The Salvation Army Florida

The Salvation Army National Headquarters

Commissioners Kenneth G. and Jolene K. Hodder serve as the National Commander and National President for Women’s Ministries respectively for The Salvation Army in the United States of America.

Commissioner Kenneth Hodder is a graduate of Harvard College (A.B. magna cum laude, 1980) and Harvard Law School (J.D., 1983).  Commissioner Jolene Hodder holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Los Angeles (1982), and a Masters of Religion from Trevecca Nazarene University (2018).

In 1986, after several years in their chosen professions, Commissioners Hodder responded to God’s call to service as Salvation Army officers.  Commissioned in 1988, they subsequently served in corps appointments in Glendale and Torrance, California, as instructors at the School for Officers Training, and later as staff officers at USA Western Territorial Headquarters.  In 1997, they served for three years as Coordinators for the International Millennial Congress.  Later they served at Southern California Divisional Headquarters in Los Angeles, and then as divisional leaders for the Cascade Division.

Commissioners Hodder were appointed in March, 2006 to serve as Chief Secretary and Territorial Leader of Women’s Ministries in the Kenya Territory.  Three years later, the Hodders were appointed to International Headquarters, where Commissioner Kenneth Hodder served in dual roles as International Secretary for Personnel and as Legal and Constitutional Adviser to the General and Commissioner Jolene Hodder served as Associate International Secretary for Personnel.  They were subsequently appointed as the Territorial leaders for Kenya West in January of 2013, and then Territorial leaders of The Salvation Army’s USA West Territory in 2017. They were appointed to their current roles at National Headquarters on July 1, 2020.

Commissioner Jolene Hodder is the author of two books, Walking in White and A Bend in the Road.  They have one daughter, Jessica Fagerstrom, and they recently experienced the privilege of becoming grandparents to their pride and joy, Everett Kenneth.

The soldiers of The Salvation Army (wearing blue epaulets), the committed laity, are local citizens in communities throughout the U.S. who give allegiance to the doctrines and disciplines of the Army. There are approximately 450,000 soldiers in the United States.

These soldiers may take on volunteer responsibilities in the congregation or help in the Army’s social service outreach. Many soldiers give valuable service in directing and leading youth groups in character-building activities. Many take part in the Army’s musical programs and teach young people to sing and play.

As a valuable means of service to the community, soldiers visit the sick and lonely in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional institutions. Social service programs are enhanced by the commitment of soldiers who often give their time in the Army’s basic ministries of shelter and food provision.

Soldiers abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and tobacco. Trained and qualified soldiers are appointed as “local officers.” This corresponds to a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces. Other members of the congregation are adherents who participate in church activities but have not signed on as soldiers. Adherents may take on some lay responsibilities, such as teaching Sunday School classes.