Scottish Baptists are being encouraged to join a Call to Prayer issued by the leaders of all the main Christian denominations in Scotland, to pray for the Referendum on independence to take place on 18 September. Those signing the Call to Prayer include Alan Donaldson, General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland.

In their letter, under the heading ‘The Referendum and Scotland’s future', the leaders refer back to the Act of Union in 1707 which brought Scotland and England together as one nation. This is the text:

‘18th September 2014 is an historic day for Scotland. After a little more than 300 years since the Acts of Union in 1707 we will vote on whether to become an independent nation or remain part of the United Kingdom.

In the year leading up to the Union there was a call to pray and fast for the Queen (Queen Anne) and the two Governments (in Edinburgh and London) as they conducted negotiations on the details, with the following statement in mind, “That all may be done to the glory of God.....”

300 years ago the church gave spiritual leadership, without taking sides. Today, there is the same, if not a greater need for the church in Scotland to give such leadership once again. While the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns focus on the political, economic, social, educational and cultural issues, which are of course essential to the debate, as Christians we also care about Scotland’s moral and spiritual climate. We believe that God is the ultimate authority and we have a biblical responsibility to pray for our nation and its leaders at this crucial time.

Therefore, as Christian leaders we are asking the church in Scotland to join in praying about the Referendum and Scotland’s future. What kind of nation do we wish Scotland to be? History shows us over and over again that prayer changes things and that God responds to the prayers of His people.’

Tony Peck, EBF General Secretary who was himself raised in Scotland comments: ‘As the political campaign nears its end there are signs that the debate has become more bitter between the 'Yes' and 'No' camps, and of course the result could profoundly affect the whole of the United Kingdom. I would ask our European Baptist family to join this Call to Prayer, that whatever the result, there might afterwards be a coming together of the Scottish people as one and a healing of divisions. The Baptist Union of Scotland has always played a very active role in the EBF and we especially pray for our Baptist church members and leaders as they participate in this vote.’