Earlier this morning, Sir Keir Starmer gave his emotional resignation speech. At any time, this is big news. A few hours later, a newly elected member of parliament, Andy Burnham, was sworn in. Normally a low-key event that rarely makes the news, but today this was part of the breathless news coverage, as “our Andy” is highly likely to become the new leader of the Labour party and therefore the new Prime Minister of the UK.
Anyone watching today from a distance would find the whole thing rather baffling.
Political drama has roared back into Westminster today. Within five hours, Keir Starmer resigned as Prime Minister, and Andy Burnham was sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield. The assumption of course, is that Burnham will take over as Prime Minister in the coming weeks.
There may yet be a leadership contest, but primary challenger Wes Streeting has said that he will support Burnham, so it looks more likely to be a coronation for the former Manchester Mayor and so-called King of the North.
Generation Z has access to more information about Christianity than any other generation.
In my experience, serving among students in México for more than 15 years, and then more widely in Latin America and beyond with IFES, I see less resistance to Christianity today than when I was in university more than 20 years ago.
The 2026 World Cup has already generated a mixture of excellence, shock and national joy as the world’s best teams compete for the greatest trophy of them all in the Americas.
As someone who resides north of the border, it was an unusual joy to witness Scotland’s first win on this stage since 1990, which brought scenes of celebration across the country and a peak audience of over two million, despite the game kicking off at two o'clock in the morning (BST).
Okay, I had to put the disclaimer because it's true – this article does contain spoilers. However, this film is seven years old. But even though that's the case, you may be in the same boat that I was a mere few months ago, having never seen any of the Avengers films; so there's your warning. Stop reading if you don't want spoilers.
Steven Jones was working at a university in Siberia when his zest for life fell off a cliff. Everything he used to love had lost its flavour and his motivation had evaporated. A colourless mood descended on him, lasting for months.
Steven’s an expert on the late Middle Ages (1100 AD to 1500 AD). Stuck in a Siberian university in the middle of winter, an ancient pastoral tool came to his rescue.
John Stott advocated “double listening” – that is, listening to the Word of God (to believe and obey it), and listening to the world around us (to understand and engage with it). He also insisted that evangelism and social engagement are both integral parts of the church’s holistic mission – like two blades of a pair of scissors or two wings of a bird.
The trouble is that some churches are good at one or the other but not both. Some preach and teach the Word, but avoid too much involvement in social issues. Others invest heavily in addressing the needs they see in the world around them, but are not known for evangelism or Biblical preaching.
Editor's note, added 19 June 2026: Andy Burnham has won the by-election in Makerfield. Earlier this week, we published a piece by James Mildred in which he reflected on Burnham's stance on key issues and what he's said about Christianity – as well as another potential candidate for PM, Wes Streeting.
It seems clear that if Andy Burnham wins the by-election in Makerfield on 18 June, he will challenge Keir Starmer to be Prime Minister.
We’ve been studying Romans 14 at church recently, and the teaching has covered "disputable matters" – issues where Christians, in good faith, may disagree.
Politics, preferred Bible translations, and permitted leisure activities on a Sunday are all examples of what might fall into this category nowadays. But one such "disputable matter" is rapidly moving up the agenda for many Christian families: just what should we do about smartphones and children in the church?
Some of my most precious times as a father are when I get to share cultural moments that shaped me, with my children – blasts from the past. For example, when the radio plays an Oasis song and, to my surprise, my teenagers sing along to every word with me.
In these moments of shared cultural experience, our generational divide vanishes. To them, the song is “retro” – to me it is “nostalgic”. But we are united in that moment.
Every World Cup produces moments that capture global attention; a dramatic goal, a surprise result or an unforgettable individual performance can become part of football history within moments.
Alongside the football itself, there are often visible expressions of Christian faith: a player kneels in prayer before kick-off; a goal-scorer points heavenwards; an interview concludes with thanks to God. Such moments regularly spark discussion, admiration and sometimes criticism.
