Politics in the Pulpit

Episode 132: with Stef Benstead for Sunday 11 August

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Stef Benstead. 

Stef is an independent researcher in social security and disability, and is herself dependent upon benefits due to a genetic chronic illness. She is currently studying for a Master's in Theology, Community Development and Social Change at Nazarene Theological College, and has recently brought out her second book, Just Worship: Worshipping God by living just lives. 

 

Helen and Stef discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 11 August, which are:

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 
John 6:35, 41-51 
Psalm 130 

 

‘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 131: with Revd Dr Simon Woodman for Sunday 4 August

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Revd Dr Simon Woodman.

Simon is the Minister of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in the West End of London, and has previously been a market stall holder on Camden Market, a Baptist Minister in Bristol, a Tutor at South Wales Baptist College, and a lecturer at Cardiff University. He is married to Liz.

Helen and Simon discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 4 August, which are:

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
Ephesians 4:1-6 
John 6:24-35 
Psalm 51:1-12 

‘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 130: with Dr Trevor Laurence for Sunday 28 July

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Dr Trevor Laurence. 

Trevor Laurence (PhD, University of Exeter) is the Executive Director of the Cateclesia Institute and Theologian-in-Residence at Trinity Church (PCA) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He serves as a Research Associate with the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence and is the author of Cursing with God: The Imprecatory Psalms and the Ethics of Christian Prayer (Baylor, 2022).

Helen and Trevor discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 28 July, which are: 
2 Samuel 11:1-15 
Ephesians 3:13-21 
John 6:1-21 
Psalm 14 

 

 ‘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 129: with Dr Marion Carson for Sunday 21 July

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Dr Marion Carson. 

Marion Carson lives in Glasgow where she serves as Chaplain to Glasgow City Mission. She is also a senior research fellow at the International Baptist Study Centre in Amsterdam. She is the author of several books and articles, including the Pastoral Care of People with Mental Health Problems (SPCK) and Human Trafficking, the Bible and the Church (SCM Press).

Helen and Marion discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 21 July, which are:

2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Psalm 89:20-37

 ‘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 128: with Revd Jade Zerk for Sunday 14 July

We're back with a brand new season! In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our new host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Revd Jade Zerk. 

Jade is a Baptist Pioneer Minister at Hope in Highbridge, working as a consultant to the Trussell Trust Church Engagement Team one day a week. Prior to this Jade was a Community Engagement Worker in a New Housing Estate in Swindon, helped run Communications for the national New Housing Hub and contributed to the Arch Bishops Commission on Housing, Church and Community. 

Helen and Jade discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 14 July, which are:

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 
Ephesians 1:3-14 
Mark 6:14-29 
Psalm 24 

 

‘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 127: General Election Special for Sunday 30th June

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, we focus on the upcoming General Election. With Sunday 30^th June being the final Sunday before the General Election on the 4^th July. 

This episode is hosted by Nathan McGuire, who is the Campaigns and Church Engagement Officer for JPIT, and is a Baptist Minister and is driven by a strong passion for community organising and equipping Christian communities to actively pursue justice. Nathan hosts a conversation with church leaders from our three denominations.

Our guests for this episode are:

Revd Fiona Bennett: Fiona is currently serving as minister of Augustine United URC in the centre of Edinburgh and as immediate past moderator of URC General Assembly. She has worked as a minister in Scotland for 27 years during which she has served (as a URC minister) in local churches in the Church of Scotland and the Methodist Church in Scotland. Fiona is a mediator with Place for Hope, has 3 adult children and is currently addicted to reading historical crime fiction.

Revd Rachel Parkinson: Rachel has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years before which she was an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive.  She is currently Chair of the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District of the Methodist Church.  Running and cycling keep Rachel sane, and she’s also passionate about pilgrimage.

Revd Steve Tinning: Steve is the Baptist Union’s Public Issues Enabler, dividing his working week between JPIT and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. At heart, Steve is an activist, with practical theology and community-organising theory working as the foundations of a ministry of justice and compassion.

The lectionary readings for Sunday 30^th June, which are:

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Psalm 130 

 

‘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 126: with Revd Dr Helen Paynter for Sunday 23 June

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Helen Paynter. Helen will take over as our podcast host in our Summer series, beginning on 9th July. 

Helen Paynter, PhD, is a minister accredited by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, who now serves as tutor in Old Testament at the Bristol Baptist College. She is the founding director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. 

Michael and Helen discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 23rd June, which are:

1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 23-49 
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 
Mark 4:35-41 
Psalm 9:9-20 

 

‘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 125: with Dr Lisa Adjei for Sunday 16 June

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Dr Lisa Adjei.  

Dr. Lisa Adjei is an international speaker and writer who holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Physiology from the University of Surrey in Guildford, where she was also a church leader for many years. Lisa is the founder of Sankofa Collective, an ecumenical racial justice and reconciliation community for Christians. Dr Lisa Adjei currently works for Christian Aid as a British Church Relations Manager, her role seeks to support denominational leaders across the United Kingdom in justice & mission. She also sits on Churches Together England’s Board of trustees, their Racial Justice Working Group as the chair of their Theology sub-group and on their millennial leader’s forum, Emerge, for the Pentecostal & Charismatic forum – their work seeks to look at intergenerational reconciliation and legacy within the forum. Dr Lisa is the chair of a global climate youth community, Climate YES, a movement of young activists engaging in political and societal transformation. Lisa is currently an active member of Trinity Baptist Church and serves in their young adult’s ministry, Impact.

Michael and Lisa discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 16th June, which are:

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34
Psalm 20

‘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 124: with Revd Dr Tim Judson for Sunday 9 June

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Tim Judson.  

Reverend Doctor Tim Judson is a theologian and Baptist Minister passionate about the intersection of theology, arts, and social justice. He explores how beliefs shape lives, engaging with liberation theologies to challenge systemic inequalities. As one of the few White members of Baptists Together's national racial justice hub, he contributes to research on equality and diversity, particularly in reimagining Whiteness in theology. Tim's interests span Black theology, music, Bonhoeffer, Aquinas, and environmental ethics. With ministerial experience in various UK locations and international missions, including Uganda and Thailand, he draws on diverse contexts for reflection and song writing. Tim holds theology degrees from Bristol, Durham, and a PhD from Aberdeen, focusing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology of lament. At Regents Park College, he serves as a Lecturer in Ministerial Formation and author of "Dark Weeping and Light Sleeping" and "Awake in Gethsemane." 

Michael and Tim discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 9th June, which are:
1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) 
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 
Mark 3:20-35 
Psalm 138 
 

‘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 123: with Revd Dr Jo Cox-Darling for Sunday 2 June

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Jo Cox-Darling.  

Joanne Cox-Darling is Superintendent of the Wolverhampton Methodist Circuit, Chair of the Mission Committee, and trustee of the Southlands Methodist Trust.  A lifelong proponent of holding the space for both justice and evangelism, Joanne continues to help the church notice what God is up to.  Author of 'Finding God in a Culture of Fear' (featured in this month's Methodist Theology Book Club) and regular on BBCR2's Pause for Thought, Joanne seeks to help folk make connections that matter: in life and in faith. 

Michael and Jo discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 2nd June, which are:
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) 
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 
Mark 2:23-3:6 
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 

 

‘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