Call to Prayer: General Election 2024
![Houses of Parliament](https://churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/image/0016/123127/houses-of-parliament.jpg)
On behalf of the churches that we serve, we encourage Christians in Scotland to engage actively, constructively, and charitably in the democratic process of the General Election called for on Thursday 4 July 2024.
We recall, from the history of Scotland, the moment when King James VI was reminded that there are "two kingdoms": a temporal kingdom in which he was King and a spiritual kingdom in which Christ is King. We as Christians in Scotland belong to "two kingdoms" and as such are called to participate in the shared life of the society in which we live, to seek the common good and promote a social order in which all can live together in peace.
As those who seek to follow Christ, we are called to see the image and likeness of God in each person, especially when we disagree deeply on matters which affect our common life. In an age where there is the temptation to amplify sensationalism, stimulate knee-jerk reactions, and create echo chambers, it may be that our most important contribution to public life is to model "good disagreement" in which respect and love are evident.
In closing, whilst recognising that the timing of the election and the new requirements on Voter ID may pose particular challenges, we urge all to exercise the privilege of casting a vote and, beyond the election, to pray that God will give wisdom, courage and vision to those who will assume the responsibility of government on behalf of the whole country.
Call to Prayer: Sunday 30 June 2024
We pray:
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of heaven and earth
And of all things visible and invisible.
We turn to you in search of wisdom for our times
And the assurance that, in all things,
You remain sovereign and ruler over all.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You are sovereign and ruler over all
And so, in the discerning of who might best govern our nation,
We turn to you once more.
Grant to us, and to all who seek your will,
A desire to see good governance established
In the interests of all who inhabit these lands.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You are concerned for the interests of all
And you deny to no one the dignity and integrity
That belong to all who are made in your image.
Grant to us a concern for all who stand on the margins of society
And the courage to affirm their dignity and integrity
And so to stand in solidarity with them.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You stand in solidarity with us,
Even through Jesus Christ
Your Word made flesh who lived amongst us.
Grant to us the ongoing commitment to pray for, and to engage with,
Those who are elected to govern in our name
That we might see our society better reflect the Kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our pray.
Signed:
- Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
- Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
- Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
- Col. Sylvia Hinton, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
- Adwoa Burnley, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Rev. Colin Brown, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Callum Macleod, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
- Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
- Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland
- Rev. Ruairidh MacRae, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
- Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Rt Rev Kenneth Nowakowski, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London
- Rev Trevor Howard, Churches in Communities International