We have all been deeply moved by the dreadful murder of student Henry Nowak in Southampton. His murderer, a British Sikh, was jailed last week. He and his brother had falsely claimed that Henry had racially abused him, and police bodycam footage shows Henry being handcuffed and disbelieved when he repeatedly cried out he had been stabbed and couldn’t breathe.
This is a horrific, awful event. There is no doubt that it was a shocking example of poor policing, and all of us who have watched the footage or read the details should absolutely be angry about it.
At a recent event, I was accosted by a younger Christian who spoke to me of the challenge of being an ethnic minority in her church.
In our conversation, she mentioned that recently she had had a conversation with a fellow church member who'd said to her something to the effect that "social justice" was a product of people with a lasting sense of victimhood, and that they were glad of more recent developments in politics and culture.
I am a horror fan – I will admit it. I know Christians have mixed views on horror, but there it is, my confession.
Recently, I saw the film Obsession; the story of a shy young man, Bear, who wishes that his attractive, outgoing friend, Nikki, will love him "more than anyone else in the world". In classic horror fashion, she then becomes obsessed with him and increasingly disturbing mayhem follows.
Who is the first person you always look for in a group photo? The answer, perhaps predictably, is yourself. But the more profound question is: Why do we always scramble to find out what we look like as if it were a secret that had been hidden from us all our lives?
The simple answer is that we do not know ourselves, and what we don't know, we don't entirely trust.
Living in Belfast, the cultural response to a Sudanese suspect who allegedly stabbed a white person in June’s evening daylight was predictable: streets, buses and houses were ablaze in full technicolour hatred in time for the ten o'clock news, the self-justified expression of pent-up aggression against migrants.
One Pastor in North Belfast, Jack McKee, made the local news for speaking out against the violence and standing up for his parishioners: “They’re good Christian people and they’re getting put out just because they’re black... I’m doing my best to help them, it’s as simple as that". [1]
“We surpass the furthest distance humans have ever travelled from planet Earth. We do so in honouring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. To the next generation, make sure this record is not long-lived.”
Those were the words of one of the Artemis astronauts upon returning to Earth, having broken the Apollo 13 record.
“People just aren’t interested in the gospel.” It’s a familiar refrain, often voiced with a weary sigh in church coffee queues and leaders’ meetings alike.
In what feels like an increasingly secular society, it can seem as though faith has slipped firmly to the margins. But is that really the case?
Christian churches, organisations, and charities are entrusted with managing resources – donations, grants, and assets – to fulfil their missions. This stewardship now extends to the digital realm.
As financial operations increasingly rely on technology, cybersecurity is no longer only an IT issue but a fundamental aspect of financial integrity and missional continuity. For finance teams and treasurers, safeguarding digital assets is as crucial as maintaining physical security.
This article is a "part two" to the piece of the same title (enonline, 13 Sept. 2025) and has been written after comments on the initial article led its writer, Neil, to do some more thinking about Adam and Eve. Read that first articlehere.
"Misunderstand not sickness, as if it were a greater evil than it is; but observe how great a mercy it is…Our sickness and death are sent by the same love that sent us a Saviour, and sent us the powerful preachers of his word, and sent us his Spirit, and secretly and sweetly changed our hearts, and knit them to himself in love; which gave us a life of precious mercies for our souls and bodies, and has promised to give us life eternal; and shall we think, that he now intends us any harm? Cannot he turn this also to our good, as he has done many an affliction which we have complained about?"
Comment
Political turbulence... How do we respond?
Earlier this morning, Sir Keir Starmer gave his emotional resignation speech. At any time, this is big news. A few hours later, a newly elected member of parliament, Andy Burnham, was sworn in. Normally a low-key event that rarely makes the news, but today this was part of the breathless news coverage, as “our Andy” is highly likely to become the new leader of the Labour party and therefore the new Prime Minister of the UK.
