Scottish Presbyterian Churches and Humanitarianism in the Interwar Middle East

In this essay1 I seek to identify trends and patterns that offer us insights into ways of thinking about what the Scottish Presbyterian churches and their missionary organizations were doing in the European interwar period as they continued their long engagement in the Middle East, in particular focusing on Palestine. As they had been involved in the region since the 1840s,2 their presence meant they were reacting to changing circumstances, constantly in the process of seeking new ways to translate their understanding of Christianity in the region. This was not necessarily just about seeking new converts to Presbyterian Christianity, since although that would always be welcomed, their attempts to generate conversions were remarkably unsuccessful, as I have outlined elsewhere.3 Rather, over time they turned, as so many other Western church traditions did, into seeking to live a model or exemplary Christian life, as well as living out a civilizing mission that sought to modernize the world. Thiswas, after all, a theme in the 1910 EdinburghWorldMissionary Conference, demonstrated not least in the complex discussions around missionary-state relations.4 In reflecting on these contexts, it is important to be clear about the terms in use; all terminology is historically contingent, and so whilst contemporary scholars such asMichael Barnett define “humanitarianism” in ways that reflect