Evangelical Alliance

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Evangelical Alliance
FoundedAugust 1846
Founders Edward Steane, John Henderson of Park, Ridley Haim Herschell and Sir Culling Eardley, 3rd Baronet
TypeEvangelical Christian union
Registration no.212325 (England & Wales) SC040576 (Scotland)
Focus Evangelical Christianity
Headquarters London, N1
Location
  • England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Origins London, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom, worldwide
MethodProvides advocacy, advice and information
Members
3,300 churches, 700 organisations
CEO
Gavin Calver
Employees
50 (approximately)
Website www.eauk.org

The Evangelical Alliance (EA) is a UK organisation of evangelical individuals, organisations, and churches, which is itself a member of the World Evangelical Alliance. [1] Founded in 1846, the Evangelical Alliance aims to promote evangelical Christian beliefs and advocate for evangelical Christians in politics and society. [2] The Evangelical Alliance is based in London, with offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Stockport. [3]

Contents

History

The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 by Ridley Haim Herschell, [4] Edward Steane, John Henderson and Sir Culling Eardley. [5] Eardley became the organisation's first chairperson, leading the Alliance in its various campaigns for religious freedom; in 1852, Eardley campaigned on behalf of the Tuscan prisoners of conscience Francesco Madiai and Rosa Madiai, [6] [7] who had been imprisoned for their Protestant faith. [8]

Key people

As of 2020, the leadership of the Evangelical Alliance consisted of

Past leaders of the Evangelical Alliance include Clive Calver (1983–1997), Joel Edwards (1997–2009) and Steve Clifford (2009–2019). [11]

Members

The Evangelical Alliance is a membership organisation whose members subscribe to its Basis of Faith [12] and are expected to relate to one another in accordance with its Relational Commitments. [13]

As of March 2024, its website listed over 650 organisations, over 2,300 churches, and two corporations as members. [14] It also has an unspecified number of individual members. Member organisations include Tearfund, an organisation originally established by the Evangelical Alliance as the Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund, and CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education).

A number of UK Members of Parliament are associated with the Evangelical Alliance, including Labour MP Stephen Timms, a member of the Alliance's Council; [15] Conservative MP and former Conservative Party leadership candidate Stephen Crabb, associated with the Alliance through Gweini (the Council of the Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales); [16] and former Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce, a member of the Alliance. [17]

Positions

Ecumenism

The Evangelical Alliance has historically supported ecumenism – the principle of unity between different church doctrines – with the Roman Catholic Church, an approach criticised by some as in direct contradiction to the beliefs of the Evangelical Alliance's founders. [18] [19] In 2019, the Alliance supported the 'Thy Kingdom Come' initiative – an event organised by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury to bring more people to Christianity through a sustained period of prayer from the dates of the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost annually. [20] In a 2024 report on the results of surveys it conducted in Northern Ireland, [21] the Evangelical Alliance uncritically used the term "Catholic Evangelicals" to describe practising Roman Catholics who are committed to "evangelisation" and "renewal" but whose theological views do not necessarily align with the Alliance's basis of faith.

Homosexuality

According to a 2016 Private Eye report, the Evangelical Alliance is openly opposed to homosexuality and same-sex relationships, preaching sexual abstinence for those with same-sex attractions, with membership for openly lesbian and gay people open only to those who "come to see the need to be transformed" from their same-sex attraction. [16] The Evangelical Alliance's website distinguishes between same-sex attraction and same-sex sexual relations, calling on people who want to live within God's purposes to renounce the latter. It states, "We encourage evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active lesbians and gay men. However, they should do so in the expectation that they, like all of us who are living outside God's purposes, will come in due course to see the need to be transformed and live in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teaching. We urge gentleness, patience and ongoing pastoral care during this process and after a person renounces same-sex sexual relations." [22]

The Evangelical Alliance warned the Liz Truss government against a conversion therapy ban, warning that such a ban could end up criminalising church leaders and restrict religious freedom. [23]

