The role of Baptists in Scotland 

Scottish Baptists will be exploring the place of their churches in the nation at the forthcoming Assembly

So wrote Alan Donaldson, General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland, in the latest edition of Connect, his Union’s magazine.

He noted how the recent independence referendum debate that ‘grew in intensity’ over the last 18 months ‘raised many as yet unanswered questions’.

Many were issues of justice, compassion, integrity and wisdom ‘that relate to our daily walk as disciples of Christ’.  

‘Trident does not cease to be an issue for the future of Scotland because the referendum is over,’ stated Mr Donaldson.

‘The distribution of wealth, justice and influence within Scotland are issues we must grapple with and act upon as disciples of Jesus. Seeking to live 'under Christ’s rule' means engaging with the way our taxes are spent and supporting the building of a better Scotland, based on Christ’s Kingdom values.’

Several of these issues will be explored at the Scottish Baptist Assembly at the end of October, which is titled “Forging the Future – our place in the nation”.

‘How will we seek to make a difference when we see injustice?’ said Mr Donaldson (pictured). ‘How will we respond with compassion when we observe or experience prejudice?

‘How will love for our neighbour affect our engagement with the local health service or schools?

‘I look forward to welcoming members of all our churches to our Assembly later this month as we explore these and other issues together.’

Elsewhere Scottish Baptists have voiced similar opinions. The Revd Dr Stuart Blythe, new rector of the International Baptist Theological Study Centre in Amsterdam, expressed his hope that the referendum was an opportunity for churches ‘to try and work out how they think the issue of mission and discipleship relate to the wider social/economic/political context’.

‘I’m not sure how many of them did that,’ he said, ‘But I hope churches who embraced that will carry on.’

Another role for churches in civic Scotland, he tweeted, was to ‘call for politicians to keep promises’.

This point was made by Andy Scarcliffe, minister of Portobello Baptist Church in Edinburgh. On his Facebook page he spoke of the ‘huge disillusionment expressed over the undermining of the integrity of political leadership’, and how ‘a different kind of victory for all, would see an honouring of last minute promises, but also righteous leadership which can be trusted.’

As a Christian, he added, ‘of course (I’m) hoping for a nation that rediscovers its spiritual past enriched by the new spiritualty of the 21st century.’