Baptist Union of Scotland

Baptist Union of Scotland
Logo of the Baptist Union of Scotland.
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Baptist
Polity	Congregationalist
Associations	European Baptist Federation
Geographical areas	Scotland
Origin	The Baptist Union of Scotland was founded in 1869.
Congregations	172 churches
Members	14,000 people
Official website	http://www.scottishbaptist.org.uk/

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The Baptist Union of Scotland is the main denomination of Baptist churches in Scotland.

History

From the 1650s to 1869

Baptists first arrived in Scotland with the armies of English republican Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s, who established small churches in Leith, Perth, Cupar, Ayr and Aberdeen, but they did not survive for long, partly because of their association with Cromwell (who was generally not welcomed in Scotland), but more especially as a result of strident and often violent opposition instigated and inspired by the Church of Scotland and the Parliament of Scotland which it controlled. Baptists later emerged in the 18th century—in 1750 at Keiss, where the leader was William Sinclair and the church was established on the English Baptist pattern. The group who in Edinburgh came to Baptist convictions in 1765 under the leadership of Robert Carmichael and Archibald McLean became known as Scotch Baptists. Like other Scottish Protestant Christians of the time they were very conservative and adopted the opinions of a particularly strict form of Calvinism. Somewhat later, a different form of Baptist witness emerged, this time influenced by the Haldane brothers, James Haldane and Robert Haldane evangelical preachers who came to Baptist convictions around 1808. Along with the English Baptists, they were distinguished from the Scotch Baptists by their more moderate and less Calvinistic attitudes. After overcoming initial hostilities, all these groups were able to unite in 1869.

1869 to the present day

The Baptist Union of Scotland was founded in 1869 with 51 churches in its membership, which represented almost 4000 members. There are currently 172 churches in the Union, with around 14,000 members (however, not every church that adopts the label 'Baptist' is part of the Baptist Union of Scotland). The Baptist Union of Scotland is headed by an executive core team ('the Core Leaders') comprising Rev Alan Donaldson, Rev Andrew Rollinson, and Rev Andrew Scarcliffe, together with an honorary treasurer and Dr Jacqueline Primrose. Rev John Greenshields is the only other full-time officer. These leaders are responsible for the development of strategic initiatives and oversee the work of the Ministry and Mission Resource teams, as well as providing administrative support to local churches. The Union's main function is to service the churches, and to examine and accredit its own ministers. The ultimate decision making body within the Union is the annual Assembly attended by delegates from each of the member churches. In between Assemblies a Council exists to ratify decisions and generally be available for consultation from the Core Leaders.^{[clarification needed]}

Beliefs

Unlike some other denominations the Baptist Union exercises no control over local churches. Baptists lay stress on the responsibility of each local church to govern its own life and affairs and as a result the beliefs of one church can be very different from those of another. All churches in the Union must accept the "Declaration of Principle of the Baptist Union of Scotland"^[1] which is:

"The basis of the Union is:-

a) That the Lord Jesus Christ our God and Saviour is the sole and absolute Authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws.

b) That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins according to the Scriptures; was buried and rose again the third day.

c) That it is the duty of every disciple to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation of the world."

Footnotes

1. ^ Quoted here from Baptist Union of Scotland Year Book, 2008

See also

• Religion in Scotland

References

• Wardin, Albert W., ed. (1995) Baptists Around the World: a comprehensive handbook. Nashville, Tenn: Broadman & Holman ISBN 0805410767
• McBeth, H. Leon (1987) The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness. Nashville, Tenn: Broadman Press
• Murray, Derek Boyd (1969) The First Hundred Years: the Baptist Union of Scotland. Glasgow: Baptist Union of Scotland
• Bebbington, David W., ed. (1988) The Baptists in Scotland: a History. Glasgow: Baptist Union of Scotland

Further reading

• McBeth, H. Leon (1990) A Sourcebook for Baptist Heritage. Nashville, Tenn: Broadman Press

External links

• Baptist Union of Scotland - official Web Site
• Scottish Baptist College - official Web Site