Politics in the Pulpit?

Episode 98: with Bishop Rob Wickham for Sunday 8 October

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our new host, Chris, is chatting to Bishop Rob Wickham. 

Raised in Surrey, Bishop Rob Wickham studied geography at Durham University, specialising in urban regeneration. Bishop Rob has also completed an MA in Theology, politics and faith-based organisations, and has written another thesis on the creative use of church buildings.

Before training for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, he witnessed high unemployment while working in a Tyneside council estate in the declining years of the nearby the Swan Hunter Shipyard, where decades earlier his grandfather had worked.

As rector of St John’s, Hackney, in east London, then-Fr Rob oversaw a re-ordering of the 2,000-seater church to allow for greater community use. The church hosted concerts, job fairs, a food bank, a night shelter, debt advice, the local branch of the credit union, and what became the most-used knife bin in London.

In 2012 the Speaker of Hackney Council gave him an award for outstanding community building during and after the London riots the previous year. In the days after the disturbances, he led a peace vigil with other faith leaders, headed a clean-up operation, hosted community meetings in the church and organised a community street party for 400 people, to help restore trust.

In 2015 was made Bishop of Edmonton in north London, becoming the country’s youngest bishop, at 43, and in 2023 he became the CEO of Church Urban Fund. 

 

Chris and Bishop Rob discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 1st October:

Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 

Philippians 3: 4b-14 

Matthew 21: 33-46 

Psalm 19 

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 97: with Revd Chris Upton for Sunday 1 October

On this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Steve is chatting to Revd Chris Upton.

Chris grew up on a small island in Essex, but has recently been landlocked in Haworth, West Yorkshire where he has been served as a Baptist minister since 2000 and a pastoral supervisor since 2019.  At the start of this year he stood down from the pulpit and took up the role of church funding officer for Christians Against Poverty, and in August he also became the National lead for the Waterways Chaplaincy. In his spare time he runs the local cinema, enjoys cycling and playing cards. 

They discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 1st October:

Exodus 17: 1-17         

Philippians 2: 1-13   

Matthew 21: 23-32       

Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 96: with Revd Terry Hinks for Sunday 24 September

On this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Steve is chatting to Revd Terry Hinks.

Terry is a United Reformed Church minister serving two churches in High Wycombe and Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. He has a longstanding concern for the environment and care for God’s creation, and is a member of the URC Thames North Synod’s Green Team. He is also the author of a number of books on prayer.

They discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 24th September:

Exodus 16: 2-15         

Philippians 1: 21-30   

Matthew 20: 1-16       

Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page.

Special Episode: Season of Creation and Harvest, with David Coleman and Ruth Valerio

This week, we share again a special episode of Politics in the Pulpit for the Season of Creation and Harvest, originally recorded in 2022. It features Revd David Coleman and Dr Ruth Valerio in conversation.

David is a URC special category minister, working full-time and ecumenically across the whole of Scotland with Eco-Congregation Scotland, as their Eco-Chaplain.

Ruth is Global Advocacy and Influencing Director at Tearfund. She is the author of several books on Christian environmental ethics, and is a regular contributor on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.

Find out more about Ruth and Tearfund here: 

Tearfund's website

Ruth's website

They discuss how we might approach preaching about food, farming and the environment in the midst of climate breakdown. They focus on some of the lectionary readings suggested for Harvest :

Deuteronomy 26:1-11   

1 Timothy 6:6-10             

Matthew 6:25-33            

Psalm 65

This special episode was originally produced as part of JPIT’s Season of Creation 2022 resources. Find them, and more resources, at jpit.uk/creation 

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page.

Episode 95: with Revd Steve Tinning for Sunday 10 September

We're back! On this week's handover episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to incoming host, Revd Steve Tinning.

Steve is currently the Baptist Union’s Public Issues Enabler, and a member of the Joint Public Issues Team. He’s previously served as a local minister in Southend on Sea where he was very involved in supporting refugees. At heart, Steve describes himself as “an activist, with practical theology and community-organising theory working as the foundations of a ministry of justice and compassion.”

They discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 10th September:

Exodus 12: 1-14         

Romans 13: 8-14       

Matthew 18: 15-20     

Psalm 149

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.

