Politics in the Pulpit

Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)
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A weekly series for preachers, ministers and worship leaders, discussing the dimensions of justice present in the Bible readings explored by many churches each Sunday, and reflecting on how they connect with current affairs and our calling to be justice seekers.

  1. 4d ago

    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 this podcast) before working on Methodists for Ukraine and then joining JustMoney Movement, a Christian charity with a vision for a world where money shapes a fairer, greener future. He is passionate about equipping people for action and seeing them grow in confidence as they learn how they can exert agency in the world, and he lives in East London where he serves as a deacon at his local Baptist church. This week, Naomi, Matt, and Simeon explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 14th June. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 08:12 - Romans 5: 1-8 14:36 - Matthew 9: 35 – 10: 8(9-23) 28:50 - Genesis 18: 1–15 37:20 - Psalm 116: 1–2, 12-19 Mentions JustMoney Movement - https://justmoney.org.uk/ Baptist Union NextUp learning community for 18-35s - https://www.baptist.org.uk/nextup Tommy Sharpe’s blog reflecting on the Tommy Robinson counter-demonstration - https://tommysharpe.substack.com/p/the-need-to-see-one-another-lessons Refugee Week 2026 - https://refugeeweek.org/

    41 min

  2. Jun 1

    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 inclusive - meaning it's often challenging but valuing everyone's voice in the room. She has a PhD in biblical studies, specifically bible translation, and research expertise in the history of interpretation of biblical texts, particularly in subcultures, and from the hermeneutical perspective of gender and disability. She also is the president of the International Society of Metal Music Studies and writing a book on the Bible in heavy metal culture. She has ME so doing any of these things takes three times as long as healthy people but Revive are very kind and let her be herself, that's how she came to be doing a podcast with Simon on sex and church this last year.  Simon Hall is a Baptist Minister who divides his time between supporting pioneering, podcasting with Charlotte at A God We Could Believe In and as part of The Northumbrian Collective, and writing a graphic novel about St George and English Nationalism. He lives in Leeds with his wife Anna, a TV Documentarian. This week, Naomi, Charlotte, Simon and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 7th June. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:02 - Genesis 12: 1-9 13:52 - Romans 4: 13-25 21:40 - Psalm 33: 1-12 26:39 - Matthew 9: 9-13,18-26 Mentions A God We Could Believe In podcast, hosted by Simon and Charlotte - https://open.spotify.com/show/4IlVQQJ7Qz6B88XRGqAD7f?si=cac74298fb8848e6 Live: How Would Jesus ‘Unite the Kingdom’? - A God We Could Believe In with Helen Paynter https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EoWbY1DSDaFVmt12baDML?si=e9c8ee2170d54845 JPIT’s refugee family reunion campaign - https://jpit.uk/refugee-reunion How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace by Melissa Florer-Bixler JPIT’s resource bank for responding to Christian nationalism - https://jpit.uk/responding-to-christian-nationalism Better Story - https://www.betterstory.info/ The Bible and Disability: A Commentary edited by Sarah Melcher, Mikeal C Parsons and Amos Young Environment Sunday resources - https://jpit.uk/issues/environment

    44 min

  3. May 25

    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 Walden Baptist Church in Essex since 2013. Married to Karen, they have 2 adult sons and a shared love for wildlife and remote Scottish islands. John grew up in a Methodist family in the Derbyshire High Peak, and began training as a Methodist Local Preacher at the age of 16. Themes of inclusion and welcome are prominent in his theology and preaching, with a particular emphasis on the Biblical imperative for the full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ siblings within the Body of Christ. Much to everyone's surprise, not least his own, the last couple of years has seen a growing interest in running and he is a regular participant in Parkrun.  This week, Naomi, John and Paul explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 31st May. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:18 - Genesis 1: 1 – 2: 4a 18:20 - Psalm 8 26:00 – Matthew 28: 16-20 and 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Mentions A Million Acts of Hope campaign (13-20 May 2026) -  https://millionactsofhope.org/about

