Politics in the Pulpit

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/

Episode 156 with Simon Cross for Sunday the 4th of May

Politics in the Pulpit is back after a short break! This season is hosted by Alex Clare-Young, JPIT’s new Campaigns and Churches Officer.

This week we have Simon Cross helping us discuss the lectionary for Sunday the 4th of May from a faith and politics perspective, looking at Acts 9:1-20 (The Conversion of Saul), Revelation 5:11-14 (The Scroll and the Lamb) and John 21:1-19 (Jesus Appears to the Seven Disciples).

Simon Cross is a minister in the United Reformed Church, based in East Yorkshire. He is the chair of the Progressive Christianity Network (Britain) and is a writer and activist. We are also joined by Simeon Mitchell, head of the JPIT team.

‘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 155: with Revd Roy Searle for Sunday 23rd March

This week we have Revd Roy Searle helping us discuss the lectionary for Sunday the 23rd of March from a faith and politics perspective, looking at Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9.

JPIT’s Steve Hucklesby also joins this conversation with Clare Williams as our host. They discuss the importance of remembering God as the source of life amidst injustice and leaning into the prophetic. Alongside they consider how to balance this with living out a life of seeking justice, showing a positive alternative story as ambassadors for Gods Kingdom.

Roy is a passionate preacher and former president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and founder of the Northumbria community, dedicated to loving God, our neighbours, and the planet. He joins JPIT’s Steve Hucklesby and host Clare Williams to discuss God as the source of life amid injustice and how to seek justice as ambassadors for God's Kingdom.

 https://www.northumbriacommunity.org

You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at / jointpublicissues

Episode 154: with Revd David Mayne for Sunday 16th March

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host Clare Williams and JPIT Team member Paul Morrison, chat to Revd David Mayne. 

David Mayne is a a previous host of politics in the pulpit and Regional Minister Team Leader for the Eastern Baptist Association, supporting 170 Baptist churches in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Dave is Essex born and bred, and his work has consistently focused on topics of justice and inclusion particularly in relation to gender, economics and sexuality. 

Clare, Paul and David discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 16th March, which are: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a) 

‘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   / jointpublicissues    

Please note this episode has been recorded a week in advance! 

Episode 153: with William Gibson for Sunday 9th March

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our guest host and JPIT Team Leader, Simeon Mitchell, chats to William Gibson.

 

William Gibson is a candidate for ministry in the Church of Scotland and PhD student at the University of Glasgow researching secularisation, mission and the Church of Scotland in the 1960s. Prior to this William worked as the Student Christian Movement’s theology and resources project worker and hosted their podcast for two seasons, discussing Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life and theology as well as Christian political action.

 

Simeon and William discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 9th March, which are: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13

 

‘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/jointpublicissues

Episode 152: with Cathy Bird for Sunday 2nd March

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to Cathy Bird. They are joined by Florence Wright, another member of the JPIT team.

 

Cathy is a Methodist Minister, currently with permission to serve the Congregational Church. She is minister at Union Chapel, in the Highbury area of London; Union Chapel, as well as being known as a leading performance venue, is also a community of Christians of diverse backgrounds who are committed to living lives that are spiritual, sustainable and responsive to the Gospel’s prophetic call for justice and peace. Cathy has served her ministry mainly in London - in Tottenham, Kings Cross and Hackney - although was more recently in Stockport in Greater Manchester. She has a heart for ministry on and with the margins and is the author of ‘The Divine Heart of Darkness’ published in 2017. She also serves as a mediation practitioner with Place For Hope and is a supervisor, coach and spiritual director.

 

Clare, Cathy and Florence discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 2nd March, which are: Exodus 34:29-35 - Psalm 99 - 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 - Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

 

‘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/jointpublicissues