In Depth:  Scotland

Luke Randall

The Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland has told parliamentarians that a renewed focus on “the words of Jesus” can once again make Scotland “thrive” in an address to the Scottish Parliament.

Speaking during the parliament’s “Time for Reflection”, Alasdair Macleod reminded MSPs that many of the nation’s key institutions have been “shaped by those who had a living relationship with Jesus”, whose impact is unlike any other historical figure.

The Edinburgh-based Banner of Truth Trust has released a new video series focusing on a neglected chapter in the history of the British church. The Covenanter Story narrates the lives and deaths of four men who took their place in a vast company of Scottish Christians killed for their faith in the 17th century.

The rise of the Stuart kings, and their insistence that they had a “divine right” to rule over the state and church (the Kirk) in Scotland, put tremendous pressure on Christians who prized the gospel freedoms recovered at the Reformation. As Charles I installed bishops to rule the church in his name and introduced a Prayer Book which many felt was far too “Roman” in character, many in the Scottish Kirk openly objected.

Emily Pollok

The world’s first official City Mission, Glasgow City Mission, is celebrating 200 years of service in Scotland’s largest city.

Established in 1826, Glasgow City Mission was founded by young Glaswegian David Naismith at just 26 years old. Moved by the poverty he witnessed in Glasgow, Naismith put the gospel into action by caring for people’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Luke Randall

Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS) recently held its fourth annual conference, focused on the Great Commission from Matthew 28. The event, held at St Columba’s Free Church, featured keynote speakers, singing, and updates from church planters and missionaries.

There were contributions from ETS lecturers Ben Castaneda and Zachary Purvis, as well as guest contributions from Michael G. Brown and Fikret Böcek, ministers based in Milan and Izmir respectively.

Emily Pollok

Humanists are calling out Scottish schools for what they allege is Christian bias and a lack of inclusivity in religious observance (RO) in state schools.

In a new report, titled “Preaching is Not Teaching,” the Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) claims that schools fail to provide adequate transparency on RO to parents and carers – and can be hostile to humanist, atheist, agnostic, or other non-religious worldviews, it is alleged.

August has marked a significant milestone for two new Scottish church plants as they launch new weekly Sunday morning services.

Leven Free Church, in Leven, and Hope Church Leith, in Edinburgh, have each begun holding regular Sunday times of worship.

Luke Randall

The Free Church of Scotland (FCoS) says the Scottish Government’s proposed amendments to education legislation could “undermine and dilute” religious observance and education in schools.

The Scottish Government is proposing that the views of young people on their own participation in religious observance and religious and moral education should be considered. This, it says, would align legislation more closely with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), but the FCoS says existing measures already comply with the UNCRC and should remain unchanged.

Luke Randall

Crow Road Free Church recently celebrated its 200th anniversary with a celebratory weekend featuring special services with guest speakers.

The congregation enjoyed preaching from Derek Thomas, the former Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, and Neil MacMillan, Minister of Cornerstone Free Church, Edinburgh, as well as testimony from five former members who worshipped with the church over the last 50 years.

Luke Randall

Dr Cory Brock has been inducted as the minister of St Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh.

It comes 24 days after departing minister Derek Lamont was commissioned to begin planting Hope Church in Leith after 23 years of ministry in the city centre, in what the Free Church of Scotland has described as ‘probably the shortest vacancy in recent church history.’

Nicola Laver

Six Aberdeen churches have partnered to launch a local Ministry Training Academy focusing on the North East of Scotland. Teaching began in September with an initial cohort of 14 students.

Although its primary aim is ‘teaching men for preaching’, the Academy is open to both men and women. Applications are already being taken for the 2024 intake.

A church-planting and revitalisation project in Scotland is facing the daily reality of drug misuse in its ministry.

A recent report released by National Records of Scotland showed that the number of people who died due to drug misuse last year in Scotland had fallen by 279 deaths to its lowest in five years – 1,051.

Following a mini tour of different geographical areas in Scotland by Nick McQuaker, the Gospel Partnership Development Officer, in May 2022, it’s great to report the establishment of the recently formed West Coast Gospel Partnership.

It was initially the vision of six churches and four church leaders in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and has a huge potential for growth.

Nicola Laver

Despite a difficult period within the Church of Scotland, evangelicals within the Baptist Union of Scotland (BUS) have reported great encouragement, with significant increases in church attendance and membership.

There is a ‘great sense of unity of vision and purpose’ among the conservative evangelical family of 155 BUS churches, said the Revd Dr Brian Talbot, minister of Broughty Ferry Baptist Church. Dr Talbot, who serves on the BUS Board of Ministry, said they are ‘greatly encouraged by the sense of both spiritual and numerical growth’ during 2022.

Three new churches are being planted this year in working-class communities in the West of Scotland.

The initiative is being led by the organisation 20schemes, which is committed to planting and revitalising churches in Scotland’s poorest areas, known locally as ‘schemes’.

A church plant has launched in the new community of Tornagrain, near Inverness.

Tornagrain Community Church is being led by Innes Macsween (see photo with his wife Anna and their two children), who is the Assistant Minister at Smithton Free Church in Inverness. He is supported by a launch team of around 25 adults and 12 children.

One of the fruits of the ongoing Life22 mission initiative of A Passion for Life has been the initiation of some promising conversations around Scotland about the possibility of the establishment or in some cases re-establishment of Regional Gospel Partnerships (RGPs).

