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Scotland moves closer to tackling commercial sexual exploitation
Thankfully, there may finally be some changes ahead. Over the past few months, momentum has shifted in the Scottish Parliament and these issues are rising up the agenda. Two debates in the parliament (Prostitution Law Reform, 3 November 2021 and Online Pimping, 10 February 2022), have shown how…
Chris Ringland
Scotland: Government told commercial sexual exploitation must stop
Scotland currently legalises violence against women. This injustice must be challenged. As Christians, we reflect the nature of our Creator in seeking to end injustices against those who are exploited and vulnerable, especially and including gendered injustices. The open letter urges the Scottish…
Chris Ringland
Help unite, equip and support the church across Scotland
Your donation to support the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland will help equip emerging public leaders, champion mission and transformation, and unite Christians in heartfelt prayer across the nation. So we need your support today to enable us to: equip and support a generation of confident…
Church and the new lockdown: Evangelical Alliance Scotland response
Our gathering demonstrates our love for one another and opens a window on the new reality of the kingdom of God. We pray and share sacraments together and we remember the Lord together. The gathering of believers is not just about the growth of our faith but also about spiritual and emotional…
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: final update
As you will have seen from previous updates, debate around the Act’s controversial attempt to balance protections against hatred whilst safeguarding freedom of expression has been, at times, fierce and hotly contested. Much discourse ensued, and this concluded this week with debate stretching…
Kieran Turner
Why we must oppose assisted dying proposals in Scotland
The Bill would allow for “mentally competent adults” (those over the age of 16) who are terminally ill to request assistance to end their life. The person must have been a resident of Scotland for at least a year. The last time proposals came to the Scottish Parliament to change the law on assisted…
Matthew Holden
Three tips for connecting with your MSP in Scotland
Watch our public policy officer for Scotland, Chris Ringland, explain his top tips on how to connect with your MSP
COP26: Helping churches in Scotland to become net zero
As our policy position on the environment states: “We believe it is part of our commission as Christians to be good stewards of God’s creation. In Genesis, after God created the earth and everything in it, He declared it very good. He invited the people He had created to have ‘dominion’ over it;…
Chris Ringland
Lynne Paterson joins as head of Evangelical Alliance Scotland
The Evangelical Alliance are delighted to welcome Lynne Paterson as the new head of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland from 9 September, as she joins us in our mission to support the church and make Jesus known throughout the nation and beyond. Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said of…
Scotland lockdown latest: What restrictions are lifting and when?
Outdoor youth work activities for under 18’s, with a maximum of 15 individuals (including two facilitators) can resume, this should be restricted to your locality and have the appropriate social distancing measures in place. Outdoor parent and toddler groups for children age five and under can also…
Scotland’s Programme for Government: tough times and a new focus
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison’s announcement of cuts of approximately £500 million to Scottish Government spending highlights the extent of this challenging backdrop. Further challenges include that there are only 18 months left until the 2026 Scottish Parliament…
Chris Ringland
Charities Bill in Scotland: What does it mean for you?
In Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) registers and regulates over 24,000 charities for the Scottish Government. Charities must be registered on its Scottish Charity Register, which includes us at the Evangelical Alliance. Since its establishment in 2005, charity law…
Chris Ringland
Scottish Government Route Map: Phase 2 & the Church in Scotland
The following conditions had to be met to begin Phase 2: The virus must be controlled;The R infection rate must be consistently below 1;The 6 World Health Organisation criteria must be in place (including capacities to test, trace and isolate, preventative measures established in workplaces and…
Chris Ringland
What today's lockdown easing in Scotland means for your church
In order to enter the first phase, the following conditions had to be met: The virus has not yet been fully contained, and there is a continued risk of overwhelming the NHS capacity without lockdown restrictions continuing;The R infection number has been below 1 for at least 2 weeks prior and the…
Chris Ringland
Scotland: Churches to open immediately after Scottish high court ruling
In a balanced judgment the court found that while closing places of worship for the purposes of public health was a legitimate aim and justifiable reason for interfering with human rights and the freedom of worship, the action the Government took in this instance was not a proportionate…
