Politics in the Pulpit

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Genesis Padgett!

Genesis is currently the Youth President of the Methodist Church in Britain, which involves meeting young people from across the UK and making their voices heard in the Church. They are a local preacher on trial in the Barnsley circuit in Sheffield. They also volunteer with the Exodus Project, which works with children and youth in deprived areas around Barnsley and Wakefield, who may be struggling with poverty or mental health issues.

This week, Eddie, Genesis, and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 30^th August.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 07:03 - Matthew 16: 21-28
• 16:21 - Romans 12: 9-21
• 25:12 - Exodus 3: 1-15

 

Mentions

The Exodus Project, Barnsley and Wakefield - https://exodusproject.org.uk/

Stop Rosebank’s campaign - https://www.stopcambo.org.uk/

Greenbelt Festival 2026, ‘Let it all go’ - https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

Wealth tax campaigns - https://taxjustice.uk/campaign/taxing-wealth/

Better Story, JPIT, Christian Aid and Fellowship of Reconciliation’s ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ conference (October 2026) - https://jpit.uk/love-thy-neighbour-conference-2026

Church of England ‘Difference’ course - https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/difference

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Denise Dobie!

Denise worked in the NHS for 30 years, 27 years of that as a GP and was involved in educating and training medical students and GPs. She met her husband Donald at Medical School, and they have raised three, now grown up, children together.

In 2017, Denise stepped back from medicine as her primary vocation to train as a Baptist minister and worked bi-vocationally until 2023. She was ordained in the car park of Darkhouse Baptist Church during the COVID19 pandemic and serves that church as half-time minister.

Denise is a half-time Regional Minister for Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA) serving the Baptist churches in Staffordshire and Shropshire and with a remit to lead in supporting HEBA in responding to and implementing the commitments to action resulting from Project Violet, (a multi co-researcher, practical theological piece of research into the experience of women in Baptist Ministry in the UK.) Denise chairs the HEBA Justice Hub core team, having been a member of the HEBA Justice Hub since its inauguration in 2020. Denise enjoys walking, singing, cooking and visiting coffee shops whenever she can!

This week, Eddie, Denise, and Adam explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 23^rd August.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 08:40 - Exodus 1: 8-2: 10
• 24:10 - Romans 12: 1-8
• 33:50 - Psalm 124: 1-8 and Matthew 16: 13-20

Mentions

Baptist Union’s Project Violet - https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/363245/Project_Violet.aspx

A Nazareth Manifesto: Being with God by Sam Wells

Christ and Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr

Praying Through the Psalms by Yohanna Katanacho

The Message translation by Eugene Peterson (Romans 12) - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=MSG

 

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Andy Flannagan!

Andy Flannagan’s album “Drowning in the Shallow” was described as “near-perfect” by Cross Rhythms, but he remains disappointingly imperfect. He wrote the critically-acclaimed book “Those Who Show Up” which has inspired many normal people to get involved in politics and is now the Executive Director of Christians in Politics. Longing to see the church invest as much in the ‘dispersed’ as it does in the ‘gathered’, he is leading on releasing and equipping Christians to be influential in the spheres of culture for the Gather UK Movement. His songs “We seek your kingdom” and “Tears and Celebration” have been taking words of worship beyond the sanctuary into the civic space and gleaning huge use around the UK and beyond. He is now helping to co-ordinate the BOUNDLESS collective – songs by UK songwriters for the whole of life, not just Sundays. His worlds collided perfectly in 2022 when leading worship at the now famous National Prayer Breakfast that precipitated a change in Government.

This week, Eddie, Andy, and Roo explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 16^th August.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 08:25 - Genesis 45: 1-15
• 20:30 - Psalm 133
• 31:40 - Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32
• 34:35 - Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28

Mentions

Those Who Show Up by Andy Flannagan

Christians in Politics – https://www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk/

Gather UK Movement - https://gathermovement.org/

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Dave Mann!

