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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 discern where out deepest loyalties lie. Readings: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Psalm 78:1-7 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 Listen now and join in on the conversation

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 5:1-12 Together they explore the themes of seeing and looking, faithful presence and the Beatitudes. The discussion considers the challenge of being not only co-heirs with Christ, but also co-workers in God's mission, while reflecting on persecution, suffering, death and the witness of the saints.  Listen now and join the conversation.

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' call to love our neighbour.  From Moses seeing but never entering the Promised Land to the challenge of building community in a divided society, this episode reflects on what it means to serve faithfully, lead with humility and hold on to hope.  Find out more about the Love Thy Neighbour Conference and book your ticket here: Love Thy Neighbour conference, 24 October 2026 – Joint Public Issues Team

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 Jesus inhabited. Together, they discuss what it means to speak truth in an age of political polarisation, how Christian faith calls us towards sacrificial love, and remembering that God's purposes do not depend on us alone. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on faith, justice and hope. 587/5000

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 discuss the lectionary readings for 11th October.  A thoughtful discussion for anyone preparing worship, preaching, or engaging with the week's scriptures.

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.

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.

Listen to our latest episode of Politics in the Pulpit to hear Joanne & Simon discuss faith, politics, and God's economy of grace

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 preaching can respond to climate disasters, social inequality and communal discipleship.

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, where she also lectured on issues ranging from the role of media and culture in policymaking, to the NHS and public health, insecure work and the gig economy in the Department of Geography. Her current research at Theos includes Christianity, nationhood and “Christian Nationalism” in the UK, as well as global experiences of motherhood. This is alongside her work on policy and impact. This week, Eddie, Coco, and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 6th September.   Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 07:11 – Exodus 12:1-14 12:21 – Psalm 149 21:53 – Romans 13: 8-14 29:22 – Matthew 18: 15-20     Mentions Better Story, JPIT, Christian Aid and Fellowship of Reconciliation’s ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ conference (October 2026) - https://jpit.uk/love-thy-neighbour-conference-2026 Eddie’s volunteering in Kosovo was with the NGO Smile International - https://www.smileinternational.org/ 1 John 4 – ‘God is Love’ and Ephesians 6 ‘The Armour of God’ - Mentioned by Coco as helpful companion passages https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204&version=NIV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206&version=NIVEphesians 6 NIV - Children, obey your parents in the - Bible Gateway The poem ‘Forbearance’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Holding on to bitterness – the opposite to the Matthew passage! - https://www.poetry.com/poem/34248/forbearance The life of Edith Cavell – her famous quote ‘It is not enough love one’s own people, one must love all men and hate none’ as a reflection on the bitter hatred of the First World War - https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/story/26080

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 a local preacher on trial in the Barnsley circuit in Sheffield. They also volunteer with the Exodus Project, which works with children and youth in deprived areas around Barnsley and Wakefield, who may be struggling with poverty or mental health issues. This week, Eddie, Genesis, and Erica explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 30th August. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 07:03 - Matthew 16: 21-28 16:21 - Romans 12: 9-21 25:12 - Exodus 3: 1-15   Mentions The Exodus Project, Barnsley and Wakefield - https://exodusproject.org.uk/ Stop Rosebank’s campaign - https://www.stopcambo.org.uk/ Greenbelt Festival 2026, ‘Let it all go’ - https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ Wealth tax campaigns - https://taxjustice.uk/campaign/taxing-wealth/ Better Story, JPIT, Christian Aid and Fellowship of Reconciliation’s ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ conference (October 2026) - https://jpit.uk/love-thy-neighbour-conference-2026 Church of England ‘Difference’ course - https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/difference

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 have raised three, now grown up, children together. In 2017, Denise stepped back from medicine as her primary vocation to train as a Baptist minister and worked bi-vocationally until 2023. She was ordained in the car park of Darkhouse Baptist Church during the COVID19 pandemic and serves that church as half-time minister. Denise is a half-time Regional Minister for Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA) serving the Baptist churches in Staffordshire and Shropshire and with a remit to lead in supporting HEBA in responding to and implementing the commitments to action resulting from Project Violet, (a multi co-researcher, practical theological piece of research into the experience of women in Baptist Ministry in the UK.) Denise chairs the HEBA Justice Hub core team, having been a member of the HEBA Justice Hub since its inauguration in 2020. Denise enjoys walking, singing, cooking and visiting coffee shops whenever she can! This week, Eddie, Denise, and Adam explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 23rd August. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 08:40 - Exodus 1: 8-2: 10 24:10 - Romans 12: 1-8 33:50 - Psalm 124: 1-8 and Matthew 16: 13-20 Mentions Baptist Union’s Project Violet - https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/363245/Project_Violet.aspx A Nazareth Manifesto: Being with God by Sam Wells Christ and Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr Praying Through the Psalms by Yohanna Katanacho The Message translation by Eugene Peterson (Romans 12) - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=MSG

