James Burnett is the Principal and CEO of Belfast School of Theology (BST). Married to Hazel, James is also an amateur sailor, triathlete (see photo) and open-water swimmer.
What now for UK politics? Last week’s elections were really bad for Labour. The party lost its century-long dominance in Wales, and tied for second place with Reform in Scotland. In England it lost control of 37 English local councils and almost 1,500 councillors.
People voted on local factors but also gave their verdict on the Westminster government. Many are disappointed and angry at Labour’s performance since the 2024 general election. Many of his own MPs blame Keir Starmer personally, and the wagons circling the Prime Minister have been closing in. Wes Streeting has resigned; another Labour MP, Josh Simons, is standing down to spark a by-election in an attempt to help Andy Burnham back into the Commons; a leadership contest may well follow.
It was Lord David Alton, a committed Catholic Peer and pro-life legend, who described what he called a "mutant liberalism" as a massive problem in politics today.
It is a creed and ideology that, on the one hand, professes to believe in freedom of thought and action. But in reality, it all too quickly cancels you if you dare stray from its approved beliefs.
What does it mean to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2026?
At the time of writing, that post is still held by Sir Keir Starmer. For how much longer remains to be seen. If he resigns any time soon, his successor will be the United Kingdom’s seventh premier in just ten years.
If you had to finish this sentence: “I find myself erupting into praise when…” I wonder what you’d say. Possible answers might include: “I see a glorious sunset”, “I hold a newborn baby”, “I read an inspirational passage of Scripture” or, in my case, “Reading FC finally gain promotion back to the Championship”. Yes, I know, I’m shallow.
However, it’s less probable that you’d respond: “When I realise the enormity and extent of my miserable sinful state and sordid past”, but that’s what catapults Paul into his outburst of worship in the opening chapter of his first letter to his spiritual son, Timothy. Paul provides a comprehensive but not exhaustive list of his past failings in verse 13, cataloguing blasphemy, violence and the persecuting of others among his transgressions, leading him to conclude that he viewed himself as the “worst of sinners”.
The mass, inward, multinational migration experienced in the UK today is not a novel phenomenon.
Four hundred years ago, the Reformation caused large-scale, trans-European migration. The Calvinist Dutch Republic became an ark for refugees from all over the continent.
In recent months, I’ve noticed something shifting. Church leaders across the UK tell me that political conversations are becoming more contested, pastoral pressures are continuing to grow, and more people are turning up at church. This doesn’t feel like a passing phase, but part of something bigger.
Some have described the larger cultural moment as a "polycrisis" – not one crisis, but many, colliding at the same time. War in Ukraine and the Middle East; persistent cost of living pressures; a political landscape fracturing in ways that feel genuinely new; and artificial intelligence arriving faster than most of us can process, raising real questions about work, identity and what it means to be human.
We live in days when much of the news seems to be dominated by “big men” – men of power, men with egos, men with weapons; men who strut around the world stage, seeking to impose their will on others. It is not necessary to name any names – we all know who they are.
It is therefore heartening to be reminded of other people – ordinary men, ordinary women – who, unlike those “big men”, live lives that reflect the character and faithfulness of Christ.
"Egalitarian" and "complementarian" are broad categories. However, they do sum up a primary distinction between those who believe that leading and preaching in the church can be a role for either men or women (egalitarian) or those who, like us (Fran Kirby and Graham Nicholls), believe that the church should reflect the household by reserving particular leadership roles for men (complementarian).
We have noticed recently that some complementarians have a tendency to downplay their position – either that or they are inclined to apologise for it, to over-compensate for it, or to try and work around it by creating ministry titles and roles.
Millions of voters are going to the polls to pick their representatives in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, and in a third of English local councils' seats, including all of London.
Reform and the Greens (and, I might say, hopefully, the Lib Dems!) are expected to pick up lots of council seats, whilst the still-unpopular Conservatives are bracing for losses.
It is striking that the current war in the Middle East is having such a major and immediate impact on people’s lives here in the UK – on your life and mine. I am talking here especially about the economic impact.
It was on 28 February this year that the USA and Israel began a series of military strikes against Iran. Less than three weeks later, the average price of petrol in the UK had already risen by 10p per litre – and diesel prices were up by 20p per litre.
In the past month, I found myself ricocheting between two conflicting visions of virtue.
On the one hand, Malcolm Guite’s astonishing and luminous poem Galahad and the Grail (2026), which takes us into the heart of the Arthurian quest for life at its fullest and purest. ["Arthurian" refers to anything connected to the legends of King Arthur.]
