Baptist Union of Scotland

Baptist Union of Scotland

Logo of the Baptist Union of Scotland.

Logo of the Baptist Union of Scotland.
Classification Protestant
Orientation Baptist
Polity Congregationalist
Associations European Baptist Federation
Region Scotland
Origin 1869
Congregations 164 churches
Members 12,000 people
Official website http://www.scottishbaptist.org.uk/

The Baptist Union of Scotland is the main association 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 164 churches in the Union, with around 12,000 members (however, not every church that adopts the label 'Baptist' is part of the Baptist Union of Scotland).

The Baptist Union of Scotland is served by a national team comprising Rev Alan Donaldson (General Director), Rev Dr Jim Purves (Mission & Ministry Adviser), Rev Peter Dick (Finance Director), Dr Jacqueline Primrose (Convener), Rev John Greenshields (Now retired and succeeded by Rev Martin Hodson)(Ministry Development Co-ordinator), Rev Mo Gibbs (Youth Development Coordinator), and (in a joint post with BMS World Mission) Rev Judy White (Mission Development Coordinator)(Post currently vacant).

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.[1]

BUS maintains strong links with other Baptists in the British Isles, notably the Baptist Union of Great Britain (which despite the name is the association of Baptist churches in England and parts of Wales), the Baptist Union of Wales, the Irish Baptist Networks and BMS World Mission. Together, these five groups form the Fellowship of British Baptists. Additionally, BUS is in membership with the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance.

Beliefs

Unlike some other denominations the Baptist Union exercises no control over local churches (in fact, many Baptists would argue that "Baptist" is not a denomination at all, as that term implies central control and hierarchical leadership). Baptists lay stress on the responsibility of each local church to govern its own life and affairs, and as a result the practices and doctrines of one church can vary from those of another. All churches in the Union must accept the "Declaration of Principle of the Baptist Union of Scotland"[2] which is:

"The basis of the Union is:-

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. ↑ Baptist Union of Scotland Constitution
  2. ↑ Quoted here from Baptist Union of Scotland Year Book, 2008

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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