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Following discussion with General-elect Brian Peddle, General André Cox today announced the appointment of Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham as Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham as World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, effective Aug. 3.
The Chief of the Staff is appointed by the General to be second-in-command of the international Salvation Army. The first Chief was Bramwell Booth, eldest son of Salvation Army Founders William and Catherine Booth. Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham will be the 27th Chief of the Staff.
Commissioned in January 1990 in New Zealand, the Buckinghams began their shared ministry as officers in Queenstown. Two years later they were appointed to training college work, where they served until July 1994, when they were appointed internationally as corps officers to the Windsor Corps in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
From July 1998, they led the Wellington City Corps in their home territory until their appointment to head up the Youth and Candidates department at territorial headquarters (THQ) in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2007, the Buckinghams were appointed to lead the Southern Division of the New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory as Divisional Commander and Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries, respectively, until their appointment back to THQ in February 2010 as Secretary for Program and Assistant Secretary for Program.
The leadership needs of The Salvation Army world brought then Lt. Colonels Buckingham back into the orbit of international service when, in February 2013, they were appointed to the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, then moving into the leadership of the territory as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in June of the same year.
In 2018, the Buckinghams were promoted to the rank of commissioner and assumed leadership of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland as Territorial Commander and Territorial Leader of Leader Development, respectively.
“Commissioners Buckingham come to their international roles at International Headquarters against this background of varied leadership experience, bringing with them a passion and energy that will certainly inspire the Army world to greater efforts in the building of God’s Kingdom,” Cox wrote in an announcement of their new appointment. “I know you will join me in assuring Commissioners Buckingham of thoughts and prayers as they prepare themselves in heart and mind to take on the onerous duties that will be theirs in support of our new international leaders.”
