Politics in the Pulpit?

Episode 79: with Rev. Lucy Berry for Sunday 5th March

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Rev. Lucy Berry.

Lucy is an ex-advertising writer, art therapist and performance poet. She was poet in residence for 4 years on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show before training for ordination in the United Reformed Church. She's a Mum in a mixed heritage family, currently writing a book about preaching. She has worked with prisoners wives and taught in prison and although "straight' she is a founding trustee of The Open Table Network - a charity that helps establish, within welcoming host churches, safe, loving, LGBTQIA-led worship communities.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 5th March:
Genesis 12:1-4a

Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17

John 3: 1-17

Psalm 121

‘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 78: with Rev Ken Benjamin for Sunday 26th February

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Rev. Ken Benjamin.

Formerly President of Baptists Together, and for more than 20 years Senior Minister of Chichester Baptist Church, Ken joined LICC (The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity) in September 2020. He is a leading voice in the whole-life discipleship movement. As Director of Church Relationships at LICC, Ken is responsible for leading LICC’s church-facing work, helping fuel a sustainable whole-life disciplemaking culture in the UK church. He is married to Sue, and they have two adult children. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and tennis as well as time away in his VW camper.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 26th February:
Genesis 2: 15-17; 3: 1-7

Romans 2: 12-19

Matthew 4: 1-11

Psalm 32

‘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.

NB: Geoffrey mentions the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine - this will be on Friday 24th February, not Sunday 26th February. Apologies for the wrong date. 

Episode77: with Ruth Whitehead for Sunday 19th February

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Ruth Whitehead.

Ruth Whitehead is a minister of the United Reformed Church, currently serving as Moderator of the South Western Synod, but due to be inducted as minister of the Landsker pastorate in Pembrokeshire on April 1st. She is happy to be thought of as a ‘fool for Christ’.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 19^th February:
Exodus 24: 12-18

2 Peter 1: 16-21

Matthew 17: 1-9

Psalm 2 or Psalm 99

‘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 76: with Furaha Mussanzi for Sunday 12th February

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Furaha Mussanzi!

Furaha is the Pastoral Care Leader for the Light Church in Bradford and the Ecumenical Canon at Bradford Cathedral. Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, Furaha and her family migrated to Bradford as a refugees fleeing the war 20 years ago. Furaha’s deep Christian faith is central to everything she does and outside of her job she is an avid storyteller, singer and community activist.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 12^th February (Racial Justice Sunday):

Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
1 Corinthians 3: 1-9        
Matthew 5: 21-37           
Psalm 119: 1-8

‘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 75: with Rev. Esther Mason for Sunday 5th February

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Rev. Esther Mason.

Esther is a Baptist Minister currently serving God at Christ Church in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. Christ Church is a longstanding Local Ecumenical Partnership of Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church. They have a heart for inclusion, justice and welcome. Prior to this role she was interim chaplain for a year at Regent's Park College, Oxford having trained for ministry there whilst at Wallingford Baptist Church. She lived in Australia for 15 years which has influenced her in many ways including her accent.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 5^th February:
Isaiah 58: 1-9a (9b-12)

1 Corinthians 2: 1-12 (13-16)

Matthew 5: 13-20

Psalm 112: 1-9 (10)

‘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 74: Rev. David Pickering for Sunday 29th January

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Rev. David Pickering.

David studied environmental science and undertook research in environmental chemistry prior to candidating for the ministry for the URC. He has served pastorates in Teesside (1990-99) and Leeds (2004-16) and has carried his concern for the environment and love of nature through his ministry. To mark the 1992 Earth Summit he shaped the URC publication Roots and Branches, in 1998 he was appointed to develop Eco-Congregation in a full-time ministry (1999-2004). Eco-Congregation continues in Scotland and has been renamed as Eco-Church in England and Wales. From 2005 to 2010 he Chaired the Board of the climate change charity, Operation Noah. During his recent term as Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland (2016-20) he led the URC to become the first Church in Britain to divest its investments in fossil fuels. Since 2020 he has returned to local pastoral ministry, serving suburban churches in West Wickham and Elmers End. David has a love of Scottish isles, holidaying and leading several pilgrimages to sites of early Christian worship on the isles. He enjoys time with his family, and spotting, chasing and watching butterflies.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 29^th January:
Micah 6: 1-8

1 Corinthians 1: 18-31

Matthew 5: 1-12

Psalm 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.

Episode 73: with Kirsty-Ann Mabbott for Sunday 22nd January

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Kirsty-Ann Mabbott.

Kirsty-Ann Mabbott is a Church Related Community Worker in the United Reformed Church. They are a practical, political and queer theologian. Many currently believe that 2020 was the most life changing year they have faced recently, but for Kirsty 2022 was that year, having had emergency spinal surgery and finding out they were becoming physically less able-bodied (differently-abled) and also gaining their Post Graduate Diploma in Contextual Theology (completing the MA wasn't possible while recovering from major surgery). More academic study in the future is a definite possibility. For now Kirsty is learning to live differently, reading philosophy and popular culture books and has joined a Christian dating site. They don't have a favourite philosopher, but their theologian ideal is Marcella Althaus-Reid, Their favourite books are The Hobbit & The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien) and The Wayward Children Series (Seanan McGuire). They believe books are always better than the film and punk/grunge/rock/metal is the best type of music as it is political and personal, protest and riot and most of all real.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 22^nd January:
Isaiah 9: 1-4

1 Corinthians 1: 10-18

Matthew 4: 12-23

Psalm 27: 1, 4-9

‘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 72: Rev. Dr Mike Long for Sunday 15th January

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Geoffrey is chatting to Rev. Dr. Mike Long.

Revd Mike Long is currently the minister at Notting Hill Methodist Church in West London, following appointments in the London area and North Wales over the past thirty years or so. He studied Theology & Politics during his ministerial training, and has always had a keen interest in community engagement, poverty and economics as well as politics. His PhD was on the Jubilee 2000 campaign and the theology of international debt. He serves on the Church’s advisory panel on the ethics of investment and assists with the theological work attached to the Walking With Micah project. Mike chaired Shelter’s Commission on Social Housing which published its report in 2019 and remains passionate about this – not least amid the gross overcrowding and stark inequalities of Notting Hill.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 15^th January:
Isaiah 49: 1-7

1 Corinthians 1: 1-9

John 1: 29-42

Psalm 40: 1-11

‘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 71: Rev. Geoffrey Farrar for Sunday 27th November

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Lee is chatting to her successor, our new host – Rev. Geoffrey Farrar.

Geoffrey Farrar is a Methodist minister in Putney, south west London. Before he was ordained, he served for ten years in the House of Commons as a clerk, one of the permanent secretariat at parliament. He worked with select committees and in the legislation service, and was able to see how politics affected every area of our society. He is committed to connecting how we pray and read our scriptures to how we vote and live. 

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 27^th November:
Isaiah 2:1-5

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

Psalm 122

‘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 70: Rev. David Hardman for Sunday 20th November

This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Lee is chatting to Rev. David Hardman.

Dave joined the JPIT team as the Methodist Team Leader and Deputy JPIT Team Leader in September 2021. He is a Methodist Presbyter who has served city-centre, inner city and suburban congregations in Manchester and London. Previously, he worked for Christian Aid as Senior Regional Coordinator in the North West. He lives in Manchester.

They discuss the lectionary readings for Sunday 20^th November:
Jeremiah 23:1-6

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Psalm 46 or Luke 1:68-79

‘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.