Politics and the priesthood of all believers

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This is the transcript of the Revd Prof David Wilkinson’s ‘Thought For the Day’ on BBC Radio 4, 28th April 2025.

Good morning. From the funeral of a global religious leader, the focus for many will turn to local political leadership and Thursday’s elections for 23 councils and six mayors in England.

These elections are often seen simply as a barometer for the national state of parties. Yet this masks that more than 1600 elected councillors will make decisions within global issues such the environment, immigration and conflict as well as about local issues from social care to cycle lanes.

Standing for election is a big step. Over a century ago, the German economist and sociologist Max Weber gave a lecture ‘Politics as a Vocation’. While Weber’s discussion of ethics and the state has been much debated among academics in social and political theory, I’m interested in how much time he devotes to the character of politicians. He warns of the danger of vanity in leading to the misuse of the power they exercise. Instead, he suggests politicians should combine passion with a sense of responsibility, and a sense of proportion. This means that politics is a difficult and messy business which can come with considerable personal cost. In this sense, it is beyond a profession, rather it is a calling.

Calling and vocation are often exclusively used in relation to priests. But in Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers, whose work influenced Weber, salvation by faith alone led to an understanding of the priesthood of all believers. This meant that one could be called to work in science, government or the home and such work should be done for the glory of God and for the service of others. 

I find it at times easy to be cynical about the motives and actions of politicians. Yet as a Christian, I’m struck about how much time Jesus spent with those who were outcasts – and that included local government officials as well as the poor and the lepers! He heals a Roman Centurion’s servant, he ate at the homes of Simon the Pharisee and Zaccheus, a tax collector. Indeed, Zaccheus’s priorities were transformed by this encounter. Jesus recognises their vocation and challenges them to see that calling from the perspective of the love and justice of the Kingdom of God.

So this week I thank God for people standing for election and pray that all politicians will exercise power not out of personal vanity but out of a desire to serve others. And this challenges my own vocation as scientist and church leader. For vocation is not always about a direct call from the Holy Spirit, but God’s gift of passion and responsibility to make the world a better place.