The Salvation Army in Australia is distancing itself from a statement by its international parent organisation that homosexuality is "an unacceptable urge".

The gay community has criticised the church's online declaration.

Church spokesman Major Bruce Harmer says its Australian arm believes the statement needs to be changed.

He has denied the Salvation Army is homophobic and has appealed to the gay community not make judgements on the declaration.

"If you had a bad taxi driver, you wouldn't group all taxi drivers the same as well," he said.

"At the moment the international statement is our statement, but we are working behind the scenes."

He says the church's position on homosexuality is being debated internally and the Australian arm believes it needs to be changed.

Major Harmer says the Salvos offer services to all who are in need, regardless of sexual orientation.

"The Salvation Army has worked for many years with gay and lesbian people through their treatment centres and welfare agencies, we have employees who are gay and members of our church who are gay," he said.

"So it's easy to take one phrase and run with it, but in reality the Salvation Army is not homophobic."