Episode 94: with Niall Cooper for Sunday 9th July

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to Niall Cooper.

Niall Cooper has been Director of Church Action on Poverty since 1997, and has been responsible for piloting a range of new approaches to anti-poverty work in the UK, and running high profile campaigns on asylum destitution, debt and food poverty.  He is passionate about creating space for people struggling against poverty the opportunity to speak truth to power, and to reclaim dignity, agency and power together. Action on Poverty's latest initiative is the Your Local Pantry – a network of nearly 100 member-run food clubs, hosted by churches and other local partners, which offer dignity, choice and hope to more than 20,000 member households across the UK.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 9^th July:
Zechariah 9: 9-12

Romans 7: 15-25a

Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

Psalm 145: 8-14

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.

Episode 93: with Revd Charmaine Mhlanga for Sunday 2nd July

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to Rev. Charmaine Mhlanga.

Charmaine is serving as a Newly Accredited Baptist Minister at Sundon Park Baptist Church in Luton. Charmaine is a Student Governor at Spurgeons College. Charmaine holds a Master’s Degree in Christian Thought and Practice, Professional Ministry and Practice, a BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care and various other qualifications and experience in the field of health and social care. Charmaine is part of the Baptist Union Racial Justice Hub and Churches Together Luton Racial Commission. Charmaine is part of EQUIP, a course aimed at EQUIPPING 18-30 year olds to lead with confidence and humility in GOD’s church. Charmaine has interests and involvement with matters of racial equality and justice; immigration and asylum; quality control and quality assurance; leadership, science and technology; mentoring, coaching and training. Charmaine is an active member of a Zimbabwe Community Group in Luton. As a mother, Charmaine is passionate about helping eradicate holiday hunger and volunteers for the Breakfast Battery Box, which is a group of local Luton residents, helping individuals and families to access breakfast parcels during school holidays. Charmaine enjoys reading, art, music, bird watching, scenic walks and cooking.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 2^nd July:
Jeremiah 28: 5-9

Romans 6: 12-23

Matthew 10: 40-42

Psalm 89: 1-4, 15-18

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.

Episode 92: with Emily Shepherd for Sunday 25 June

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to Emily Shepherd.

Emily is one of two Joint CEOs of the charity Welcome Churches and lives near Manchester. She co-founded Welcome Churches with Karina Martin in 2018, a charity whose vision is for every refugee to be welcomed by the local church.

They discuss some of the lectionary readings for Sunday 25th June, which is observed as ‘Sanctuary Sunday’ by many churches and marks the end of Refugee Festival Scotland and Refugee Week in England and Wales:

• Genesis 21:8-21
• Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
• Jeremiah 20:7-13 (alt. reading)
• Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18 (alt. reading)
• Romans 6:1b-11
• Matthew 10:24-39

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.

Useful links:

• https://welcomechurches.org
• https://www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk/
• https://refugeeweek.org.uk/

Episode 91: with Deacon Angie Allport for Sunday 18th June

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to Deacon Angie Allport.

Angie is a Methodist Deacon based in Hereford, where her role is primarily one of community engagement. Angie is an active campaigner on issues of peace and justice. She’s a co-founder of the Network of Methodist Activists and Secretary to the Methodist Peace Fellowship.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 18^th June:
Exodus 19: 2-8a

Romans 5: 1-8

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23)

Psalm 100

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.

Episode 90: with Sarah Edwards for Sunday 11th June

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Ali is chatting to Sarah Edwards.

Sarah is the Executive Director of the JustMoney Movement, which aims to equip Christians and churches to connect faith and finance, so as to shape a fairer, greener world. She has worked in advocacy and campaigning on social justice issues for the past two decades, most recently at Tearfund, and previously at Jubilee Debt Campaign, Anti-Slavery International, and Health Poverty Action. Sarah lives in North London with her husband and two children, where she is involved in preaching and teaching in her local church and is a trustee of the local Foodbank. She enjoys reading, exploring nature, running and eating chocolate!

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 11^th June:
Hosea 5: 15-6: 6

Romans 4: 13-25

Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-25

Psalm 50: 7-15

‘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 @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group from the Joint Public Issues Team's Facebook page.