You! Get into the closet! Quick!

[Eilonnwy]

I think it's deceit too. I think the justification is very weak. I think 'salvation' in the title sorta gives it away. The insignia is all religious symbolism.. crosses, snakes.. plus they have their own unique inventions like colours of the flag representing basic beliefs, and the shield shape for instance... yeah not super obviously Christian but Christian all the same. The intention is never to decieve.

About charity work.. the donations of the members goes towards the administration so any donations made by non members actually goes more towards the need than most other charities which fund their administration with a percentage of the gift.

That said some local corps in the UK I know have collected for band funds at Christmas without advertising that fact. Corruption again. No one is immune.

I did not mean to state they deceive or try to hide their church status, simply that their branding isn't what is typical of a church, at least here in the US. When you see the local guy at the store ringing the bell, there's nothing overtly Christian about it. Yes a shield is a lesser known Christian symbol, it's easily explained by "Army" in the title. I used to think, when I was a child that the Salvation Army was the US Army doing charity.

Their church status is easily seen on their website, it's just the passerby on the street doesn't necessarily know because their branding isn't typical of what we usually see of a church and the bell ringer does not proselytize to the giver.