Politics in the Pulpit

Episode 166 with Dr Frances Clemson for Sunday 13th July

Join our host Alex Clare-Young as they welcome Dr Frances Clemson and Roo Stewart to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 13th July.

This week’s discussion draws upon the following lectionary readings:

• Deuteronomy 30:9-14 - God’s Faithfulness
• Colossians 1:1-14 - Paul Thanks God for the Colossians
• Luke 10:25-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Dr Frances Clemson is Christian Aid's Faith Communications Specialist. In this role she works with churches and communities across the UK and with Christian Aid's partners around the world, exploring how and why our faith compels us to take action on poverty and injustice. Prior to joining Christian Aid in 2023, Frances was Assistant Professor in Theology and Ministry at Durham University. In this role she worked on the Common Awards partnership - the national framework that supports the academic components of ministry training in a range of UK churches. Her theological interests include embodiment, justice, and the arts, particularly drama. Her PhD was on theologies enacted in mid-twentieth century drama, particularly plays by Dorothy L. Sayers.

 

Relevant dates and links:

Climate Coalition mass lobby – Join the Mass Lobby of Parliament on the 9th of July, organised by the Climate Coalition – JPIT and Christian Aid will be around! Mass Lobby 2025 - The Climate Coalition

Beckley lecture - watch “Whiteness is the Sea, not the shark” with Anthony Reddie here: https://youtu.be/MTrl9eL2ymI?si=t1aHOuslGGW-Ho5S

To find out more about the Consituency Action Network head to: https://jpit.uk/can

Find the reimagined version of When i needed a neighbour from Christian Aid here: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/about-us/when-i-needed-neighbour-reimagined#listen

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 165 with Molly Boot for Sunday 6th July

This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Molly Boot and Roo Stewart to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 6th July.  

Their discussion draws upon the Lectionary, this week being:  

-  Isaiah 66:10-14 - The Worship God Demands  

- Galatians 6:1-16 - Bear One Another’s Burdens  

-  Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 - The Mission of the Seventy  

Revd. Molly Boot is a theologian, musician and priest, currently based in rural Gloucestershire. They’re very enthusiastic about a lot of things, including music, prayer, LGBTQ+ liberation, and the stranger corners of medieval church history. 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/ 

Episode 164 With Mel Beaven for Sunday 29th June

This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Mel Beaven and Paul Morrison to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching, drawing upon the Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21, Galatians 5:1, 13-25 and Luke 9:51-62.

 

Mel Beaven is a Methodist Deacon and lives in Birmingham. Since 2020, she has been a tutor at The Queen’s Foundation, teaching Pastoral Theology, Mission & Evangelism and Leadership in Social Justice. She is a PhD student at the Institute for Christian Social Practice, Heidelberg University, Germany, researching approaches to diaconal training. In September 2025, Mel will leave Queen’s to take up the role of Director of Discipleship within the Evangelism & Growth Team.

Find out more about our conference here: https://jpit.uk/conference

Find out more about our Constituency Action Network here: https://jpit.uk/can

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 163 with Jennifer Smith for Sunday 22 June

This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Jennifer Smith and Steve Tinning to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 22nd of June, drawing upon the Lectionary:

• Isaiah 65:1-9 - The Righteousness of God’s Judgement
• Galatians 3:23-29 - Law or Faith
• Luke 8:26-39 - Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

Jennifer Smith is a Methodist Minister serving as Superintendent of Wesley's Chapel and Leysian Mission, the London church opened in 1778 for John Wesley, founder of Methodism. An Honorary Canon of St Paul's Cathedral in London and a US citizen, she is a regular contributor to BBC religious broadcasting and a widely invited speaker and preacher.

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or join our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 162 with Jo Clare-Young for Sunday 15th June

This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Jo Clare-Young and Paul Morrison to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Trinity Sunday, drawing upon the lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31 (The Gifts of Wisdom), Romans 5:1-5 (Results of Justification) and John 16:12-15 (The Work of the Spirit).

