“I have a dream …” are words that changed the landscape of the United States of America. “I’ll fight …” has inspired change and a movement that continues to influence around the world. William Booth had a clear vision with an unapologetic mission to fight injustice and change the social reality of Victorian England. His vision and values permeated the movement, guiding the work and ministry in its infancy. Since then, his “I’ll fight” manifesto has stirred souls, wrenched hearts and inspired millions around the world.

The Salvation Army of 2008, however, is a very different organization than that of the late 1800s. It is an international organization with thousands of officers, employees, laypeople, volunteers and donors and all the challenges that are endemic to a large organization.

We have a mission and vision that are steeped in faith and experience. In our complex organization, that vision has to be translated into language that is understood by everyone, no matter what their particular role or position. That language is found in values. “Visionary organizations are not only aware of their values,” says Richard Barrett in Liberating the Corporate Soul, “they consciously use them to guide decision making and to build cohesive culture.” Excellence can be achieved when everyone involved understands how an organization’s values relate to their particular role. The great news is that it’s not impossible, it’s actually extremely do-able.

We’ve spent a lot of time at the Ethics Centre delving into the mysteries of organizational culture, and we’re convinced that values integration is a key component to healthy organizations. Let’s face it, The Salvation Army’s got a mission and a heritage that’s hard to beat. Translating that mission and heritage into core values that are then translated into behaviors will assure a common language that yields a solid base for another century of witness. “We have to follow the example of Jesus,” says one of the original Board members of the Ethics Centre. “It has to do with calling, vocation. The integration of values has to be head to heart, and heart to hand.”