Nick McQuaker, the development officer for the partnerships, has been on a tour around Scotland meeting key church leaders in Edinburgh, Fife, Aberdeen, Moray, and Ayrshire.

en staff

Scripture Union Scotland (SUS) has said it will offer ‘full assistance’ to Police Scotland after BBC presenter Nicky Campbell said he was assaulted by an SUS member.

The 61-year-old broadcaster claimed: ‘I was badly beaten up at the Edinburgh Academy by a teacher who was a leading light in the Scripture Union.’

Around 70 delegates attended the ‘In a Big Country’ conference about rural ministry held at Dingwall Free Church in Scotland.

The conference, which was organised by the Free Church of Scotland, was a great opportunity for delegates to study God’s word, to hear what He is doing in rural Scotland, and to encourage each other.

The 31st annual meeting of the Scottish Reformed Conference has taken place at Hamilton College.

Dr Joel Beeke from Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, USA was the main speaker. He preached on the words of Psalm 22 that Jesus reiterated at the Cross: ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ In the course of his sermon, Dr Beeke reflected upon the profound depths of the real experience of Jesus whilst he prayed this, both what it does not mean and what it does mean. But also from the question ‘Why?’ – what was the purpose of this experience and the infinite love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ expressed in this cry. In his second address, he pressed upon Christians the urgent need to reflect upon the agony of Christ when we pass through sharp and painful experiences in life. He did so in a unique sermon of ten points each beginning with the letter ‘P’. In thanks, our chairman suggested adding another three points likewise beginning with ‘P’, to the positive pleasure of the people present!

Nicola Laver

The Scottish Parliament has heard of the invaluable work of the Christian community to help more than 2,300 drug addicts in Scotland recover from their addiction.

The Evangelical Alliance (EA) and Serve Scotland presented a report in June to Parliament on the work of Christian churches and organisations with individuals in addiction.

Nicola Laver

Evangelicals in Scotland and Wales are facing difficult decisions after major denominations in each country liberalised their stance on same-sex marriage.

They have expressed dismay at the Church of Scotland’s decision to allow its clergy to conduct same-sex marriages, following a vote of the Members of the General Assembly. Commissioners voted 274–136 in favour, but ministers and deacons will not be forced to compelled to take the ceremonies if they do not want to.

Nine churches have been planted in just ten years in a pioneering Scottish project – thanks to believers who have grasped the concept of ‘missional living’.

20schemes is a church planting ministry set up and run by Niddrie Community Church, which is located in the scheme of Niddrie, south-east Edinburgh. And this year the initiative is celebrating a decade in action.

The Free Church of Scotland have recently released a video and booklet promoting their aim to see a healthy gospel church for every community in Scotland:

Healthy in ministry; healthy in mission; healthy in training; and healthy, growing gospel congregations that are a blessing to the community around them. David Meredith, the Mission Director of the Free Church of Scotland, said: ‘The key to developing a healthy gospel church is to be rooted in two things – rooted in the world of the Bible and its proclamation, while building a bridge into contemporary society. The sweet spot of being faithful to Christ and the Bible, and engaging with our own society.’

Nicola Laver

Several doctors and other health professionals in Scotland have called for MSPs to vote against proposed laws allowing assisted suicide.

Work is already underway on legislation that will permit assisted dying for those who are terminally ill and mentally competent. It is the third attempt to introduce laws to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.

For the past nine years, 20schemes has been working to plant and revitalise churches in Scotland’s schemes.

To the rest of the UK they are known as council estates and in the US they are referred to as ‘projects’, but in Scotland they are called ‘schemes’.

The Scotland Pastors’ Wives Conference held recently was the FIEC’s first in-person event for pastors’ wives since Covid restrictions were lifted.

It was great to have 20 women come together in Edinburgh to hear from God’s word, ask questions of a panel of pastors’ wives, enjoy time reflecting on God’s faithfulness, and look forward to what might be in store.

Nicola Laver

Efforts by the Scottish government to rush through laws allowing individuals aged 16 or over to change gender through self-identification have been strongly criticised.

Reform of the Gender Recognition Act is planned within the next year under a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. But according to campaign group For Women Scotland, the proposals ignore women’s views. It said the general public are increasingly opposed to the change and questioning why it was necessary.

A pioneering Scottish church planting initiative is hoping to establish three new congregations.

Ben Hansen of 20Schemes writes: ‘Almost one third of Glasgow’s population resides within the top 10% of Scotland’s most deprived areas.

Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Bill is undergoing more revisions to protect plays and public performances from prosecution, and there may even be further protections inserted for freedom of religious expression.

Scottish Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf said: ‘Mere expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule and insult are not on their own criminal behaviour. I’m committed to work with parliament to ensure hate crime law is effective, while protecting freedom of expression.’

With the aim of planting 30 churches by 2023, a Church Planting Director has been announced by the Free Church of Scotland.

The Revd Neil MacMillan said: ‘Planting new churches is a vital part of our mission in secular Scotland. As we sustain and nourish existing congregations, the gospel also drives us outwards to new places and new people. The most important element of this challenge is prayer, so pray for a movement of God’s Spirit in our nation so that we can do all this and much more.’

In 2014, Graham and Tineke Wintour moved to Balmedie, some eight miles north of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Balmedie is a seaside village, home to 2,500 people, and is well-known for the local golf course which is owned by US President Donald Trump.