Dave Mann has been involved in urban mission since the ’80’s in Tower Hamlets, and has been pastoring and church planting in London since 1996. He has extensive experience of setting up and running charities and schools and has taught and spoken at churches, conferences and colleges around the world on mission, leadership and community organisation. 

Dave has worked across denominations in his role with Seedbeds.org and as one of the founders of Red Letter Christians UK. Dave and his wife Sally are two of five ministers at Bonny Downs Baptist Church in East Ham, all sharing one stipend. Next year Dave & Sally will move in to the new Bonny Downs Abbey to share life and a rhythm of prayer with eight friends moving on from homelessness. 

In his spare time, Dave is a pioneer of walking football for over-50’s and chair of Newham Cricket Club.  This week, Eddie, Dave, and Hannah explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 9th August.

Timestamps • 00:00 – Intro

• 07:20 – Psalm 85: 8-13

• 17:56 – Matthew 14: 22-33

• 23:08 – Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

• 24:53 – Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28

Mentions:

Message Translation of 1 Corinthians 13, especially verse 13 - Love extravagantly https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...

‘Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean’, by William Rees, translated by William Edwards: https://hymnary.org/text/here_is_love...

Everything must change by Brian McLaren: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

Red Letter Christians: https://redletterchristians.org.uk/

Dave has contributed to Living for Jesus & Justice – Daily Prayers for Radical Christians – Simon Jones and Red Letter Christians UK: https://www.dltwritingforyou.com/prod...

Bonny Downs Baptist Church Is working with NEWway project, J49 Housing Association and Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) to develop Bony Downs Abbey, converting an old church hall into an intentional community committed to sharing life and enabling people to flourish. The Abbey will include 8 studio flats for vulnerable homeless adults & 2 ministry flats, and Dave will move in alongside ministers Jonny and Sally. If you can help us get Bonny Downs Abbey over the line, please give to the fundraising appeal: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/...

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Alex Clare-Young for one week only, and features our special guest Michael Jagessar!

Revd Dr Michael N. Jagessar is a theologian-writer-researcher-blogger and retired minister of the United Reformed Church. He describes himself as an Indo-Guyanese-Caribbean now living in the UK, or “caribleaper”. This is reflected in his writings, which feature the Caribbean tradition of resisting, negotiating limbo spaces, fighting back and refusing to give up. His religious heritages include Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, meaning that he has a variety of religious impulses. He is interested in all things interreligious, intercultural and hybrid.

He gets excited over cricket, big screens and good films, authentic rum punch, good Caribbean curry and of course, the ever-elusive Anancy-Anansi (patron saint of the Caribbean). He calls himself wayward and transgressive!

This week, Alex, Michael, and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 2^nd August.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 11:08 - Isaiah 55: 1-5
• 14:43 - Matthew 14: 13-21
• 29:17 - Genesis 32: 22-31

Mentions

Wrestling with Imperial Christianity: Biblical Anti-Domination and Anti-imperial Strategies for Liberation, Justice and Peace in Our Fallen World by Mukti Barton

Trussell - https://www.trussell.org.uk/

Church leaders write letter to Andy Burnham - https://jpit.uk/burnham-letter

Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhOZv5i7CHY

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Nathan Jones!

Rev Nathan Jones is the Senior Minister of Oasis Church Waterloo and Executive Director of Oasis Hub Waterloo, a charity committed to radical local community transformation. Oasis runs the local primary and secondary schools, advice work (debt, welfare, immigration, and housing), the Lambeth & Croydon Foodbank, an open-access community space, youth work, a children’s centre, mentoring, counselling and more - and at the heart of all this, is still a church community.

Nath spends as much spare time as possible playing sport or guitar, but as the dad of two kids, this amounts to not a great deal of time. He would give almost anything to see Wales win the Rugby World Cup.

