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Faith and Nation: Report of a Commission of Inquiry to the UK Evangelical Alliance

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Faith and Nation: Report of a Commission of Inquiry to the UK Evangelical Alliance Faith and Nation: Report of a Commission of Inquiry to the UK Evangelical Alliance 1 CONTENTS FOREWORD 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 13 SCOPE AND PARAMETERS OF THE INQUIRY 17 1. PURPOSE, METHOD AND STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION 18 1.1 RATIONALE FOR THE COMMISSION 18 1.2 ‘FAITH AND NATION’ v ‘CHURCH AND NATION’ 18 1.2.1 Definition of Key Terms 19 1.2.1.1 State 19 1.2.1.2 Nation/National 19 1.2.1.3 Church 20 1.2.1.4 State, National and Established Church 20 1.2.1.5 Evangelical 20 1.3 KEY OBJECTIVES 21 1.3.1 Terms of Reference 21 1.3.2 Evangelical Ethos of the Commission 21 1.3.3 The Commission’s Relation to Wider Bodies and Networks 21 1.3.4 Evaluating and Investigating the Current Context 21 1.3.5 Shaping the Future 22 1.3.6 Upholding Religious Liberty 22 1.3.7 Informing Strategic Thinking of the Evangelical Alliance 23 1.3.8 Engaging with Relevant Theological Issues 23 1.3.9 Assessing Socio-Political Life in Britain 24 1.3.10 Tackling Relevant Constitutional Issues 24 1.4 CORE QUESTIONS 25 1.4.1 Theological 25 1.4.2 Socio-Political 25 1.4.3 Constitutional 25 1.5 COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION 26 1.5.1 Selection of Commission Members 26 1.5.2 Formation of Sub-Groups 26 1.5.2.1 Theological Sub-Group 26 1.5.2.2 Socio-Political Sub-Group 27 1.5.2.3 Constitutional Sub-Group 27 1.6 GATHERING AND RECEIPT OF SUBMISSIONS 27 1.6.1 Written Submissions 27 1.6.2 Oral Contributors 27 1.6.3 Plenary Sessions 28 1.6.4 Handling Diversity and Accord 28 2 2. FAITH AND NATION IN BRITAIN TODAY 29 2.1 KEY CULTURAL TRENDS 29 2.1.1 Pluralism and Globalisation 29 2.1.1.1 Meaning of Terms 29 2.1.1.2 Benefits of Pluralism 29 2.1.1.3 Reservations Concerning Pluralism 29 2.1.2 Relativism 30 2.1.2.1 Meaning of Relativism 30 2.1.2.2 Relativism in Relation to Pluralism 30 2.1.2.3 Effect on Government Policy 30 2.1.3 Secularism and Secularisation 31 2.1.3.1 Meaning of the Terms 31 2.1.3.2 Current Understanding 31 2.1.3.3 An Ambiguous Picture 31 2.1.3.4 Submissions to the Commission 32 2.1.3.5 Role of the Media 32 2.1.4 Individualism 32 2.1.4.1 Meaning of Individualism 32 2.1.4.2 Religious Roots of Individualism 33 2.1.4.3 Emergence of Contemporary Individualism 33 2.1.4.4 Implications for the Church 33 2.1.5 Privatisation of Religion 34 2.1.5.1 Religion: Private Option and Consumer Choice 34 2.1.5.2 Societal Indifference to Religion 34 2.1.5.3 Pastoral Ministry and Public Truth 34 2.1.5.4 Evangelical Contribution to Privatisation of Religion 35 2.1.5.5 Strategies for Reclaiming the Public Square 35 2.1.5.6 Unnecessary Fear of Coercion 35 2.1.6 Decline and Marginalisation of Religion 36 2.1.6.1 Decline in Religious Practice 36 2.1.6.2 Institutional Marginalisation of Religion 36 2.1.6.3 Growth of Spiritualities 36 2.1.6.4 The Death of Christian Britain? 37 2.1.7 Human Rights, Religious Liberties and the Law 37 2.1.7.1 Regulation of Human Rights and Religious Freedom 37 2.1.7.2 Judeo-Christian Tradition and Human Rights 38 2.1.7.3 Ascendancy of Human Rights Paradigm 38 2.1.8 Rising Profile of Other Faiths 39 2.1.9 Tolerance and Intolerance 39 2.1.10 Nationalism 40 2.1.11 Multiculturalism, Citizenship and ‘Britishness’ 41 2.2 CHURCH AND NATIONHOOD IN THE UK AND EUROPE TODAY 43 2.2.1 Introduction 43 2.2.2 Established Churches 43 2.2.3 Establishment, Disestablishment and the Churches 44 2.2.4 UK Context of Church Relations 45 2.2.5 The Church of England 46 2.2.6 The Church of Scotland 47 2.2.7 Formerly Established Anglican Churches: Ireland and Wales 48 2.2.8 The Free Churches in England, Scotland and Wales 49 3 2.2.9 The Roman Catholic Church in Britain and Ireland 51 2.2.10 Chaplaincies 52 2.2.11 Continental European Churches and Establishment 52 2.3 CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PRESENT AND PUTATIVE 53 2.3.1 Pressure for Reform 53 2.3.2 The House of Lords 55 2.3.3 The Judiciary 57 2.3.4 The Roles of the Sovereign 59 2.3.5 The Role of the Prime Minister 60 2.3.6 The European Constitution 61 2.3.7 Devolution - National and Regional 62 2.3.8 Education 64 3. RELIGION, NATION, STATE AND SOCIETY: PRECEDENTS AND PRESENT MODELS 66 3.1 ISRAEL, NATIONHOOD AND STATE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 66 