Abortion

The Evangelical Alliance calls "for world-leading support, services and legislation that seeks to protect the lives and health of both women and unborn children" through its Both Lives initiative, [24] which was formerly known as Both Lives Matter. [25] In a 2019 UK government consultation on proposed abortion legislation in Northern Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance responded 'Yes' to the question, "Do you agree that provision should be made for abortion without gestational time limit where: Termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl?". [26]

Related Research Articles

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on sexual orientation and homosexuality. The view that various Bible passages speak of homosexuality as immoral or sinful emerged in the fourteenth century BCE, and has since become entrenched in many Christian denominations through church doctrine and the wording of various translations of the Bible.

Evangelicalism, also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that puts primary emphasis on evangelizing and converting non-believers to their specific movement. The story of the Salvation of sinners is considered "the good news". The process of personal conversion involves complete surrender to Jesus Christ. The conversion process is authoritatively guided by the Bible, the Christian God's last revelation to humanity. The word evangelic comes from the Greek word for 'good news'.

The relationship between religion and homosexuality has varied greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and denominations, with regard to different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. The present-day doctrines of the world's major religions and their denominations differ in their attitudes toward these sexual orientations. Adherence to anti-gay religious beliefs and communities is correlated with the prevalence of emotional distress and suicidality in sexual minority individuals, and is a primary motivation for seeking conversion therapy.

The Christian right, otherwise referred to as the religious right, are Christian political factions characterized by their strong support of socially conservative and traditionalist policies. Christian conservatives seek to influence politics and public policy with their interpretation of the teachings of Christianity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Evangelical Alliance</span> Global organization

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is an interdenominational organization of evangelical Christian churches with 600 million adherents that was founded in 1846 in London, England, to unite evangelicals worldwide. WEA is the largest international organization of evangelical churches. It has offices at the United Nations in New York City, Geneva, and Bonn. It brings together nine regional and 143 national evangelical alliances of churches, and over one hundred member organizations. Moreover, a number of international evangelical denominations are members of the WEA. As of March 2021, the Secretary General of the WEA is German theologian Thomas Schirrmacher.

Norwegian Church Aid is a Norwegian humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo. It was traditionally affiliated with the state Church of Norway, but is now independent. Norwegian Church Aid works together with people and organisations across the world to eradicate poverty and injustice.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), formerly the Alliance Defense Fund, is an American conservative Christian legal advocacy group that works to expand Christian religious liberties and practices within public schools and in government, outlaw abortion, and oppose LGBTQ rights. ADF is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with branch offices in several locations including Washington, D.C., and New York. Its international subsidiary, Alliance Defending Freedom International, with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, operates in over 100 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Christian Lobby</span> Conservative Christian advocacy organisation

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is a conservative right-wing Christian advocacy organisation based in Canberra.

The Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) is an Anglican evangelical mission agency that works across Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1836.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT-affirming religious groups</span> Religious groups that affirm LGBTQ+ rights and relationships

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+)-affirming religious groups are religious groups that welcome LGBT people as their members, do not consider homosexuality as a sin or negative, and affirm LGBT rights and relationships. They include entire religious denominations, as well as individual congregations and places of worship. Some groups are mainly composed of non-LGBTQ+ members and they also have specific programs to welcome LGBTQ+ people into them, while other groups are mainly composed of LGBTQ+ members.

Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, 3rd Baronet was a British Christian campaigner for religious freedom and for the Protestant cause, one of the founders of the Evangelical Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Concern</span>

Christian Concern is the trading name of CCFON Ltd, a not for profit advocacy group. It has been described as "one of the most prominent evangelical organisations in the United Kingdom", reaching a mailing list of more than 43,000 people. Christian Concern seeks to alter law and influence the media and government, and is linked to the Christian Legal Centre organisation.