Jo Clare-Young is a minister ordained in the URC tradition, a member of the Iona Community. She currently spend her days navigating around Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire Essex and a tiny bit of Hartfordshire , serving the 105 churches of the Urc’s Eastern Synod providing training and resourcing for mission.

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 161 with Fiona MacMillan for Sunday 8th June

This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Fiona MacMillan and Florence Wright to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 8th June. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary, this week being: Genesis 11:1-9 (The Tower of Babel), Acts 2:1-21 (The Coming of the Holy Spirit) and John 14:8-17 & 25-27 (The Promise of the Holy Spirit).

 

Our guest, Fiona, is a disabled and neurodivergent practitioner, advocate, speaker and writer exploring disability, faith and questions of social justice. She is chair of St Martin in the Fields Disability Advisory Group, an Inclusive Church trustee and the planning lead for an annual disability theology conference. She is a member Church of England's General Synod and the contemplative Nazareth Community, and is a keen knitter of hats.

For more information on WAVE for change visit here: https://www.wave-for-change.org.uk/

For more about Tax Justice Sunday visit here: https://justmoney.org.uk/tax-justice-sunday/

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 160 with Graham McGeoch for Sunday 1st June

 

This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Graham McGeoch and Florence Wright (JPIT Intern) to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching. 

They draw upon the lectionary: Acts 16:16-34 (Paul and Silas in Prison), Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 Epilogue and Benediction) and John 17:20-26 (Jesus Prays for His Disciples). 

 

Graham McGeoch works for the Council for World Mission. He taught Theology & Religious Studies at a small university in Vitoria, Brazil and is visiting Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 159 with Gary Hall for Sunday 25th May

This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Gary Hall and Steve Hucklesby to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 25th of May. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary: Acts 16:9-15 (The Conversion of Lydia), Revelation 21:10,22–22:5 (Vision of the New Jerusalem / The River of Life) and John 14:23-29 (The Promise of the Holy Spirit). Gary is a Methodist presbyter serving at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham, and soon to be Superintendent Minister of the Hidden River circuit. Do look at our blog at: https://jpit.uk/whats-new/blog ‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 158 with Alison Webster for Sunday 18th May

Alex Clare-Young and Roo Stewart speak to our guest this week, Alison Webster. They discuss this week's lectionary readings: Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem), Revelation 21:1-6 (The New Heaven and the New Earth), and John 13:31-35 (The New Commandment).

Alison is General Secretary of Modern Church and Mission Theologian in Residence at Citizens UK, the Community Organising Charity. She was, for many years, Deputy Director of Mission (Social Justice) at the Diocese of Oxford. She has written widely on issues of sexuality, wellbeing and identity. Most recently ‘Found Out: Trangressive Faith and Sexuality’.

Alex Roo and Alison discuss themes of inclusion, community organising, listening to the most vulnerable and our ultimate commandment to love others.

 

Sign up for the next Constituency Action Network (CAN) Webinar here: https://jpit.uk/can-webinars

In this webinar we will be discussing community organising practices further, (looking at how churches can build relationships with each other) with Kerry Scarlett, Faith-Rooted Community Organising Officer at the Methodist Church.

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/

Episode 157 with Samuel Wells for Sunday 11th May

This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Sam Wells and Paul Morrison to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 11th of May. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary, this week being: Acts 9:36-43 (Peter and Dorcas or Tabitha), Revelation 7:9-17 (The Multitude from Every Nation) and John 10:22-30 (Jesus is Rejected). 

Our guest this week, Sam Wells, speaks, preaches and broadcasts on a range of pastoral, political and theological issues. He has been Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London, since 2012 and is also Visiting Professor of Christian Ethics at King’s College London. Sam has served as a parish priest for 27 years–10 of those in urban priority areas; and also spent 7 years in North Carolina, where he was Dean of Duke University Chapel. Samhas published 47 booksand the most recent is ‘Constructing an Incarnational Theology.’ 
 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200/