The Bible, at times, makes for very uncomfortable reading.
Consider these opening verses of 1 Kings 11: “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, ‘You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love … So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David His father had done.”
The rapid pace of change has taken even the most experienced social commentators by surprise.
The dismantling of the "rules-based order" (the idea that international relations follow agreed norms and rules) by many on the world stage means rapid change is afoot – and we’re not just looking at the current suspects. See what happened in smaller nations such as Myanmar in 2021 with the coup d'état, where the military seized power, disregarding democratic norms and international expectations.
The last few years have seen many of Britain’s Bible colleges – from specialist schools like the Nexus Institute of Creative Arts to historic Church of England institutions like St. John’s College – shut their doors for good, with the latest and arguably biggest to fall being Spurgeon’s College last July.
And those which are still accepting students at the time of writing continue to record a progressively widening gap between income and expenditure in their reports filed with the Charity Commission.
What do you think is the opposite of a "control freak"?
I found that question difficult to answer, so I put it into You-Know-What and it came up with lots of suggestions, including "pushover", "soft touch" and "doormat".
Like so many others, I felt disappointed when the findings of the “Quiet Revival” research (commissioned by the Bible Society) were declared as unreliable due to errors made by YouGov who were carrying out the research. The report has been taken down, and many are now understandably questioning what is going on spiritually in the UK? Have we been misunderstanding the moment we are living in?
The Quiet Revival is no more; YouGov has retracted its conclusions, and the data has been debunked [see en explainer here]. A full apology was sent to the Bible Society.
Owing to the blessing we have received in recent years at Noddfa Church in the Welsh valleys, I have had the opportunity to speak and comment on several podcasts, media outlets and at many conferences about this alleged phenomenon.
Comment
‘A sense of His presence’ - ten questions with James Burnett
James Burnett is the Principal and CEO of Belfast School of Theology (BST). Married to Hazel, James is also an amateur sailor, triathlete (see photo) and open-water swimmer.
1. How did you become a Christian?
Westminster tumult: An evangelical response
What now for UK politics? Last week’s elections were really bad for Labour. The party lost its century-long dominance in Wales, and tied for second place with Reform in Scotland. In England it lost control of 37 English local councils and almost 1,500 councillors.
People voted on local factors but also gave their verdict on the Westminster government. Many are disappointed and angry at Labour’s performance since the 2024 general election. Many of his own MPs blame Keir Starmer personally, and the wagons circling the Prime Minister have been closing in. Wes Streeting has resigned; another Labour MP, Josh Simons, is standing down to spark a by-election in an attempt to help Andy Burnham back into the Commons; a leadership contest may well follow.
The case of David Campanale: 'Neither liberal nor democratic'
It was Lord David Alton, a committed Catholic Peer and pro-life legend, who described what he called a "mutant liberalism" as a massive problem in politics today.
It is a creed and ideology that, on the one hand, professes to believe in freedom of thought and action. But in reality, it all too quickly cancels you if you dare stray from its approved beliefs.
Is this the biggest challenge for any Prime Minister?
What does it mean to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2026?
At the time of writing, that post is still held by Sir Keir Starmer. For how much longer remains to be seen. If he resigns any time soon, his successor will be the United Kingdom’s seventh premier in just ten years.
What makes you erupt in praise?
If you had to finish this sentence: “I find myself erupting into praise when…” I wonder what you’d say. Possible answers might include: “I see a glorious sunset”, “I hold a newborn baby”, “I read an inspirational passage of Scripture” or, in my case, “Reading FC finally gain promotion back to the Championship”. Yes, I know, I’m shallow.
However, it’s less probable that you’d respond: “When I realise the enormity and extent of my miserable sinful state and sordid past”, but that’s what catapults Paul into his outburst of worship in the opening chapter of his first letter to his spiritual son, Timothy. Paul provides a comprehensive but not exhaustive list of his past failings in verse 13, cataloguing blasphemy, violence and the persecuting of others among his transgressions, leading him to conclude that he viewed himself as the “worst of sinners”.
Historical lessons for exiled evangelicals
The mass, inward, multinational migration experienced in the UK today is not a novel phenomenon.
Four hundred years ago, the Reformation caused large-scale, trans-European migration. The Calvinist Dutch Republic became an ark for refugees from all over the continent.
The UK's 'spiritual openness' is both an opportunity and a challenge
In recent months, I’ve noticed something shifting. Church leaders across the UK tell me that political conversations are becoming more contested, pastoral pressures are continuing to grow, and more people are turning up at church. This doesn’t feel like a passing phase, but part of something bigger.
Some have described the larger cultural moment as a "polycrisis" – not one crisis, but many, colliding at the same time. War in Ukraine and the Middle East; persistent cost of living pressures; a political landscape fracturing in ways that feel genuinely new; and artificial intelligence arriving faster than most of us can process, raising real questions about work, identity and what it means to be human.
Ordinary faithfulness
We live in days when much of the news seems to be dominated by “big men” – men of power, men with egos, men with weapons; men who strut around the world stage, seeking to impose their will on others. It is not necessary to name any names – we all know who they are.
It is therefore heartening to be reminded of other people – ordinary men, ordinary women – who, unlike those “big men”, live lives that reflect the character and faithfulness of Christ.
Stop apologising for being a complementarian!
"Egalitarian" and "complementarian" are broad categories. However, they do sum up a primary distinction between those who believe that leading and preaching in the church can be a role for either men or women (egalitarian) or those who, like us (Fran Kirby and Graham Nicholls), believe that the church should reflect the household by reserving particular leadership roles for men (complementarian).
We have noticed recently that some complementarians have a tendency to downplay their position – either that or they are inclined to apologise for it, to over-compensate for it, or to try and work around it by creating ministry titles and roles.
Local elections: 'Pray for the winners and the losers'
Millions of voters are going to the polls to pick their representatives in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, and in a third of English local councils' seats, including all of London.
Reform and the Greens (and, I might say, hopefully, the Lib Dems!) are expected to pick up lots of council seats, whilst the still-unpopular Conservatives are bracing for losses.
Sam Allberry: When a gospel man falls...
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2v17).
Sam Allberry, it turns out, is a sinner.
The Iran war: An evangelical economist writes
It is striking that the current war in the Middle East is having such a major and immediate impact on people’s lives here in the UK – on your life and mine. I am talking here especially about the economic impact.
It was on 28 February this year that the USA and Israel began a series of military strikes against Iran. Less than three weeks later, the average price of petrol in the UK had already risen by 10p per litre – and diesel prices were up by 20p per litre.
Galahad and the Grail - What is 'virtue'?
In the past month, I found myself ricocheting between two conflicting visions of virtue.
On the one hand, Malcolm Guite’s astonishing and luminous poem Galahad and the Grail (2026), which takes us into the heart of the Arthurian quest for life at its fullest and purest. ["Arthurian" refers to anything connected to the legends of King Arthur.]
How can we guard our hearts?
The Bible, at times, makes for very uncomfortable reading.
Consider these opening verses of 1 Kings 11: “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, ‘You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love … So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David His father had done.”
What is the church to do about deglobalisation?
The rapid pace of change has taken even the most experienced social commentators by surprise.
The dismantling of the "rules-based order" (the idea that international relations follow agreed norms and rules) by many on the world stage means rapid change is afoot – and we’re not just looking at the current suspects. See what happened in smaller nations such as Myanmar in 2021 with the coup d'état, where the military seized power, disregarding democratic norms and international expectations.
Bible colleges are closing and I think this is why...
The last few years have seen many of Britain’s Bible colleges – from specialist schools like the Nexus Institute of Creative Arts to historic Church of England institutions like St. John’s College – shut their doors for good, with the latest and arguably biggest to fall being Spurgeon’s College last July.
And those which are still accepting students at the time of writing continue to record a progressively widening gap between income and expenditure in their reports filed with the Charity Commission.
Leader, are you an 'accepter' or a 'controller'?
What do you think is the opposite of a "control freak"?
I found that question difficult to answer, so I put it into You-Know-What and it came up with lots of suggestions, including "pushover", "soft touch" and "doormat".
The UK's spiritual condition: Crisis and opportunity
What season are we living in?
Like so many others, I felt disappointed when the findings of the “Quiet Revival” research (commissioned by the Bible Society) were declared as unreliable due to errors made by YouGov who were carrying out the research. The report has been taken down, and many are now understandably questioning what is going on spiritually in the UK? Have we been misunderstanding the moment we are living in?
Golders Green attack: 'This moment cannot be met with silence'
How many times can we hear words like “appalling”, “shocking”, and “unacceptable” before they begin to lose their meaning?
In recent weeks, the Jewish community in North London has been gripped by yet another wave of terror.
'Revivals are not quiet'
The Quiet Revival is no more; YouGov has retracted its conclusions, and the data has been debunked [see en explainer here]. A full apology was sent to the Bible Society.
Owing to the blessing we have received in recent years at Noddfa Church in the Welsh valleys, I have had the opportunity to speak and comment on several podcasts, media outlets and at many conferences about this alleged phenomenon.