Many views are held or have been expressed by religious organisation in relation to same-sex marriage. Arguments both in favor of and in opposition to same-sex marriage are often made on religious grounds and/or formulated in terms of religious doctrine. Although many of the world's religions are opposed to same-sex marriage, the number of religious denominations that are conducting same-sex marriages have been increasing since 2010. Religious views on same-sex marriage are closely related to religious views on homosexuality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Mauritius</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Mauritius have expanded in the 21st century, although LGBT Mauritians may still face legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Prior to 2023, sodomy was criminalized by Section 250 of the Criminal Code. However, Mauritius fully decriminalized homosexuality in October 2023. Although same-sex marriage is not recognized in Mauritius, LGBT people are broadly protected from discrimination in areas such as employment and the provision of goods and services, making it one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people. The Constitution of Mauritius guarantees the right of individuals to a private life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fornication</span> Name for pre-marital sexual intercourse

Fornication is generally consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. When one or more of the partners having consensual sexual intercourse is married to another person, it is called adultery. John Calvin viewed adultery to be any sexual act that is outside the divine model for sexual intercourse, which includes fornication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity and transgender people</span>

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on the issues of gender identity and transgender people. Christian denominations vary in their official position: some explicitly support gender transition, some oppose it, and others are divided or have not taken an official stance. Within any given denomination, individual members may or may not endorse the official views of their church on the topic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayne Ozanne</span> Evangelical Anglican and LGBT rights campaigner

Jayne Margaret Ozanne is a British evangelical Anglican. Having come out publicly as gay in 2015, she campaigns to safeguard LGBTQI people from abuse. Jayne founded and launched the Ozanne Foundation in 2017 which works with religious organisations around the world on prejudice and discrimination of LGBTQI people. Jayne also founded and chairs the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition. From January 1999 to December 2004, she was a member of the Archbishops' Council, the central executive body of the Church of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Church</span> Church in Worldwide

Freedom Church is a global non-denominational evangelical Christian church whose vision is to "Connect Anyone Anywhere to a Life Changing relationship with Jesus". The church is headquartered in Hereford in the United Kingdom with locations in Africa, North America, Asia and Europe. Freedom Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.

References

  1. ↑ "Host an EA Sunday". Evangelical Alliance. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "About us". Eauk.org. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "WEA – World Evangelical Alliance Est 1846 – Page Whoweare". Worldea.org. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Jacobs, Joseph; Lipkind, Goodman. "Herschell, Ridley Haim". Jewish Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Rosemary Chadwick, ‘Steane, Edward (1798–1882)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 30 July 2014 Archived 9 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ John Wolffe, ‘Eardley, Sir Culling Eardley, third baronet (1805–1863)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 30 July 2014 Archived 9 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Anderson, John Shaw (1971). Heroes of the Faith in Italy. Illinois: Bible Truth Publishers. p. 115. ASIN   B000Z2ST2Y. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Madiai, Francesco; Madiai, Rosa (12 November 2011). Letters Of The Madiai: And Visits To Their Prisons By The Misses Senhouse. Charleston: Nabu Press. p. 180. ISBN   9781271735235.
  9. ↑ "Gavin Calver announced as new CEO of the Evangelical Alliance". eauk.org. Evangelical Alliance. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Meet the staff team of the Evangelical Alliance". eauk.org. Evangelical Alliance. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "History". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Basis of faith". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Relationship Commitments". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Our members". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Council". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Crabb mentality (HP Sauce)". Private Eye. No. 1422. Pressdram Ltd. 8 July 2016. p. 9.
  17. ↑ Cook, Chris (16 February 2010). "Christian Tories rewrite party doctrine". The Financial Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  18. ↑ Harris, F.J. (18 January 2014). "Stand fast for authentic evangelicalism". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Fountain, David (2001). "Today's FIEC and E.J. Poole-Connor, Appendix". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Gavin shares why we're so passionate about joining with Thy Kingdom Come". Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "Good news people". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Biblical and pastoral responses to homosexuality: A resource for church leaders". Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Religious group warns against LGBT+ conversion therapy ban". BBC News. London. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  24. ↑ "About us". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  25. ↑ "Both Lives Matter". Both Lives Matter. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  26. ↑ "Our written submission to the Northern Ireland Office". Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 30 March 2024.

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