Evangelical Alliance

History

The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 by Ridley Haim Herschell, Edward Steane, John Henderson and Sir Culling Eardley. 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, who had been imprisoned for their Protestant faith.

Key people

, the leadership of the Evangelical Alliance consisted of

• Gavin Calver, CEO (appointed in 2019)
• 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

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

Members

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

, its website listed over 650 organisations, over 2,300 churches, and two corporations as members. 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; 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); and former Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce, a member of the Alliance.

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. 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. In a 2024 report on the results of surveys it conducted in Northern Ireland, 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. 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."

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.

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, which was formerly known as Both Lives Matter. 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?".

References

References

1. "Host an EA Sunday".
2. (3 April 2012). "About us". Eauk.org.
3. "WEA – World Evangelical Alliance Est 1846 – Page Whoweare". Worldea.org.
4. Jacobs, Joseph. "Herschell, Ridley Haim". Jewish Encyclopedia.
5. Rosemary Chadwick, ‘Steane, Edward (1798–1882)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47093, accessed 30 July 2014] {{Webarchive. link. (9 November 2023)
6. John Wolffe, ‘Eardley, Sir Culling Eardley, third baronet (1805–1863)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8393, accessed 30 July 2014] {{Webarchive. link. (9 November 2023)
7. Anderson, John Shaw. (1971). "Heroes of the Faith in Italy". Bible Truth Publishers.
8. Madiai, Francesco. (12 November 2011). "Letters Of The Madiai: And Visits To Their Prisons By The Misses Senhouse". Nabu Press.
9. "Gavin Calver announced as new CEO of the Evangelical Alliance". Evangelical Alliance.
10. "Meet the staff team of the Evangelical Alliance". Evangelical Alliance.
11. "History".
12. "Basis of faith".
13. "Relationship Commitments".
14. "Our members".
15. "Council".
16. (8 July 2016). "Crabb mentality (HP Sauce)". Pressdram Ltd.
17. Cook, Chris. (16 February 2010). "Christian Tories rewrite party doctrine". The Financial Times.
18. Harris, F.J.. (18 January 2014). "Stand fast for authentic evangelicalism".
19. Fountain, David. (2001). "Today's FIEC and E.J. Poole-Connor, Appendix".
20. "Gavin shares why we're so passionate about joining with Thy Kingdom Come".
21. "Good news people".
22. "Biblical and pastoral responses to homosexuality: A resource for church leaders".
23. . (16 March 2021). ["Religious group warns against LGBT+ conversion therapy ban"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56420328). *BBC News*.
24. "About us".
25. "Both Lives Matter".
26. "Our written submission to the Northern Ireland Office".