Scottish pastor going to clubs with Gospel The Layman Online Friday, September 10, 1999 EDINBURGH, Scotland – JESUS would be more at home in a nightclub than a church, according to a Church of Scotland minister. According to The Daily Record, Peter Neilson believes that if the Son of God were alive today, he would be more likely to be found raving than enjoying traditional church services. The outspoken pastor of St Cuthbert's Parish Church in Edinburgh said Jesus would see the energetic and drug-fuelled atmosphere of clubs as the ideal place to meet people. Pastoral workers take to clubs Neilson was speaking as he launched a pioneering project to take Christianity into nightclubs. He has set up a team of pastoral workers to visit the capital's clubland and spread the word. He believes traditional churches have alienated younger people while clubs offer them a chance to explore their creativity. "Jesus went to places where he would meet people and this is why we should go down to the club level and meet people there," Neilson said. "Clubs are places of celebration and togetherness and in that sense are the churches of the new millennium. "Traditionally in Scotland God is seen as a judge who is against us rather than for us but the message in the gospels is God accepts everyone. This is in tune with the culture in clubs where people are made to feel at home." Support is cautious The Church of Scotland gave Peter's comments a cautious welcome. Anne Allan, convenor for the Board of Social Responsibilities for the Church of Scotland, said the church needed to find a way to reach more young people. She said: "The church must try to be in tune with the people in clubs and help them relate the gospel to where they are found."

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