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Churches in Scotland: Physical distancing ends but face masks remain
The First Minister has announced that Scotland will move beyond Level 0 on Monday and remove all but a few COVID-19 legal requirements that have been in place since the UK went into lockdown in March last year. In practice, this will mean that churches can hold worship services with unlimited…
Chris Ringland
Changes to gender recognition in Scotland challenged by the Evangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance has called on the Scottish government to provide greater clarity in their planned reform of the Gender Recognition Act. The changes announced reduce the period someone has to have lived in their new gender from the current two years, to six months, with three of those as a…
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: freedom of expression update
As mentioned in our previous update on the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, the Scottish Government had recently decided not to move some of its own amendments on the controversial bill; MSPs only have a few weeks to come to agreement on some of the bill’s most contested areas. See this update for…
Kieran Turner
The view from Scotland: our importance in the 2024 general election
As it stands, the SNP hold the vast majority of Westminster seats in Scotland, elected with forty-eight in 2019. The Scottish Conservatives won six seats, the Scottish Liberal Democrats four and Scottish Labour one. The Scottish Greens don’t hold any Westminster seats and while the Alba Party hold…
Chris Ringland
What we need to see from our new first minister of Scotland
In anticipation of this shift, we engaged our member churches from all across Scotland and asked them: What are your priorities for the new leadership of Scotland? What would you like to see change? What are your concerns? And, how would you like the Scottish government to work with faith…
Chris Ringland
We want to see the kingdom of God break out across Scotland
More than 20 years after the revival of Whiteinch church, Shona Stirling, director of pastoral care at the church's charity, Whiteinch Transformation, tells the Evangelical Alliance's editorial content manager, Naomi Osinnowo, how the church and its charity are on a mission to see the kingdom of…
Naomi Osinnowo
Deputy First Minister reaffirms importance of “valuable contribution” of churches across Scotland
John Swinney MSP will address delegates at Scotland’s National Youth and Children’s work conference in Aviemore, to highlight the value of constructive partnership between the Scottish Government and Christian communities The 350 delegates attending the Deep Impact conference in Aviemore will…
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: update on the third stage
For a bill to become law through the Scottish parliamentary system, any potential legislation must pass through three stages. The first stage establishes the bill’s basic principles, the second stage sees the bill amended and clarified, and the third stage allows MSPs to vote the bill into law. The…
Interview: Scotland public policy highlights, and what’s new in Holyrood for 2023
Of all the nations, I would say Scotland and the Scottish parliament has been the most active in introducing and consulting on new legislation. What are some of the different policy areas you have worked on this past year? Yes, it has been a very busy year in Scotland. We are part of the Scottish…
Alicia Edmund
Hate Crime in Scotland – what does the new legislation mean for you?
This briefing note is not legal advice. What has happened? In 2021, the Scottish Parliament passed the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. We and our membership influenced and contributed to positive changes as it went through the legislative process, including meeting then-Cabinet…
Chris Ringland
An update on the push for assisted suicide in Westminster and Scotland
Ultimately, only one amendment was put to a vote – Rebecca Paul’s proposal to allow hospices to opt out of providing assisted suicide. Despite all the talk of freedom, this amendment designed to give hospices a choice was voted down. It has become increasingly clear that this bill is not only…
Mark Gilmore
Focus on doing justice needs to go deeper – reflections on Scotland’s Programme for Government
In addressing Holyrood on his government’s plans, the first minister referred to his faith as a driving motivator for why he seeks social justice in Scotland: “Growing up in the Islamic faith, I was taught that one of the core beliefs of that faith is that you are not a true Muslim if you have a…
Chris Ringland
Ending conversion practices in Scotland: Christian leaders should not be prevented from providing pastoral support
In response to the Scottish Government’s latest proposals on ending conversion practices, Fred Drummond, director of the Evangelical Alliance, Scotland, said: “The Evangelical Alliance welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation on ending conversion practices. No one should be forced…
Scotland: Places of worship to open and church travel restrictions to be lifted from 26 March
The latest statement from the Scottish Government came after the First Minister commented on the significance of gathering to worship on the anniversary of the nationwide lockdown in March 2020. Nicola Sturgeon said: “On this National Day of Reflection, I know that many of us will be thinking about…
Forbes: 'Christians should have confidence to get involved' to make a difference for the future of Scotland
At an event to mark the launch of a new resource, the deputy first minister urged Christians to act with love despite any fears or worries. Speaking at an event to mark the Evangelical Alliance’s What Kind of Nation? resource, Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, challenged Christians to act…
