| Evangelical Alliance | |
| Type: | Evangelical Christian union |
| Founded Date: | August 1846 |
| Founders: | Edward Steane, John Henderson of Park, Ridley Haim Herschell and Sir Culling Eardley, 3rd Baronet |
| Headquarters: | London, |
| Location: | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| Origins: | London, United Kingdom |
| Area Served: | United Kingdom, worldwide |
| Focus: | Evangelical Christianity |
| Method: | Provides advocacy, advice and information |
| Num Employees: | 50 (approximately) |
| Num Members: | 3,300 churches, 700 organisations |
| Leader Title: | CEO |
| Leader Name: | Gavin Calver |
| Registration Id: | 212325 (England & Wales) SC040576 (Scotland) |
The Evangelical Alliance (EA) is a UK organisation of evangelical individuals, organisations, and churches, which is itself a member of the World Evangelical Alliance.[1] Founded in 1846, the Evangelical Alliance aims to promote evangelical Christian beliefs and advocate for evangelical Christians in politics and society.[2] The Evangelical Alliance is based in London, with offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Stockport.[3]
The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 by Ridley Haim Herschell,[4] Edward Steane, John Henderson and Sir Culling Eardley.[5] 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,[6] [7] who had been imprisoned for their Protestant faith.[8]
, the leadership of the Evangelical Alliance consisted of
Past leaders of the Evangelical Alliance include Clive Calver (1983–1997), Joel Edwards (1997–2009) and Steve Clifford (2009–2019).[11]
The Evangelical Alliance is a membership organisation whose members subscribe to its Basis of Faith[12] and are expected to relate to one another in accordance with its Relational Commitments.[13]
, its website listed over 650 organisations, over 2,300 churches, and two corporations as members.[14] 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;[15] 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);[16] and former Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce, a member of the Alliance.[17]
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.[18] [19] 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.[20] In a 2024 report on the results of surveys it conducted in Northern Ireland,[21] 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.
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."[22]
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,[23] which was formerly known as Both Lives Matter.[24] 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?".[25]