Though of course I respect the democratic decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and have struggled to understand the deep impulses that have led some to want to leave, I am nevertheless profoundly shocked and dismayed by it. I believe our nation has taken a turn away from values of generosity, hospitality, interconnectedness, neighbourliness and solidarity towards the wider world. For me these are profoundly Gospel values and also at the heart of our Baptist identity. Their practice is of course not wholly dependent on our membership of the EU, but the way the Leave campaign was framed, and some of the falsehoods generated within it, suggest to me that these values may now and in the future be under threat. The challenge to our churches and individual Christian disciples in the UK is now to make them much more explicit in our witness, even forming communities of ‘holy resistance’ for the sake of God’s Kingdom when these values are undermined.

Some have asked me how this will affect the life of the European Baptist Federation. We simply do not know, though there may well be some consequences on our activities of such things as further restrictions on freedom of movement. But half the member Unions of the EBF are not from members countries of the EU at the present time, so we are not totally focused on the EU. However, up until now we have participated fully through our membership of the Conference of European Churches in providing a Christian voice in to the policies and activities of the European Union. This may not be so easy for UK churches in the future.

As the result of the Referendum became known I and some of my EBF colleagues were attending a Consultation on Refugees organised by the Institute of the Middle East Studies at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. The participants, that include many from the MENA region as well as partners from Canada, USA and Europe have quickly understood the momentous nature of the decision the UK has taken and its possible consequences for the focus of the Consultation, the refugee situation in Europe and the Middle East.

Two good Lebanese friends, Martin Accad and Elie Haddad, both prophetic voices concerning the situation in the Middle East, spoke and prayed into the situation shortly after the Referendum result was known. The participants from the United Kingdom felt a deep sense of support, love and solidarity in Christ by their words.

Martin, a noted Lebanese theologian, spoke of the significance of the decision, and said that there is a place at such times in our Christian journey for lament, based on the recognition that we are part of the societies we live in and that the world is interconnected. He recognized the implications on the conference theme: concerning our attitude to foreigners, strangers, migrants and refugees. He invited the conference to stand in solidarity with the UK participants and to acknowledge the seriousness of the decision. At the same time he stressed that this is an opportunity to reaffirm our trust in God's sovereignty, faithfulness, the persistence of His Kingdom, and His continued stubbornness to work through his Church.

The Prayer of Elie Haddad, Rector of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary:

‘We praise you and thank you Father for today and for the new mercies and blessings that we get to experience every day. You are a sovereign God and a holy God. You alone are worthy of our worship.

As we live in a troubled Middle East it's easy to forget that there is increasing volatility in many parts of the world. Today, Father, we want to pray for our British sisters and brothers. Serious political decisions, as yesterday's, can be very divisive. But despite these decisions, we pray that our British brothers and sisters can experience a renewed sense of trust and faith in You, the Sovereign. We pray that the future of Britain will not be shaped by fear, but by love and hospitality. That Britain continues to be welcoming of strangers.

We pray for the Church in Britain, as it continues to be pushed into the margins, we pray that the Church discovers a new prophetic voice from the margins, seeking to influence the British society with Kingdom values and with the power of the Gospel.

We pray for the impact of this decision on the rest of Europe. We pray for key leaders, such as those from the EBF who are among us. The European Baptist Federation impacts and influences thousands of churches across Europe and the Middle East. We pray that our churches will be bold in leading our communities in the areas of unity, peace, reconciliation, and hope.

Thank you, Father, that you are the source of our hope and our joy. It is only in You that we can find rest. We pray that your Spirit fills us today and every day so that we can live out our sent-ness despite any prevailing circumstances.’

I am privileged and proud to lead the network of Baptist churches that is the European Baptist Federation. We will continue to witness to the Christ who recognises no borders nor national identities, but continues to build his church across these, which we pray will continue to be characterised by a generous love, a living hope, and a deep joy in the Gospel.

Tony Peck
EBF General Secretary

24 June 2016