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Tell the Government how to improve its engagement with faith communities
People of faith from across the England are invited to respond to the review, which is already underway. The Government is particularly keen to hear from those with leadership roles within their faith community and individuals who work in the public sector, whether that is the civil service,…
Danny Webster
Reflections on the way forward
Between the 1 and the 12 October we received responses from more than 1,000 individuals and in excess of 450 church leaders, giving us a fuller picture of how churches are navigating the continually changing landscape, evolving laws and guidance, and the challenge of local and regional…
Us and Them?
“Fragmentation is the Reformation’s saddest legacy.” The 500th anniversary of the Reformation has raised the difference in perception between the two communities in Northern Ireland. The community in which one is raised will determine whether the Reformation was a tragedy or triumph. The “us…
What are the Five Solas of the Reformation?
Martin Luther had entered the monastic life out of fear for his life. On July 2nd 1505, on the way home from law school, he was caught in a thunderstorm and hurled to the ground by lightning. “Help me, St. Anne; I will become a monk!” He feared for his soul and did not know how to find safety…
The Reformation and Conscience
One of the great gifts of the Reformation to us today is its legacy of freedom of conscience. Luther did not directly address that issue in his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, but six years later he wrote, “For over the soul God can and will let no one rule but Himself. Therefore, where temporal…
How the Reformation Changed Society
If we believe that all human beings are created equal, that they are free to act according to conscience, to speak freely, to be treated fairly before the law; if we believe that rulers should obey the same laws as their subjects, that oppression should be resisted; that leaders should be held…
Advent lament: “O come, O come, Emmanuel”
Frustration is building as we slowly contemplate a Christmas, perhaps without loved ones and well-worn traditions. We hear the science and the logic and tell ourselves that needs must; however, we can’t hide forever the emotions this crisis is bringing out in us. Frustration can build to anger and…
Guest writer
COVID-19, unemployment and our response
Redundancies are at their highest level in eight years, the rate of unemployment is the highest it has been in three years, and the Government's Job Retention Scheme is committed to last only until the end of March 2021. At the Evangelical Alliance we want to both face up to the realities of the…
Jo Evans
New report reveals Scottish churches deliver over 200,000 individual acts of support during lockdown
A new report published today has calculated that churches across Scotland have delivered 212,214 acts of support during lockdown. The Stories of Hope report, which was requested by the Scottish Government and produced by the Evangelical Alliance and Serve Scotland, found that these acts were…
Beginner’s guide to this consultation
We understand that many people may never even have heard of a public consultation, so here’s a very simple breakdown of its two components: It’s public. When governments pass legislation that will have a significant impact upon how a society functions, it’s not unusual for them to ask the public…
What would better government engagement with faith groups look like?
This wide-ranging review is an excellent opportunity to raise concerns about how efforts to support, understand and interact with faith communities have not always succeeded but to also highlight good practice and promote better long-term engagement. The Evangelical Alliance is responding to the…
Danny Webster
The Good Friday Agreement- 20 Years On
20 years ago today, the people of Northern Ireland voted on the Good Friday Agreement in a referendum. A few weeks ago, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we asked three local MLA'S from across the political spectrum, to reflect on the impact of the agreement.…
Let hope rise again
Yes, the first half of this pandemic has been extremely challenging on so many levels, but the time is now to dust ourselves down, refocus and be prepared to go again. My wife Anne supports Liverpool and went to the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan in Istanbul. At half-time her team was…
Gavin Calver
Oh come, let's sing to the Lord
The Lord Himself expresses delight over His people in song (Zephaniah 3:17) and Jesus sang hymns with His disciples (Matthew 26:30). The whole of creation bursts forth in song to the glory of God, from the mountains, fields and trees on the earth (Isaiah 55:12; Psalm 65:13; 1 Chronicles 16:33) to…
Dr Rebecca Uberoi
NOW CLOSED: Review of gambling laws announced
The Act covers a wide range of policies, with regulations on casinos, gaming machines, advertising and more, but understandably fails to factor in the technological advances that have taken place in the last decade. In 2005 no one could predict the prevalence of social media and smartphones, which…
