The 2006 High Council of the Salvation Army has chosen Commissioner Shaw Clifton – currently Territorial Commander, United Kingdom and Ireland - to be the 18th General of this international movement. This announcement was made on January 28, at The Salvation Army’s conference centre Sunbury Court just outside London.

Commissioner Clifton will become the Salvation Army movement’s world leader on the retirement of General John Larsson at midnight on April 1, General Larsson’s 68th birthday.

Clifton in turn appointed a new commander for the United States: Israel Gaither, the first black person to hold that post. Gaither, an officer since 1964, served most recently as the commander for southern Africa and then the eastern United States.

The General-elect then spoke words of appreciation for the High Council. "I want the whole world to know that God has been in our midst. I feel humbly proud to be succeeding General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson. God has blessed their ministry," he said.

Commissioner Clifton is aged 60. He became an officer from Edmonton Corps, in the then British Territory, in 1973. He has served in his home territory, at International Headquarters, in Zimbabwe, the USA, Pakistan (as Territorial Commander) and New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga (again as Territorial Commander). He was appointed Territorial Commander, United Kingdom and Ireland, in June 2004.

The Salvation Army movement, founded in 1865 by William Booth, has spread from London, England, to 111 countries around the world. Two thirds of the Salvation Army members is to be found in Africa and in India.

The Army’s doctrine follows the mainstream of Christian belief and its articles of faith emphasise God’s saving purposes. Its objects are "the advancement of the Christian religion… of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole".