Cross Section

On this week's episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Zanna Meynell have a wide-ranging conversation on the latest headlines. As always, they begin with a news review of stories that have caught their eyes. This includes the reveal of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's affair and security concerns, encouraging social media posts from Ballers in God, the Christian professional footballers’ community, and the Krakow shooting. Conversation then turns to the fallout of the midterms in the USA. T

he landslide win for the Democrats is significant. What does this mean for Christianity in public life and the religious left in the States?

For the bulk of the episode, the team reflect on the sentencing of Russell Brand and discuss how we can respond to the grim story that has dominated our headlines over the last few days.

Finally, the conversation turns to the government's calls to prepare and stockpile essential items. What does a Christian response to all of this look like?

We hope you find this episode helpful as we look to proclaim the name of Jesus amongst the chaos, sorrow and fear.

Beyond the headlines: how should the UK church respond to sexual violence? - Evangelical Alliance

The Brand Case: the perpetuation of myths, and the challenge to the Church - Restored

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome

In this week's episode of Cross Section, the team do an extended news review of the last couple of weeks. This includes Global Bible Month and the adverts for the Bible that have taken over Piccadilly Circus and Times Square. What an encouragement! 

They also discuss Carl Lentz's book Overcoming Infidelity and the moral implications of writing a book about that. Is it monetising sin or a story of redemption and grace? Conversation turns to the midterm elections in the USA and where this could leave President Trump.  

The team then consider the current debate around slavery reparations. As Andy Burnham prepares to make a formal apology for the UK's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, is that enough? Should the UK pay? 

The episode finishes with a deep dive into all that is happening around the Conversion Practices Bill. Why is it so significant, and what can Christians do to speak into this topic? 

You can respond to the consultation here. 

On today's episode of Cross Section, the team have a focused and in-depth conversation on the riots taking place across Europe and especially France in recent days.  

Join Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster as they analyse what sparked these violent disturbances and how likely is it for rioting to spill out onto the streets in the UK. The team discuss the role of the church and how our Christian faith helps us engage and address issues of civil unrest, mass migration and extremism in today's episode. This is an episode not to be missed. 

Global migration and immigration to the UK - Evangelical Alliance

Timestamps: 

0:00 Introduction 

In this episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Danny Webster and Alicia Edmund record together from the studio. In the news review, the team discuss a French cyber-attack that hacked supermarket fridges, Trump buying large quantities of diesel from Putin, and the proposed ’Celebrity Handcuffed’ pairing of Suella Braverman and Katie Price.

The main conversation explores recent comments by Braverman and Kemi Badenoch on Englishness vs Britishness, and why people may identify as British rather than English. They then unpack Theos Think Tank’s Beyond Christian Nationalism research on how UK adults relate Christianity to national identity, including survey findings on language, economic contribution, race, Christianity and moral decline.

The episode concludes with a debate on the death penalty and live-streaming executions after events in the US – Christa Pike’s failed execution and the proposed livestream of the killing of Nidal Hasan – sparked considerable discussion on the topic. What is the biblical backing for or against it? What are the Cross Section team’s opinions on it?

Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Zanna Meynell return to Cross Section to discuss this week’s leading headlines. The episode begins with a news review. Peter updates us on the continued tensions in Drumcree, Alicia outlines the Man City controversy, and the team discuss the relaunch of a dating app with a particular focus on marriage. They also briefly reflect on the first week of Celebrity Traitors.  

Conversation then turns to the deeply controversial motion from the Green party, “Zionism is racism”. Could this splinter the Green Party? What will this mean for Zack Polanski in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election? How can Christians talk about this with wisdom and compassion? 

The team then address the prevalent theme of global instability and the threat of war, addressing calls for the church to be prayerful in this moment. 

The episode concludes with a brief review of party conference season and advice on navigating political differences within our church families. This is an episode not to be missed. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome

In this week's episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Danny Webster and Alicia Edmund discuss the headlines. They begin with a news review that covers a worship event in a football stadium, the euthanasia of a one year old in the Netherlands and predictions for the upcoming series of Celebrity Traitors.

Conversation then turns to all that is happening in Northern Ireland. Peter helpfully unpacks the context and history of the situation in Drumcree, what has been happening this week and how Christians can be praying.

The episode concludes with a reaction to Andy Burnham's speech at the 2026 Labour party conference. What stood out? What will the implications be? Where will this leave the UK?

This is an episode not to be missed.

On Cross Section this week, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster discuss the theme of division and polarisation that spans across all the trending headlines. The team cover six political, cultural and religious stories, looking at how we can be good news people amidst the chaos.

They cover Meryl Streep playing Aslan, the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the village of Piddington wanting to leave the UK, a volunteer for Restore Britain being violently attacked, the Archbishop of Canterbury's u-turn, and the Green party's' thoughts on Zionism. This is an episode not to be missed.

0:00 Intro

This week, the Evangelical Alliance has launched a landmark report 'Understanding UK Evangelicals' and in this  episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster unpack the research. How many evangelical Christians are in the UK? What is the demographic makeup? Can we trust the findings? 

The team also reflect on the fall of the assisted suicide bill, St Pauls cathedral being turned into a night club, Trump's comments about a united Ireland and Reform's finances. This is an episode not to be missed. 

Understanding UK Evangelicals - Who are they? - Evangelical Alliance 

Good news! The UK evangelical Church is growing | Opinion | Premier Christianity 

Evangelicals are now 2 in 3 practising Christians across the UK 

A deep dive into the evangelical church - Evangelical Alliance

Chapters: 

0:00 - Welcome

Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster return from the summer break to the same political upheaval as before. The team discuss the recent Channel 4 documentary revealing further questions regarding donations to Reform UK and apparent fractures in Nigel Farage's top team. How will this effect their electorate success and popularity? 

They go on to explore the weekend headlines of Patriot Platform and masked men seeking to 'defend the Portsmouth' coastline whilst chanting 'Christ is King' and round up the conversation on the upcoming vote in Westminster on assisted suicide on Friday, 11 September.

The theme of polarisation continues across our news and political stories. How can Christians engage and offer a different way of living and response?

0:00 — Welcome

Is Andy Burnham the new ‘TikTok PM’? The Cross Section summer break takes a temporary pause as the team reunite to discuss all that has happened since Andy Burnham became prime minister. The team cover his use of social media, his focus on cost of living and social care, lack of mention of immigration and touch on assisted suicide. What will the coming months look like? What will the challenges be? Most importantly, how can Christians pray effectively?

The team also discuss the upcoming Clacton by-election, the new series of ‘The Chosen’ and ‘The Odyssey’.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro