Politics in the Pulpit
by Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)
Connecting current affairs and the Bible together through the lens of justice. Guests each week share with our host how they would approach the Lectionary readings for the following Sunday, with ‘the Bible in one hand and the newspapers in the other’. Usually released on Tuesday mornings during term time. A Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) production.
Episodes
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Winter 2026 Episode 1 - Steve Tinning (Sunday 8 November)
In her first episode as host, Angie is joined by JPIT's Steve Tinning to unpack the lectionary readings for Sunday 8th November. On a weekend where many churches will be marking Remembrance Sunday, they reflect on how we remember the past truthfully, how we hold grief alongside hope, and how we...
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Autumn 2026 Episode 7 - Deacon Angie Allport (Sunday 1st November)
In this week's Politics in the Pulpit, Jo hosts her final episode before handing over to Angie Allport, Methodist deacon and tutor at The Queen's Foundation. Alongside Roo Stewart, Angie reflects on the readings for All Saints' Day: 📖 Revelation 7:9-17 📖 Psalm 34 📖 1 John 3:1-13 📖 Matthew...
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Autumn 2026 Episode 6 - Rev. James Treasure (Sunday 25th October)
What does faithful leadership look like when change comes slowly? In this week's Politics in the Pulpit, Jo and JPIT's Erin Kennedy are joined by Rev. James Treasure, Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro, to discuss legacy, long-term social transformation, authentic leadership and Jesus'...
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Autumn 2026 Episode 5 - Anthony Reddie (Sunday 18th October)
This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Jo and JPIT's Adam are joined by theologian Anthony Reddie to explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 18 October. As churches across the UK mark Black History Month, the conversation reflects on liberation theology and the colonial realities of the world...
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Autumn 2026 Episode 4 - Simeon Mitchell & Roo Stewart (Sunday 11th October)
How do we understand the character of God? Can holy rage and peace sit alongside one another? And what does it mean to be co-creators with God in a world that desperately needs justice and hope? This week on Politics in the Pulpit, Jo Cox Darling is joined by Simeon Mitchell and Roo Stewart to...
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Autumn 2026 Episode 3 - Simon Jones (Sunday 4th October)
Join Joanne Cox-Darling, Simon Jones and JPIT Team Leader Simeon Mitchell as they explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 4th October. This week, the discussion focused on God's just economy and what the biblical vision of rest, wealth, and responsibility might mean for Christians today.
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Autumn 2026 Episode 2: Amanda Higgin
Listen to our new episode of Politics in the Pulpit with guest Amanda Higgin! Hosted by Joanne Cox-Darling with JPIT's Adam Aucock, they discuss how power, politics, and authority relate to this week's lectionary readings.
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Autumn Episode 1 - Simon Perry (20th September 2026)
Listen to our latest episode of Politics in the Pulpit to hear Joanne & Simon discuss faith, politics, and God's economy of grace
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Host Handover: Revd. Dr. Joanne Cox-Darling 13 September
Host Eddie Boon closes the season with new host Revd Dr Joanne Cox-Darling and Roo Stewart from JPIT, exploring the lectionary readings for Sept 13 (Exodus 14, Psalm 114, Romans 14, Matthew 18). The episode examines themes of justice, the danger of power, debt and forgiveness, and how worship and...
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Summer Episode 18 - Dr Coco Parkinson-Huggins (6th September)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Dr Coco Parkinson-Huggins! Dr Coco Parkinson-Huggins is a researcher and writer currently based at Theos Think Tank. She recently completed her PhD on UK benefit policy at the University of Cambridge,...
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Summer Episode 17 - Genesis Padgett (30th August)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Genesis Padgett! Genesis is currently the Youth President of the Methodist Church in Britain, which involves meeting young people from across the UK and making their voices heard in the Church. They are…
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Summer Episode 16 - Denise Dobie (23 August)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Denise Dobie! Denise worked in the NHS for 30 years, 27 years of that as a GP and was involved in educating and training medical students and GPs. She met her husband Donald at Medical School, and they...
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Summer Episode 15 - Andy Flannagan (16th August)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Andy Flannagan! Andy Flannagan’s album “Drowning in the Shallow” was described as “near-perfect” by Cross Rhythms, but he remains disappointingly imperfect. He wrote the critically-acclaimed book “Those...
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Summer Episode 14 - Dave Mann (9th August)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Dave Mann! Dave Mann has been involved in urban mission since the ’80’s in Tower Hamlets, and has been pastoring and church planting in London since 1996. He has extensive experience of setting up and...
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Summer Episode 13 - Michael Jagessar (2nd August)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Alex Clare-Young for one week only, and features our special guest Michael Jagessar! Revd Dr Michael N. Jagessar is a theologian-writer-researcher-blogger and retired minister of the United Reformed Church. He describes himself as an...
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Summer Episode 12 - Nathan Jones (26th July)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Nathan Jones! Rev Nathan Jones is the Senior Minister of Oasis Church Waterloo and Executive Director of Oasis Hub Waterloo, a charity committed to radical local community transformation. Oasis runs the...
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Summer Episode 11 - Julie Bryan (19th July)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Eddie Boon, and features our special guest Julie Bryan! Julie is a part-time minister at a small Baptist church in the north of England, in the area where she grew up. She holds a master’s degree in Contextual Theology from Luther King…
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Summer Episode 10 - Eddie Boon (12th July)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest, and next host, Eddie Boon! Eddie serves the Thames North Synod of the United Reformed Church as Discipleship Enabler (Special Category Ministry). His main focus is encouraging people, leaders and...
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Summer Episode 9 - Anthony Lees-Smith (5th July)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Anthony Lees-Smith! Canon Dr Anthony Lees-Smith is Canon Missioner at Chester Cathedral where he oversees the education programme, arts and exhibitions, and community engagement. A former primary…
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Summer Episode 8 - Anna Jones (29th June)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Anna Jones! This week, Naomi, Anna, and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 28th June. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 08:05 - Genesis 22: 1-14 20:22 - Psalm 13 25:55 - Romans 6: 12-23 36:33 -...
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Summer Episode 7 - Kathy Bevan (21st June)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Kathy Bevan! Kathy is the Evangelism & Justice Enabler for the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Methodist District and also a student Deacon, studying part time at Queens Foundation. Her work across the District...
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Summer Episode 6 - Matt Ceaser (14th June)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest Matt Ceaser! Matt is the 18-35s Development Coordinator for the Baptist Union, working to make space for a new generation of leaders in Baptist life. He was previously a JPIT intern (and producer of…
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Summer Episode 5 - Simon Hall & Charlotte Naylor-Davis (7th June)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guests Charlotte Naylor Davis and Simon Hall! Charlotte Naylor Davis is a part-time minister and academic based in Leeds. her church community, Revive, is small, meeting in houses, teaching is discursive and...
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Summer Episode 4 - John Goddard (31st May)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates and features our special guest John Goddard! Revd John Goddard has been an ordained Baptist Minister for almost 30 years. Having served churches in rural Oxfordshire and industrial South Cumbria, he has been the Minister of Saffron...
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Summer Episode 3 - Hannah Fremont-Brown (24th May)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates and features our special guest Hannah Fremont-Brown! Hannah has recently come back to the Methodist church as the Justice Seeking Church Officer. She previously coordinated Let’s End Poverty, a movement of people united behind a…
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Summer Episode 2 - June Love (17th May)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Naomi Oates, and features our special guest June Love! June Love is a Baptist minister based in Norfolk, serving at King’s Lynn Baptist Church. She is also the ecumenical officer for the Baptist Church in Norfolk & Waveney, and chairs Churches...
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Summer Episode 1 - Naomi Oates (10th May)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Erica Lees-Smith, and features our special guest and new season host, Naomi Oates! The Revd Naomi Oates is a Methodist minister in the North Kent Circuit. She works with four churches and one Methodist community without a building. She loves...
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The JPIT Interns (3rd May)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Adam Aucock, and features our special guests, the JPIT interns! This week, Adam, Erica and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 3rd May. Timestamps • 00:00 – Intro • 11:32 - Acts 7: 55-60 • 18:36 - Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 • 26:12 - 1...
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26 April - Revd. Liz Wilson
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Thomas Niblett, and features our special guest, Liz Wilson! Liz is the Vicar of St Anne, St Paul and St Augustine, Leicester, three parishes (with two churches) in the west of the city. In addition, she is the Area Dean for the City of Leicester...
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Jonty Langley (19th April)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Erica Lees-Smith, and features our special guest, Jonty Langley! Jonty Langley is a writer and commentator on religion, culture and politics. A former news columnist for Baptist Times and creative content lead at a missionary society, Jonty is…
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Matt Forsyth (12th April)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Hannah Fremont-Brown, and features our special guest, Matt Forsyth! Matt, who serves currently as the Vice President of the Methodist Conference (25-26) and the Mission Team Leader in the Northampton District. A hopeful realist who lives in the...
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Aniko Schuetz Bradwell - Easter Sunday special (5th April)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Thomas Niblett, and features our special guest, Aniko Schuetz Bradwell! Aniko is a Church of Scotland parish minister at Lammermuir Church, a rural parish of seven villages in a farming area of East Lothian, where she has been for just over ten...
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David Coleman - Palm Sunday special (29th March)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Erica Lees-Smith, and features our special guest, David Coleman! The Reverend David Coleman is Environmental Chaplain for Eco Congregation Scotland, a post gifted by the United Reformed Church. Without formal authority, he’s nonetheless well…
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Jenny Mills (22nd March)
Listen to the latest episode of Politics in the Pulpit for Sunday 22 March. Hosted by Alex Clare-Young with guest Jenny Mills and JPIT team member Paul Morrison.
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Spring Episode 10 - Al Barrett (15th March)
This is the final episode of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 hosted by our wonderful host William Gibson, and features special guest, Al Barrett! Revd Dr Al Barrett has been Rector of Hodge Hill Church (a CofE-URC local ecumenical partnership) in east Birmingham since 2010. He has been...
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Spring Episode 9 - Grace Thomas (8th March)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Grace Thomas! Grace is the Canon Missioner at Manchester Cathedral, as well as Diocesan Environment Officer and Associate Tutor at Luther King Centre. Grace's publications include a...
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Spring Episode 8 - Teri Peterson (1st March)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Teri Peterson! Teri is a Church of Scotland minister, serving the parish of St John’s in Gourock. She came to Scotland in 2017 from Chicago where she was a minister in the...
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Spring Episode 7 - Rachel Summers (22nd February)
This episode of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Rachel Summers! Rachel Summers is an ordained pioneer priest in the Church of England. She lives in East London and loves that she has the forest on her doorstep and the city all...
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Spring Episode 6 - Jack Wakefield (15th February)
The next episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Jack Wakefield! Jack is a campaigner with over a decade of experience influencing change across climate, health, justice and inequality. His work has included...
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Spring Episode 5 - Laura Durrant (8th February)
The next episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Laura Durrant! Laura is a reporter and editorial team member for S(h)ibboleth magazine and a co-host of the Beer Christianity podcast. She is a communications...
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Spring Episode 4 - Cat Whitehouse (1st February)
The next episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Cat Whitehouse! Cat Whitehouse is the Faith in Action Project Worker for Student Christian Movement. Her work is shaped by a deep interest in how faith and…
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Spring Episode 3 - David Hardman (25th January)
The third episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Dave Hardman! Revd David Hardman is currently serving as the Methodist Liaison Office, Jerusalem for the Methodist Church in Britain. Ordained in 1994 he has...
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Spring Episode 2 - Adam Aucock (18th January)
The second episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by William Gibson, and features our special guest, Adam Aucock! Adam Aucock is a new member of the JPIT team working as the Advocacy Coordinator within the Methodist Church. Adam is from a Baptist background and...
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Spring Episode 1 - William Gibson (11th January)
The first episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit for Spring 2026 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and features our special guest and new host, William Gibson! William is a candidate for ministry in the Church of Scotland and a PhD student in Theology and Religious Studies at the…
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Christmas Special 3/3
Alex, Christine, Erica, and Thomas discuss the readings for 4 January. Don't forget to listen to parts 1 and 3 of our Christmas special and watch this space for a new host and a return to our traditional format in the new year.
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Christmas Special 2/3
Alex, Christine, Erica, and Thomas discuss the readings for 28 December. Don't forget to listen to parts 1 and 3 of our Christmas special and watch this space for a new host and a return to our traditional format in the new year.
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Politics in the Pulpit Christmas special 1/3
Alex, Christine, Erica, and Thomas discuss the readings for Christmas Day. Don't forget to listen to parts 2 and 3 of our Christmas special and watch this space for a new host and a return to our traditional format in the new year.
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Episode 4 - Thomas Niblett with Hannah Fremont-Brown and Roo Stewart (21st December)
The fourth episode of our Advent specials of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Thomas Niblett, and features Hannah Fremont-Brown and JPIT member Roo Stewart! This week, Thomas, Hannah, and Roo explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 21st December. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro Matthew 1: 18-25...
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Episode 3 - Erica Lees-Smith with Neil Thorogood and Steve Tinning (14th December)
The third episode of our Advent specials of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Erica Lees-Smith, and features Neil Thorogood and JPIT member Steve Tinning! This week, Erica, Neil, and Steve explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 14th December. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 06:33 – Luke 1: 47-55...
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Episode 2 - Thomas Niblett with Erica Lees-Smith and Simeon Mitchell (7th December)
The second episode of the Advent season of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Thomas Niblett, and features guests and JPIT team members Erica Lees-Smith and Simeon Mitchell. We are trialling some live on-site episodes during advent. This week, Thomas, Erica, and Simeon explore the lectionary...
About this show
Connecting current affairs and the Bible together through the lens of justice. Guests each week share with our host how they would approach the Lectionary readings for the following Sunday, with ‘the Bible in one hand and the newspapers in the other’. Usually released on Tuesday mornings during term time. A Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) production.
Hosted by
Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)
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