jail time; having utilities disconnected and being evicted; and the worst was my kids being removed from my care, more than once, due to my drug use.  I would do what I needed to do to get them back and then use again.  It was such a vicious cycle that I couldn’t see my demise or the damage that I was doing to those around me.  I never thought about making a change to improve my life, I just kept living a lie and telling myself that I was ok and everyone else was wrong.    I could go on and on about how low I had sunk but that is less important to what I choose to focus on today.

Thanks to my friend Jill who called a family friend who was a judge, and he recommended The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Pasadena. Jill arranged to pick me up at 7 am and all I had to do was stay sober. At 6 am, before she picked me up, I drank 2 beers. For the first time in a very long time, I was honest when they asked me when the last time that I drank was and sure enough, they turned me away. They turned me away but promised that if I stayed sober for the next two days, they would hold my bed. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but God did. Under Jill’s watchful eye of Jill, I did manage to stay sober, entered the program and have stayed sober since 5/25/2005.

While in the ARC, I was presented with a crash course in God, but I was ready to learn how to live again, or even more importantly, to find out how to live like God would want me to. I didn’t know about the faith-based aspect of The Salvation Army when I agreed to go and it is probably a good thing because I may have chosen not to go because I had no connection with God other than to pray to get me out of my messes that I got myself into…like being arrested, DCFS hearings, failing drug tests and so on. Based on my past, a relationship with God scared me, like maybe I wasn’t worthy of his goodness, because after all, I had done some horrible things while in my addiction and God’s grace wasn’t for people like me. Boy, was I wrong – I am exactly who God’s grace is for. When I kneeled for the first time to pray and accept Jesus into my life, I knew, from that moment, that my life would be infinitely better from now on, I didn’t know how, I just knew that it would be. I felt a love in my heart that I had only heard about and been skeptical of.

My relationship with God is something that I never take for granted. I am far from perfect, as my family and co-workers will attest to, but with God on my side, I was able to begin to forgive myself for the things that I had done and when I was able to begin to forgive myself, I was able to love myself and that is what has truly helped to heal me and allowed me to love others and accept their love for me. I share often about the feelings of love that my ARC Administrators Majors Dave & Gaylene Yardley instilled in me. The love that they showed me was the first real love, with no strings attached, that I had accepted in so long. Sometimes that was tough love, but they made sure that I knew the difference. To be told that I am a trophy of grace and God loves me, no matter what, was powerful. God opened my heart and allowed me to believe them. In turn, I gave myself a little chance and started to love myself. I learned that my calling is to love on those until they can love themselves. I don’t have to love their actions, but to love that they are a child of God and deserve a second chance is what I do to give back. My most important life lesson thus far has been that God loves me and there is nothing I can do about it.

Majors Gaylene & David Yardley (Southwest DHQ), Leslie Zimmerman (Veterans Family Center, Cascade Division) and Lisa

Is the person who has struggles but keeps on going thought of as flourishing? Do we think of the ugly weed growing up in the sidewalk as flourishing? Maybe not by some standards, but the Bible tells me differently. Job 8:7 “Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish,” is my constant reminder to keep on thriving and encouraging others to do the same.

I was able to return to the school that I failed out of nearly 30 years ago, University of Southern California and get my Master of Public Administration with a Nonprofit focus in 2019 and did that while getting treatment for breast cancer. I mention that to say that even while life is showing up on life’s terms, I will remain faithful and flourish during every season. I am thankful to God for all that he has done for me, but more importantly, that I can share with others about how great my God is.