SCOTLAND
National eauk.org/scotland
Serving Scotland through social action by Kieran Turner, public policy officer, Evangelical Alliance Scotland
Scottish Parliament appearance
September marked another key step in the journey to make Serve Scotland a reality as 40 key leaders from churches and agencies across Scotland gathered together in Perth to discuss a proposal to run two local pilot projects in Scotland and bring together a national database of Christian social action. Taking vision from Gweini in Wales, Serve Scotland is an initiative to unite the Christian voluntary sector. Nine months ago the Evangelical Alliance called together a meeting of interested parties to see whether it may be possible to create a local and national body that gives life to the poor, speaks life in the darkness, lives life in government and engages with local and national politicians. Those who attended the original meeting were excited about the possibilities and a working party was set up to create a strategy for taking the vision forward. The working party involved people from national organisations and local churches and the group has met frequently over the course of 2013. In September the Evangelical Alliance hosted a follow-up meeting where the working party presented their proposals. Those assembled were addressed by Fred Drummond, national director for Evangelical Alliance Scotland, and Iain Gordon, CEO of Alliance member Bethany Christian Trust. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the working party’s proposals were endorsed. The next stage to put the funding package together and move the strategy forward is now underway and we are excited to see what God will do with this initiative. Commenting on the latest national meeting of leaders Iain Gordon said: “It was both encouraging and uplifting to NOV/DEC 2013
see so many leaders of Christian churches and organisations passionate about and committed to Christian social action as a means of demonstrating the gospel and bringing about transformation in the lives of people, communities and the nation. Kevan Leckie from Tearfund Scotland also shared his reflection that: “It proved to be a very profitable and positive event with a strong sense of support to move forward to the next stage.”
The Church and the nation are tired of powerless religion. Great strategies and tired clichés have not been enough to renew the Church nor transform the nation. What is required for real, lasting change is a reliance upon God. Christians need to encounter God before engaging with society. If we are not engaging out of our relationship with God then we are powerless to see lasting change. For the last three years the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland has been part of a coalition bringing leaders together to pray for the nation. These have taken place on St Andrew’s Day each year and have been a mix of personal renewal and intercede for the nation. We are coming into a hugely important time for Scotland. Next year will see the vote for independence. Whatever the outcome of the vote, things will
Evangelical Alliance Scotland was recently invited to give evidence to the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Scottish Parliament, on the Scottish government’s plans to redefine marriage. This was the first time the Evangelical Alliance has been invited to a committee for a number of years and it gave us the opportunity to share some of our concerns about both the principle and the practical implications of the Scottish government’s plans. We are continuing to engage with MSPs and officials as the bill progresses and for the latest information please contact the Scotland office. If you are interested in watching our committee evidence you can find it by searching the BBC News Scotland page.
have changed. Scots have had to think about their identity, relationship with other nations and what we regard as important. It is a hugely significant time for Christians in the nation. We have to engage positively in national conversations and we must show that faith has a significant role to play in the Scotland of the future. This year on St Andrew’s Day we will be having 12 hours of prayer for the nation. We will also be launching The Stand – a year of prayer for the nation. We are calling Christians to take a stand before God for the nation. Our desire is that in this hugely important year God will move in the Church and the nation. The call is for Christians to commit time every week to intercede for Scotland. Taking a stand to change the nation. KT eauk.org/northernireland
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