Prayers for the Election

Invitation to a Scottish Church Leaders' Forum season of prayer

The Scottish Church Leaders' Forum brings together leaders from a wide range of Christian denominations in Scotland, including historic churches and newer communities such as Orthodox, global majority and Pentecostal traditions.

Together, we share concerns for the life of our nation and our worshipping communities. We engage with public life at Holyrood and Westminster, and support initiatives that express unity across the Church in Scotland.

The Forum invites individuals and congregations across Scotland to take part in a season of prayer beginning on Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday in the Western tradition) and running until Sunday 3 May, the Sunday before the Scottish Parliamentary election.

The mace, which sits in the Parliament's chamber whenever Parliament is in session, is engraved with the words: integrity, compassion, justice and wisdom. These values reflect those of our nation and are also deeply rooted in the Christian faith. We commend them as a framework for reflection in the lead-up to the election and offer these prayers for individual or shared use.

Signed by:

  • Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
  • Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
  • Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, on behalf of the College of Bishops
  • Rev Martin Keane, Moderator of the General Assembly, United Free Church of Scotland
  • Rev Alasdair Macleod, Moderator of the General Assembly, Free Church of Scotland
  • Rev Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator of the Synod of Scotland, United Reformed Church
  • Rev Mark Slaney, Chair of the Methodist Church in Scotland (Scotland District and Shetland District)
  • Adwoa Burnley, Clerk, Quakers in Scotland (Religious Society of Friends)
  • Major David Burns, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
  • Rev Alister Weighton, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
  • Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
  • Rt Rev Kenneth Nowakowski, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Ukrainian Catholic Church

Prayers for the election

Jump to a prayer:

Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.' John 10.10 (NRSV)

The members of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum send greetings to all Christian communities throughout Scotland this Eastertide; the season of new life and hope which emerges from the devastation of death, distrust and division at Golgotha.

We come from a range of Christian traditions and we each have our perspectives on important matters of doctrine and practice within our Churches, and yet it remains important for us to meet and talk and share our work with one another, as we all follow the same Lord, whose prayer was that his followers may be as one.

We recognise that in many communities today people struggle to hope or find it difficult to be joyful. Many worry about the daily struggle against poverty, we witness a polarisation in public life, we experience fears for the future in relation to the welfare of our children and the planet, we are alarmed by the increase of conflict between nations and its many impacts across the global community. We understand that there are places which feel forgotten, and voices which are ignored by those with the power to make changes.

We acknowledge that there are those who seek to use Christ's name and the symbols of the Church to promote a particular political and cultural worldview. Many Christians are frightened by what this means. We say that racism is a sin. We say that bringing hope and joy is done through our words and deeds of generosity, compassion, kindness and faith. When we open our hearts and our lives to let Christ in, fear and hurt are banished.

This Eastertide we celebrate again the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we are reconciled to God. This Eastertide we are invited to receive the gift of abundant life which Jesus offers to all who come to him. As those who have chosen to follow Christ, we have the calling to share the possibility of abundant life with others though our words and actions, which embody Jesus' commandment to love God and our neighbour.

Next month our nation will go to the polls to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament. We encourage all within our communities, who are eligible, to particate in the election. The mace which sits in the Parliament's chamber whenever Parliament is in session is engraved with the words: Integrity, Compassion, Justice and Wisdom. These values reflect the values of our nation. The values are deeply embedded in our Christian faith and we commend them as a framework for discernment in the lead up to the election. Over the next four Sundays different members of the Forum will offer prayers for use in our churches reflecting one of those themes.

Integrity, Compassion, Justice and Wisdom are Scotland's 4 Words of Hope. We see them embodied in the life of our Risen Lord. We aspire to live them as disciples today and we commend them to those who seek to serve Scotland as her parliamentarians. By bringing these values to the heart of our public discourse we can rebuild trust in our public institutions and reignite the new life and hope which so many people struggle to find.