    39 min

  4. May 18

    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 vision of the future where poverty can’t keep anyone down. She is passionate about supporting churches and Christians to campaign and walk alongside our communities for justice. She is a member of Hinde Street Methodist Church, and has just completed an MA in Theology, Mission and Ministry. She is a great friend of JPIT, having been an intern and Campaigns & church engagement officer with us! This week, Naomi, Hannah and Paul explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 24th May. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 06:00 - Acts 2: 1-21 16:24 - 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 26:00 - Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 32:35 - John 20: 19-23 Mentions Mentions Addressing Anti-Judaism in Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide: Updated Lectionary Recommendations (The Methodist Church) - https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-chur... Trussell - https://www.trussell.org.uk/ Trussell’s Walking Humbly Bible study resources - Walking_Humbly_Bible_Studies.pdf

    40 min

  5. May 11

    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 Together in King’s Lynn, working closely with other denominations and local organisations. June is passionate about helping people engage deeply with Scripture in ways that connect with everyday life, and is actively involved in community initiatives including the local foodbank and creating spaces for public conversation such as election hustings. She is particularly interested in how faith speaks into issues of justice, community, and wellbeing. This week, Naomi, June and Steve explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 17th May. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:00 – Acts 1: 6-14 11:15 – Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 23:53 – John 17: 1-11 31:20 – 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11 Mentions A Million Acts of Hope campaign (13-20 May 2026) -  https://millionactsofhope.org/about Mentions Addressing Anti-Judaism in Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide: Updated Lectionary Recommendations (The Methodist Church) - https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-chur... Churches Together in England - https://cte.org.uk/

    42 min

  6. May 4

    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 cycling between her churches through the beautiful Kent countryside, which is thankfully fairly flat. In her spare time, she enjoys baking with her two young daughters, wild swimming, and reading Agatha Christie books, although not necessarily all at the same time. She loves that social justice lies at the heart of Methodist identity, and is particularly interested in issues relating to immigration and asylum, the criminal justice system, homelessness, and equality.  This week, Erica, Naomi and Alex explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 10th May. Don’t forget to vote in your local or devolved elections on 7th May! TW: this episode briefly mentions sexual assault at 34:05-15. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 06:27 - Acts 17: 22-31 and 1 Peter 3: 13-22 16:30 - Psalm 66: 8-20 30:20 - John 14: 15-21   Mentions Addressing Anti-Judaism in Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide: Updated Lectionary Recommendations (The Methodist Church) - https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-chur... Together Alliance - https://www.togetheralliance.org.uk/ Sign your church up to our Constituency Action Network to form a positive and purposeful relationship with your MP – jpit.uk/can Watch our new CAN film (April 2026) - https://youtu.be/SPkQq3Oj81A?si=XvIPn2kzDPW2WHnK Right to protest faith leaders letter – https://cte.org.uk/churches-warn-over-right-to-protest/ Compassion UK prayers for elections - https://www.compassionuk.org/blogs/prayers-for-elections/

    40 min

  7. Apr 28

    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 Peter 2: 2-10 • 32:42 - John 14: 1-14 Mentions Addressing Anti-Judaism in Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide: Updated Lectionary Recommendations (The Methodist Church) - https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-chur... ‘Bible Society say their Quiet Revival report was wrong. Now what?’ Premier Christianity https://www.premierchristianity.com/r... Christians for Impact - https://www.christiansforimpact.org/

    39 min

  8. Apr 20

    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 Deanery and the vice Chair of Leicester Diocese Diocesan Board of Education. This week, Liz, Thomas and Roo explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 26 April.

    49 min
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About

A weekly series for preachers, ministers and worship leaders, discussing the dimensions of justice present in the Bible readings explored by many churches each Sunday, and reflecting on how they connect with current affairs and our calling to be justice seekers.

Information

  • Creator
    Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT)
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Politics in the Pulpit

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