This week, Eddie, Nathan, and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 26^th July.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 06:08 - Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
• 25:00 - Romans 8: 26-39
• 37:11 - Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b

Mentions

Oasis Waterloo’s website to find out more about their activities - https://oasiswaterloo.org/

JPIT’s Christian nationalism resources – jpit.uk/responding-to-christian-nationalism

People’s History Museum, Manchester - https://phm.org.uk/

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Julie Bryan!

Julie is a part-time minister at a small Baptist church in the north of England, in the area where she grew up. She holds a master’s degree in Contextual Theology from Luther King Theological College in Manchester. Julie is also part of the Northumbrian Collective, a group of friends committed to listening well, thinking deeply and living authentically. The Collective produces podcasts and blogs, and occasionally leads in-person retreats.

Julie lives on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border with her husband, Stuart, a GP. In their spare time, they enjoy walking in the countryside, both near home and further afield across the north of England.

This week, Eddie, Julie, and Simeon explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 19^th July.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 06:42 - Genesis 28: 10-19a
• 18:13 - Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24
• 29:19 - Romans 8: 12-25
• 38:38 - Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

Mentions

JPIT’s refugee family reunion campaign – jpit.uk/refugee-reunion

Government apology for historic forced adoption practices - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-apologises-for-historic-forced-adoption-practices

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest, and next host, Eddie Boon!

Eddie serves the Thames North Synod of the United Reformed Church as Discipleship Enabler (Special Category Ministry). His main focus is encouraging people, leaders and churches in becoming more intentional in whole-life discipleship as gathered and scattered church.

Eddie has served and led URC congregations for over 40 years and has experience of ministry in the Church of South India. He is a massive fan of Everton FC, Hampshire County Cricket and the band The Stranglers. He loves to swim, cycle, walk, go to the theatre, cinema, and art galleries and take part in book clubs locally.

This week, Naomi, Eddie, and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 12th July.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

05:19 - Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

19:53 - Genesis 25:19-34

32:11 - Romans 8:1-11

35:15 - Psalm 119:105-112

Mentions

The Homilies of St john Chrysostom on the Gospel of Matthew - The homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Isaiah 55 - Isaiah 55 NRSVUE - An Invitation to Abundant Life - Hear, - Bible Gateway

‘Parables’ by Dr Paula Gooder Parables - Paula Gooder

Psalm 65 - Psalm 65 NRSVUE - Psalm 65 Thanksgiving for Earth’s - Bible Gateway

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Anthony Lees-Smith!

Canon Dr Anthony Lees-Smith is Canon Missioner at Chester Cathedral where he oversees the education programme, arts and exhibitions, and community engagement. A former primary school teacher, Anthony has spent most of the past 25 years living and working in religiously diverse communities, an experience which became the focus of his doctoral research.

This week, Naomi, Anthony, and Adam explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 5^th July.

We apologise that there is no video recording from this week’s episode due to technical difficulties.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 03:50 - Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
• 14:29 - Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67
• 21:45 – Psalm 45: 10-17
• 23:49 - Romans 7: 15-25a

Mentions

Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggeman

Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey

JPIT’s resource bank on Artificial Intelligence - https://jpit.uk/ai-faith-and-justice-resources

JPIT’s campaigns on gambling - https://jpit.uk/issues/gambling-and-alcohol

This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Anna Jones!

This week, Naomi, Anna, and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 28^th June.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro
• 08:05 - Genesis 22: 1-14
• 20:22 - Psalm 13
• 25:55 - Romans 6: 12-23
• 36:33 - Matthew 10: 40-42
• 44:48 - Jeremiah 28: 5-9

Mentions

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama

Refugee Week 2026 - https://refugeeweek.org/

Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

JPIT’s resources on Christian nationalism - https://jpit.uk/responding-to-christian-nationalism

Guest blog from Welcome Churches for Refugee Week - https://jpit.uk/welcome-churches-for-refugees

Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI - https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html