Anyone watching today from a distance would find the whole thing rather baffling.
Another PM resigns – how did we get here?
Political drama has roared back into Westminster today. Within five hours, Keir Starmer resigned as Prime Minister, and Andy Burnham was sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield. The assumption of course, is that Burnham will take over as Prime Minister in the coming weeks.
There may yet be a leadership contest, but primary challenger Wes Streeting has said that he will support Burnham, so it looks more likely to be a coronation for the former Manchester Mayor and so-called King of the North.
Gen Z: From information to encounter
Generation Z has access to more information about Christianity than any other generation.
In my experience, serving among students in México for more than 15 years, and then more widely in Latin America and beyond with IFES, I see less resistance to Christianity today than when I was in university more than 20 years ago.
Harmony, disunity, the World Cup & eternity
The 2026 World Cup has already generated a mixture of excellence, shock and national joy as the world’s best teams compete for the greatest trophy of them all in the Americas.
As someone who resides north of the border, it was an unusual joy to witness Scotland’s first win on this stage since 1990, which brought scenes of celebration across the country and a peak audience of over two million, despite the game kicking off at two o'clock in the morning (BST).
Why are we drawn to stories of self-sacrifice?
This article contains spoilers!
Okay, I had to put the disclaimer because it's true – this article does contain spoilers. However, this film is seven years old. But even though that's the case, you may be in the same boat that I was a mere few months ago, having never seen any of the Avengers films; so there's your warning. Stop reading if you don't want spoilers.
The Seven Deadly Sins: What, when and why?
Steven Jones was working at a university in Siberia when his zest for life fell off a cliff. Everything he used to love had lost its flavour and his motivation had evaporated. A colourless mood descended on him, lasting for months.
Steven’s an expert on the late Middle Ages (1100 AD to 1500 AD). Stuck in a Siberian university in the middle of winter, an ancient pastoral tool came to his rescue.
Why evangelism and social engagement go together
John Stott advocated “double listening” – that is, listening to the Word of God (to believe and obey it), and listening to the world around us (to understand and engage with it). He also insisted that evangelism and social engagement are both integral parts of the church’s holistic mission – like two blades of a pair of scissors or two wings of a bird.
The trouble is that some churches are good at one or the other but not both. Some preach and teach the Word, but avoid too much involvement in social issues. Others invest heavily in addressing the needs they see in the world around them, but are not known for evangelism or Biblical preaching.
Our next PM? Burnham, Streeting & faith
Editor's note, added 19 June 2026: Andy Burnham has won the by-election in Makerfield. Earlier this week, we published a piece by James Mildred in which he reflected on Burnham's stance on key issues and what he's said about Christianity – as well as another potential candidate for PM, Wes Streeting.
It seems clear that if Andy Burnham wins the by-election in Makerfield on 18 June, he will challenge Keir Starmer to be Prime Minister.
When the phone comes to church
We’ve been studying Romans 14 at church recently, and the teaching has covered "disputable matters" – issues where Christians, in good faith, may disagree.
Politics, preferred Bible translations, and permitted leisure activities on a Sunday are all examples of what might fall into this category nowadays. But one such "disputable matter" is rapidly moving up the agenda for many Christian families: just what should we do about smartphones and children in the church?
Is Artificial Intelligence a 'resounding gong'?
Some of my most precious times as a father are when I get to share cultural moments that shaped me, with my children – blasts from the past. For example, when the radio plays an Oasis song and, to my surprise, my teenagers sing along to every word with me.
In these moments of shared cultural experience, our generational divide vanishes. To them, the song is “retro” – to me it is “nostalgic”. But we are united in that moment.
Professional footballers need the church, too
Every World Cup produces moments that capture global attention; a dramatic goal, a surprise result or an unforgettable individual performance can become part of football history within moments.
Alongside the football itself, there are often visible expressions of Christian faith: a player kneels in prayer before kick-off; a goal-scorer points heavenwards; an interview concludes with thanks to God. Such moments regularly spark discussion, admiration and sometimes criticism.