Risen Lord Jesus,
through your resurrection we see the fullness of life, the audacity of hope
and we experience the love of God who reconciles the world to the heart of the divine.
May we who seek to follow you
be bearers of hope in a world where many fear,
and bringers of light where many walk in darkness,
May integrity, compassion, justice and wisdom shape our living
that through us others may come to know your gift of abundant life for all.

Prepared on behalf of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum by the Rev Lindsey Sanderson, Convener of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum and Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church.

Integrity – Sunday 12 April 2026

Living Lord Jesus, whether it is your teaching about our words, ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no, no' (Matthew 5v37), or teaching us about our actions, ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with much' (Luke 16:10) we learn that integrity matters to you.

Despite your words being twisted and your actions misunderstood, you lived the perfect life of integrity, practising what you preach – even praying at the start of your crucifixion, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do'.

Sovereign Lord Jesus, your word teaches us that you ‘test the heart and are pleased with integrity' (1 Chron 29v17).

We long to be people of integrity, and we long to be ruled by people of integrity.

We are reminded ‘whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out' (Proverbs 10:9).

As we face another election and look for candidates of evident integrity to vote for, may your Holy Spirit shape us to be people of integrity.

We pray in Jesus' precious name
Amen

Prepared on behalf of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum by the Rev Alasdair M. MacLeod, Moderator of the 2025 General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland

Compassion – Sunday 19 April 2026

May we bear witness to the humanity of all people
recognising that of God in everyone.

As we share responsibility as citizens for the conduct of local and national affairs
may we uphold with compassion our representatives working on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

May we bring compassion and patience to our listening
so we may hear the truth that the opinions of others may contain for us.

May we bring compassion to our speaking
so we may avoid hurtful criticism and provocative language.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

May we bring compassion to our understanding
so that we may sense what has nourished the lives of others.

May we show compassion in all things
and not allow the strength of our convictions betray us into making statements or allegations that are untrue.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Jesus identified with the poor and the oppressed
He showed compassion to the social outcasts.
Let us be patterns and examples showing the love of God in our conduct and behaviour.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Prepared on behalf of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum by Susan Mitchell, Quaker Representative.

Justice – Sunday 26 April 2026

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.

Heavenly Father we are called to bring help into a world where too many find themselves excluded by the injustices of society.

We pray for those who feel called to serve their communities in political life, may we hear the call of generosity, care and love for all. May we discover a way of governing that brings healing and unity to the people, a parliament that argues - how much more can we offer rather than how much less do they need.

We live in a world of conflict, help us all to be people of peace, offering the hand of friendship rather than the snarl of aggression. Communities need to hear words of unity not division, words of welcome not banners of hate.

Justice means putting aside our fears and sharing our hopes with others. May we become a people for whom justice and peace are the loudest call from places of worship, council chamber and parliament.

Heavenly Father look down with love upon your people and grant us all justice, peace and harmony.
Amen

Prepared on behalf of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum by the Rt Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

Wisdom – Sunday 3 May 2026

‘So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.' 1 Kings 3v.9

We pray to God asking for wisdom in those who would lead us and discernment in administering justice. May we be wise and discerning in our voting that the values of the Kingdom of God might shape our communal life.

‘Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech.' (Proverbs 1v.20-21)

We pray for wisdom in public discourse and opportunity for diversity of voices to be heard.

With wisdom may we sift all that is spoken and recognise what is true and good.

‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice will be like a wise person who built his house on the rock.' (Matthew 7v.24)

We pray for solid foundations underpinning political life, policy and practice. May the values of wisdom, justice, compassion, and integrity be the building blocks of national decision making.

‘Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.' (James 3v.13)

We pray for good conduct in public office rooted in respect, equality, service and inclusion. May being in right relationship be as important as being right and speech be honoring and truthful.

O wise and faithful God, to whom we offer our worship and our work, hear our prayer for the sake of this nation we ask.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Prepared on behalf of the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum by the Revd Mark Slaney, Chair Scotland District & Shetland District – The Methodist Church