William A. Roberts | National Coalition on Health Care

National Commander, The Salvation Army

Commissioners William and Nancy Roberts, new national leaders of The Salvation Army effective November 1, bring with them a broad perspective of the Army’s work around the world gleaned from their service overseas for the past nine years.

Since 2001, these officers from the USA Central Territory have served in South America, at International Headquarters in London and in Kenya.

From 2001 to 2005 they led the South America East Territory, comprised of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Commissioner William Roberts was next appointed to IHQ in London in 2005 as International Secretary for Business Administration, with Commissioner Nancy Roberts appointed as Secretary for IHQ Staff Development and IHQ Chaplain. On March 1, 2008, Commissioner William Roberts took up his appointment as Territorial Commander of the Kenya West Territory, on the very day of the creation of that territory, with Commissioner Nancy Roberts appointed as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries for Kenya West.

Commissioned as officers in The Salvation Army in 1971 after completing training as members of the Victorious session of cadets, they served in three corps appointments, followed by a number of divisional appointments, he as Financial Secretary, Divisional Secretary, General Secretary and as leader of two divisions: Western Michigan Northern Indiana and then Metropolitan. Commissioner Nancy Roberts served as Divisional Corps Cadet Counselor, League of Mercy Secretary and Home League Secretary. During that time she also was appointed as a therapist at a Salvation Army addictions program. Her final two divisional appointments were as Director of Women’s Ministries.

Commissioner Nancy Roberts, a first generation Salvationist and a school teacher by training and profession prior to officership, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Elementary Education and a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling, both from Eastern Michigan University. She is certificated in gerontology from Madonna University and is a licensed professional counselor in the State of Michigan, USA. She has also studied at the Nazarene Theological Seminary and Illinois Benedictine College.

She has been the leader of numerous seminars and classes, and has served on the teaching staff of The Salvation Army’s National Seminar on Evangelism and the Central Territory’s Officer Continuing Education Program. In 2001, she was included in Today’s Chicago Woman magazine’s list of 100 women “making a difference in Chicago.”

The son of Salvation Army officers, Commissioner William Roberts holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit. He has also studied at the University of Minnesota, Nazarene Theological Seminary and North Park Seminary. He was selected to attend the International College for Officers in London in 1982.

He has served on the teaching staff of the Central’s Officer Continuing Education Program as well as the Central’s Asbury Theological Seminary Preaching Seminar.

The Roberts are the proud parents of four children — William, Rebecca, Barbara, and Bramwell — who, along with their spouses, have provided them with ten grandchildren, who have made them even prouder.