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 Who Show Up” which has inspired many normal people to get involved in politics and is now the Executive Director of Christians in Politics. Longing to see the church invest as much in the ‘dispersed’ as it does in the ‘gathered’, he is leading on releasing and equipping Christians to be influential in the spheres of culture for the Gather UK Movement. His songs “We seek your kingdom” and “Tears and Celebration” have been taking words of worship beyond the sanctuary into the civic space and gleaning huge use around the UK and beyond. He is now helping to co-ordinate the BOUNDLESS collective – songs by UK songwriters for the whole of life, not just Sundays. His worlds collided perfectly in 2022 when leading worship at the now famous National Prayer Breakfast that precipitated a change in Government. This week, Eddie, Andy, and Roo explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 16th August. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 08:25 - Genesis 45: 1-15 20:30 - Psalm 133 31:40 - Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 34:35 - Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28 Mentions Those Who Show Up by Andy Flannagan Christians in Politics – https://www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk/ Gather UK Movement - https://gathermovement.org/

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 running charities and schools and has taught and spoken at churches, conferences and colleges around the world on mission, leadership and community organisation.  Dave has worked across denominations in his role with Seedbeds.org and as one of the founders of Red Letter Christians UK. Dave and his wife Sally are two of five ministers at Bonny Downs Baptist Church in East Ham, all sharing one stipend. Next year Dave & Sally will move in to the new Bonny Downs Abbey to share life and a rhythm of prayer with eight friends moving on from homelessness.  In his spare time, Dave is a pioneer of walking football for over-50’s and chair of Newham Cricket Club.  This week, Eddie, Dave, and Hannah explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 9th August. Timestamps • 00:00 – Intro • 07:20 – Psalm 85: 8-13 • 17:56 – Matthew 14: 22-33 • 23:08 – Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b • 24:53 – Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28 Mentions: Message Translation of 1 Corinthians 13, especially verse 13 - Love extravagantly https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... ‘Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean’, by William Rees, translated by William Edwards: https://hymnary.org/text/here_is_love... Everything must change by Brian McLaren: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro... Red Letter Christians: https://redletterchristians.org.uk/ Dave has contributed to Living for Jesus & Justice – Daily Prayers for Radical Christians – Simon Jones and Red Letter Christians UK: https://www.dltwritingforyou.com/prod... Bonny Downs Baptist Church Is working with NEWway project, J49 Housing Association and Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) to develop Bony Downs Abbey, converting an old church hall into an intentional community committed to sharing life and enabling people to flourish. The Abbey will include 8 studio flats for vulnerable homeless adults & 2 ministry flats, and Dave will move in alongside ministers Jonny and Sally. If you can help us get Bonny Downs Abbey over the line, please give to the fundraising appeal: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/...

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 Indo-Guyanese-Caribbean now living in the UK, or “caribleaper”. This is reflected in his writings, which feature the Caribbean tradition of resisting, negotiating limbo spaces, fighting back and refusing to give up. His religious heritages include Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, meaning that he has a variety of religious impulses. He is interested in all things interreligious, intercultural and hybrid. He gets excited over cricket, big screens and good films, authentic rum punch, good Caribbean curry and of course, the ever-elusive Anancy-Anansi (patron saint of the Caribbean). He calls himself wayward and transgressive! This week, Alex, Michael, and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 2nd August. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 11:08 - Isaiah 55: 1-5 14:43 - Matthew 14: 13-21 29:17 - Genesis 32: 22-31 Mentions Wrestling with Imperial Christianity: Biblical Anti-Domination and Anti-imperial Strategies for Liberation, Justice and Peace in Our Fallen World by Mukti Barton Trussell - https://www.trussell.org.uk/ Church leaders write letter to Andy Burnham - https://jpit.uk/burnham-letter Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhOZv5i7CHY