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Evangelical Alliance

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Not to be confused with World Evangelical Alliance.

Evangelical Alliance
FoundedAugust 1846
FoundersEdward Steane, John Henderson of Park, Ridley Haim Herschell and Sir Culling Eardley, 3rd Baronet
TypeEvangelical Christian union
Registration no.212325 (England & Wales) SC040576 (Scotland)
FocusEvangelical Christianity
HeadquartersLondon, N1
Location
  • England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
OriginsLondon, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom, worldwide
MethodProvides advocacy, advice and information
Members
3,300 churches, 700 organisations
CEO
Gavin Calver
Employees50 (approximately)
Websitewww.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]

History

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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

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

  • Gavin Calver, CEO (appointed in 2019)[9]
  • Peter Lynas, UK Director
  • Jo Frost, Director of Communications and Engagement
  • Fred Drummond, Director of Scotland
  • Israel Oluwole Olofinjana, Director of the One People Commission
  • John Gibson, Director of Finance and Operations
  • Danny Webster, Director of Advocacy
  • Hil Sewell, Director of People and Culture
  • Emmie Burns, Personal Assistant to Gavin Calver[10]

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

Members

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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

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Ecumenism

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  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. ^ a b "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.

Further reading

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  • Massie, James William (1847), The Evangelical Alliance, Its Origin and Development.
  • De Kewer Williams, John. The Basis of the Evangelical Alliance (1847).
  • Thompson, Todd. "The Evangelical Alliance, Religious Liberty, and the Evangelical Conscience in Nineteenth-Century Britain," Journal of Religious History (2009), 33#1, pp. 49–65.
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Evangelical Alliance".
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