The Origin of the Evangelical Alliance.
In the conflict between the Church of Scotland and the British state which ended with the famous disruption of 1843 many Evangelicals throughout the world, and particularly in England offered both moral and practical support. Interestingly, despite the Calvinist/Arminian differences, on the issues at stake the Wesleyan Methodists, showed the greatest understanding and the firmest support of Church of Scotland. Due to the coincidence of this with the tercentenary of the Westminster Assembly, and associated conferences and celebrations, there was considerable international fellowship at this time. In the months immediately after the Disruption a delegation of preachers from the Church of Scotland (Free), preached throughout England explaining the issues at stake and raising moneys.
This Disruption proved the catalyst for union, and out of the sweet fellowship that they experienced grew the desire for united action in defence of the Evangelical faith, which brought about the Liverpool meeting and eventually the formation of the Evangelical Alliance. During the formative Conference the proposed basis of union was carefully selected to knowingly, exclude for practical reasons, some brethren who were true Christians.
It was held that the coherence and effectiveness of the Alliance would be compromised by admitting those who had a defective Churchmanship - those who rejected an ordained ministry or the obligation of the sacraments.
At the last moment a further group were deliberately excluded. The error of annihilation, the denial of Eternal Punishment in Hell, was spreading, particularly in the USA, so an additional clause was added to exclude anyone who embraced it.
The original Evangelical Alliance was an international organization with the British part called the "British Organisation". The "British Organisation" was originally a democratic organisation based on personal membership with the country being divided into Divisions - Southern, South Western, Midland, Northern Western, Scottish, Irish, etc. These were subdivided with the subdivisions having committees arranging meetings in large towns..
The present Evangelical Alliance differs radically from the organisation founded 150 years ago. Today the personal members have no control, the control has strangely passed into the hands of a self appointed group. This group includes people and represents organisations which hold the very views the founders wanted to exclude from the organisation.
The original basis of Faith and objects given in the Free Church Magazine were:
I. That the parties composing the Alliance shall be such persons only as hold and maintain what are usually understood to be evangelical views in regard to the matters of doctrine under-stated, viz:-
1. The Divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures.
2. The right and duty of private judgement in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
3. The Unity of the Godhead, and the Trinity of persons therein.
4. The utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall.
5. The incarnation of the Son of God, his work of atonement for sinners of mankind, and his mediatorial intercession and reign.
6. The justification of the sinner by faith alone.
7. The work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion and sanctification of the sinner.
8. The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the judgement of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, with the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked.
9. The Divine institution of the Christian ministry, and the obligation and the perpetuity of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
It is, however, distinctly declared - First, That this brief summary is not to be regarded, in any formal or ecclesiastical sense, as a creed or confession, nor the adoption of it as involving an assumption of the right authoritatively to define the limits of Christian brotherhood, but simply as an indication of the class of persons whom it is desirable to embrace within the Alliance: Second, That the selection of certain tenets, with the omission of others, is not to be held as implying that the former constitute the whole body of important truth, or that the latter are unimportant.
That in the prosecution of the present attempt, it is distinctly declared, that no compromise of the views of any member, or sanction of those of others, on the points wherein they differ, is either required or expected; but that all are held as free as before to maintain and advocate their religious convictions with due forbearance and brotherly love.
That it is not contemplated that this Alliance should assume or aim at the character of a new ecclesiastical organization, claiming and exercising the functions of a Christian Church. Its simple and comprehensive object, it is strongly felt, may be successfully promoted without interfering with, or disturbing the order of, any branch of the Christian Church to which its members may respectively belong.
That while the formation of this Alliance is regarded as an important step towards the increase of Christian union, it is acknowledged as a duty incumbent on all its members carefully to abstain from pronouncing any uncharitable judgement upon those who do not feel themselves in a condition to give it their sanction.
That the members of this Alliance earnestly and affectionately recommend to each other in their own use of the press, carefully to abstain from and put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour and evil-speaking, with all malice; and in all things in which they may yet differ from each other, to be kind, tender-hearted, forbearing one another in love, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them; in everything seeking to be followers of God, as dear children, and to walk in love, as Christ also has loved them.
OBJECTS OF THE ALLIANCE.
I. That, inasmuch as this proposal for union originated, in a great degree, in the sense very generally entertained among Christians, of their grievous practical neglect of our Lord's "new commandment" to his disciples, to "love one another" - in which offence the members of the Alliance desire, with godly sorrow, to acknowledge their full participation - it ought to form one chief object of the Alliance to deepen in the minds of its own members, and through their influence, to extend among the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ generally, that conviceion of sin and shortcoming in this respect, which the blessed Spirit of God seems to be awakening throughout his Church; in order that humbling themselves more and more before the Lord, they may be stirred up to make full confession of their guilt at all suitable times, and to implore, through the merits and intercession of their merciful Head and Saviour, forgiveness of their past offences, and divine grace to lead them to the better cultivation of that brotherly affection which is enjoined upon all who loving the Lord Jesus Christ, are bound also to love one another for the truth's sake which dwelleth in them.
II. That the great object of the Evangelical Alliance be, to aid in manifesting, as far as practicable, the unity which exists amongst the true disciples of Christ; to promote their union by fraternal and devotional intercourse; to discourage all envying, strifes, and divisions; to impress upon Christians a deeper sense of the great duty of obeying our Lord's command, to "love one another;" and to seek the full accomplishment of his prayer, "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
III. That in furtherance of this object, the Alliance shall receive such information respecting the progress of vital religion in all parts of the world as Christian brethren may be disposed to communicate; and that a correspondence be opened and maintained with Christian brethren in different parts of the world, especially with those who may be engaged, amidst peculiar difficulties and opposition, in the cause of the Gospel, in order to afford them all suitable encouragement and sympathy, and to diffuse an interest in their welfare.
IV. That, in subserviency to the same great object, the Alliance will endeavour to exert a beneficial influence on the advancement of the Evangelical Protestantism, and on the counteraction of Infidelity, of Romanism, and of such other forms of superstition, error, and profaneness, as are most prominently opposed to it, especially the desecration of the Lord's day; it being understood that the different branches of the Alliance be left to adopt such methods of prosecuting these great ends as may to them appear most in accordance with their respective circumstances; all at the same time pursuing them in the spirit of tender compassion and love.
In promoting these, and similar objects, the Alliance contemplates chiefly the stimulating of Christians to such efforts as the exigencies of the case may demand, by publishing its views in regard to them, rather than accomplishing these views by any general organization of its own.
[The Free Church Magazine Volume III, September, 1846, p.273,274]