3.2 CHURCH AND STATE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 66 3.3 THE POST-APOSTOLIC AGE 68 3.4 CONSTANTINE AND THE RISE OF CHRISTENDOM 68 3.5 MEDIEVAL MODELS EAST AND WEST 69 3.6 THE MAGISTERIAL REFORMATION 70 3.6.1 Luther 70 3.6.2 Calvin 70 3.6.3 Zwingli 70 3.7 THE RADICAL REFORMATION 71 3.7.1 Anabaptism 71 3.7.2 Quietism 71 3.8 THE EFFECT AND SUBSEQUENT MODIFICATION OF REFORMATION 72 INFLUENCE IN BRITISH CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 3.8.1 England 72 3.8.2 Scotland 74 3.8.3 Wales 75 3.8.4 Ireland 76 3.9 HISTORIC EVANGELICAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH 77 ‘FAITH & NATION’ ISSUES 3.9.1 Revival 77 3.9.2 19th century Social Reform 79 3.9.2.1 Anti-Slavery 79 3.9.2.2 Educational Reform 79 3.9.2.3 Employment Reform & Workplace Ministries 80 3.9.2.4 Poverty Relief 81 3.9.2.5 Role of the Evangelical Alliance 82 4 3.9.2.6 Kuyper & the Neo-Calvinist Worldview 83 3.10 A SUMMARY OF CURRENT 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY PUBLIC ISSUES 85 3.10.1 Introduction 85 3.10.2 Welfare State 86 3.10.3 Sexual Morality 87 3.10.4 Equal Opportunities 88 3.10.5 Discrimination 90 3.10.6 Sabbatarianism 90 3.10.7 Debt Relief 91 3.10.8 Blasphemy and Religious Liberty 91 3.10.9 Legal Regulation of Religious Liberty 92 3.11 APPROACHES OF OTHER MAJOR FAITHS 95 3.11.1 Introduction 95 3.11.2 Hinduism 96 3.11.3 Buddhism 97 3.11.4 Islam 98 3.11.5 Sikhism 99 4. MODELS FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 101 4.1 BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL MODELS 101 4.1.1 Divine Creation and Sovereignty 101 4.1.2 Trinity and Society 101 4.1.3 The Image of God in Humanity 104 4.1.4 Marriage and Family 104 4.1.5 State, Government and Nationhood 105 4.1.6 Jesus and the Kingdom of God 107 4.1.7 ‘The Powers’, Spiritual Warfare and Final Victory 110 4.2 PROMOTING THE ‘COMMON GOOD’ 113 4.2.1 Historical Developments 113 4.2.2 Society 115 4.2.3 Community 115 4.2.4 Moral Virtue 116 4.3 ROLE OF ‘FAITH’ IN BRITISH NATIONAL LIFE 116 4.3.1 Why ‘Faith’ is Necessary 116 4.3.2 A Nation Without Faith? 117 4.4 MISSION, CHURCH AND NATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY 118 4.4.1 Church and Mission 118 4.4.2 Mission and Evangelism 119 4.4.3 Strategic Mission and Evangelism 120 4.4.4 Prophetic and Pastoral Modes of Mission and Evangelism 120 4.4.5 Access for the gospel 121 4.5 CHRISTIANS AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 122 4.5.1 Avoiding Misunderstanding 126 4.5.2 Co-operation and Co-belligerence 126 5 4.6 PRIORITY OF MISSION: APOLOGETICS AND EVANGELISM 128 4.7 CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM 129 4.8 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS 130 4.8.1 Class Teaching and Curriculum 130 4.8.2 Assemblies 131 4.8.3 European Initiatives 131 4.8.4 Faith Based Schools 132 4.9 EVANGELICAL RESPONSES TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND TOLERATION 133 4.10 ROLE OF EVANGELICALS IN BRITISH NATIONAL LIFE 136 APPENDIX 1: MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY 141 APPENDIX 2: EVANGELICAL CHARACTERISTICS 143 APPENDIX 3: HUMAN RIGHTS: AN EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 145 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 INDEX OF SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED 153 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE COUNCIL 161 6 FOREWORD “From the very outset”, says Archbishop William Temple, “Christian faith has intimately affected social as well as personal conduct, and the main Christian tradition carries with it a massive body of social teaching”.1 This report is an attempt to recover and restate this perennial intimacy as it seeks to bring a Christian understanding and an evangelical commitment to tackling some of the social, cultural and political challenges of contemporary society. It also provides an opportunity and some tools (what follows is by no means exhaustive) to reengage the Church and Christian leaders in the big conversation about active citizenship and social responsibility as central to the mandate to be “salt and light” and stewards of God’s creation. Over the last five years, our global village has radically changed. September 11, 2001, and its aftermath altered our consciousness; it changed many of our ideas about “national security” and “international stability”. In light of this, the question often asked is whether faith is a friend or a foe in the public sphere.
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