The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church has joined with other church leaders in Scotland to offer regular prayer during this general election period. A statement from the Church leaders encourages: “Christians in Scotland to engage actively, constructively, and charitably in the democratic process of the General Election called for 4th July 2024.”

The church leaders will offer prayer each week in the run up to polling day on 4 July.

They go on to say that: “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.”

We pray:

Gracious and merciful God,
Giver of life and creator of all that is:
We ask that you will hear us
As we pray for the life of our country at this time.
In all that we do, may we work for the good of our country
And of the Kingdom of your Son.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We are those who are made in your image
And we bear your image in common with all humanity.
You call us to reflect your image
And in the world in which we live:
May we treat each person with respect
And with the dignity that they are due.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

In your goodness and in your providence,
You seek to provide order and good governance in our world.
In our response, you call upon us to play our part
And to participate in our common life.
May we exercise our vote wisely
And do so having sought to listen to all who seek to govern on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious and merciful God,
We return to you with a renewed sense of our calling at this time:
The calling to pray for the life of our country
And to play our part in its common life.
Grant to us wisdom and insight that we might better play our part
And, in all that we do, to be shaped by the Kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Signed:
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
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
Col. Sylvia Hinton, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Burnley, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Dr Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rt. Rev. Kenneth Nowakowski, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London
Rev. Trevor Howard, Churches in Communities International