Instead of politicising Henry Nowak's death ...
We have all been deeply moved by the dreadful murder of student Henry Nowak in Southampton. His murderer, a British Sikh, was jailed last week. He and his brother had falsely claimed that Henry had racially abused him, and police bodycam footage shows Henry being handcuffed and disbelieved when he repeatedly cried out he had been stabbed and couldn’t breathe.
This is a horrific, awful event. There is no doubt that it was a shocking example of poor policing, and all of us who have watched the footage or read the details should absolutely be angry about it.
Social justice, political differences & the church
At a recent event, I was accosted by a younger Christian who spoke to me of the challenge of being an ethnic minority in her church.
In our conversation, she mentioned that recently she had had a conversation with a fellow church member who'd said to her something to the effect that "social justice" was a product of people with a lasting sense of victimhood, and that they were glad of more recent developments in politics and culture.
Do you see others as a means for your own gain?
I am a horror fan – I will admit it. I know Christians have mixed views on horror, but there it is, my confession.
Recently, I saw the film Obsession; the story of a shy young man, Bear, who wishes that his attractive, outgoing friend, Nikki, will love him "more than anyone else in the world". In classic horror fashion, she then becomes obsessed with him and increasingly disturbing mayhem follows.
Leader, how strong is your emotional immune system?
Who is the first person you always look for in a group photo? The answer, perhaps predictably, is yourself. But the more profound question is: Why do we always scramble to find out what we look like as if it were a secret that had been hidden from us all our lives?
The simple answer is that we do not know ourselves, and what we don't know, we don't entirely trust.
What is needed in Northern Ireland now?
Living in Belfast, the cultural response to a Sudanese suspect who allegedly stabbed a white person in June’s evening daylight was predictable: streets, buses and houses were ablaze in full technicolour hatred in time for the ten o'clock news, the self-justified expression of pent-up aggression against migrants.
One Pastor in North Belfast, Jack McKee, made the local news for speaking out against the violence and standing up for his parishioners: “They’re good Christian people and they’re getting put out just because they’re black... I’m doing my best to help them, it’s as simple as that". [1]
A plea to the next generation: Trust the Lord
“We surpass the furthest distance humans have ever travelled from planet Earth. We do so in honouring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. To the next generation, make sure this record is not long-lived.”
Those were the words of one of the Artemis astronauts upon returning to Earth, having broken the Apollo 13 record.
Are people more spiritually open than we think?
“People just aren’t interested in the gospel.” It’s a familiar refrain, often voiced with a weary sigh in church coffee queues and leaders’ meetings alike.
In what feels like an increasingly secular society, it can seem as though faith has slipped firmly to the margins. But is that really the case?
Are Christian charities more at risk of hacking?
Christian churches, organisations, and charities are entrusted with managing resources – donations, grants, and assets – to fulfil their missions. This stewardship now extends to the digital realm.
As financial operations increasingly rely on technology, cybersecurity is no longer only an IT issue but a fundamental aspect of financial integrity and missional continuity. For finance teams and treasurers, safeguarding digital assets is as crucial as maintaining physical security.
The comforting doctrine of the necessity of affliction — part two
This article is a "part two" to the piece of the same title (en online, 13 Sept. 2025) and has been written after comments on the initial article led its writer, Neil, to do some more thinking about Adam and Eve. Read that first article here.
"Misunderstand not sickness, as if it were a greater evil than it is; but observe how great a mercy it is…Our sickness and death are sent by the same love that sent us a Saviour, and sent us the powerful preachers of his word, and sent us his Spirit, and secretly and sweetly changed our hearts, and knit them to himself in love; which gave us a life of precious mercies for our souls and bodies, and has promised to give us life eternal; and shall we think, that he now intends us any harm? Cannot he turn this also to our good, as he has done many an affliction which we have complained about?"