International Christian College are running what looks like an interesting series of evening discussions/classes in the run up to the General Election:
In the near future, probably May 2010, we are expecting a General Election across the United Kingdom. Over the last 2000 years the relationship between Christianity and political power has been constantly changing, whether it be a very close relationship such as that in the Post-Constantine Roman Empire or whether it be in the very complex relationship in the United States of America. One of our key questions as Christians at this time must be whether it is appropriate for us to be involved in the political process and if so, on what basis and over what issues.
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“I want to win this election but the reason you fight elections is not to change government; it is to change lives.” Douglas Alexander |
This 6 week series of evening classes is aimed at debating some of these issues from whether Christians should vote through to issues such as environmentalism, political parties or Scottish Nationalism. Whether you have a view or not on some of these issues, this will be an opportunity to explore the different avenues and prepare ourselves in advance of the media hype and the ballot papers.
The provisional programme is as follows:
| Week 1 | 15 February | Who Would Jesus Vote For? Alistair Stevenson (Public Policy Officer, Evangelical Alliance Scotland) & Graeme McMeekin |
| Week 2 | 22 February | Breaking up Britain: How to be a Christian Nationalist? Graeme Brooks (Director of Youth for Christ in Scotland and active member of the Scottish Conservative Party) & Doug Gay (Lecturer in Practical Theology, University of Glasgow and active member of the Scottish National Party) |
| Week 3 | 1 March | How Should/Can Christians Engage with Politics? Gordon Macdonald (Parliamentary Officer, CARE for Scotland) |
| Week 4 | 8 March | New Heaven and a New Earth – Why Care About the Environment? Chad Rimmer |
| Week 5 | 15 March | Are Christians Always Right(wing)? Councillor Ewan Aitken (subject to confirmation for that date) (Scottish Labour Party, Edinburgh City Council) & Councillor Jeremy Balfour (Scottish Conservative Party, Edinburgh City Council) |
| Week 6 | 22 March | Jesus Manifesto: Living Counter-Culturally Gordon Macdonald, Alistair Stevenson and Graeme McMeekin |
There is no obligation to come to every class (classes can be paid for on an individual basis). For further details contact Sandra McSporran (sandra [dot] mcsporran [at] icc [dot] ac [dot] uk).