Politics in the Pulpit

Politics in the Pulpit

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.

Episodes

July 11, 2025 40 mins

Join our host Alex Clare-Young for the final episode of the season as they speak to Father Angus Ritchie and Simeon Mitchell to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday 20th July.

Drawing on the lectionary readings:

  • Genesis 18:1-10a - A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah
  • Colossians 1:15-28 - The Supremacy of Christ / Paul’s Interest in the Colossians
  • Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

Father...

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Join our host Alex Clare-Young as they welcome Dr Frances Clemson and Roo Stewart to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 13th July.

This week’s discussion draws upon the following lectionary readings:

  • Deuteronomy 30:9-14 - God’s Faithfulness
  • Colossians 1:1-14 - Paul Thanks God for the Colossians
  • Luke 10:25-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Dr Frances Clemson is Christian Aid's Faith Com...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Molly Boot and Roo Stewart to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 6th July.  

Their discussion draws upon the Lectionary, this week being:  

-  Isaiah 66:10-14 - The Worship God Demands  

- Galatians 6:1-16 - Bear One Another’s Burdens  

-  Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 - The Mission of the Seventy  

Revd. Molly Boot is a theologian, musician a...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Mel Beaven and Paul Morrison to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching, drawing upon the Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21, Galatians 5:1, 13-25 and Luke 9:51-62.

 

Mel Beaven is a Methodist Deacon and lives in Birmingham. Since 2020, she has been a tutor at The Queen’s Foundation, teaching Pastoral Theology, Mission & Evangelism and Leadership in Social Justice. Sh...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Jennifer Smith and Steve Tinning to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 22nd of June, drawing upon the Lectionary:

  • Isaiah 65:1-9 - The Righteousness of God’s Judgement
  • Galatians 3:23-29 - Law or Faith
  • Luke 8:26-39 - Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

Jennifer Smith is a Methodist Minister serving as Superintendent of Wesley's Chapel and Leysian...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Jo Clare-Young and Paul Morrison to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching for Trinity Sunday, drawing upon the lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31 (The Gifts of Wisdom), Romans 5:1-5 (Results of Justification) and John 16:12-15 (The Work of the Spirit).

Jo Clare-Young is a minister ordained in the URC tradition, a member of the Iona Community. She currently spend her days n...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Fiona MacMillan and Florence Wright to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 8th June. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary, this week being: Genesis 11:1-9 (The Tower of Babel), Acts 2:1-21 (The Coming of the Holy Spirit) and John 14:8-17 & 25-27 (The Promise of the Holy Spirit).

 

Our guest, Fiona, is a disabled and neurodiv...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young is joined by Graham McGeoch and Florence Wright (JPIT Intern) to discuss how politics could appear in our preaching. 

They draw upon the lectionary: Acts 16:16-34 (Paul and Silas in Prison), Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 Epilogue and Benediction) and John 17:20-26 (Jesus Prays for His Disciples). 

 

Graham McGeoch works for the Council for World Mission. He taught Theology & Religious S...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Gary Hall and Steve Hucklesby to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 25th of May. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary: Acts 16:9-15 (The Conversion of Lydia), Revelation 21:10,22–22:5 (Vision of the New Jerusalem / The River of Life) and John 14:23-29 (The Promise of the Holy Spirit). Gary is a Methodist presbyter serving at th...

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Alex Clare-Young and Roo Stewart speak to our guest this week, Alison Webster. They discuss this week's lectionary readings: Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem), Revelation 21:1-6 (The New Heaven and the New Earth), and John 13:31-35 (The New Commandment).

Alison is General Secretary of Modern Church and Mission Theologian in Residence at Citizens UK, the Community Organising Charity. She was, for many years, D...

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This week our host Alex Clare-Young talks to Sam Wells and Paul Morrison to ask the provocative question of how politics could appear in our preaching for Sunday the 11th of May. Their discussion draws upon the lectionary, this week being: Acts 9:36-43 (Peter and Dorcas or Tabitha), Revelation 7:9-17 (The Multitude from Every Nation) and John 10:22-30 (Jesus is Rejected). 

Our guest this week, Sam Wells, speaks, preaches and broadc...

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Politics in the Pulpit is back after a short break! This season is hosted by Alex Clare-Young, JPIT’s new Campaigns and Churches Officer.

This week we have Simon Cross helping us discuss the lectionary for Sunday the 4th of May from a faith and politics perspective, looking at Acts 9:1-20 (The Conversion of Saul), Revelation 5:11-14 (The Scroll and the Lamb) and John 21:1-19 (Jesus Appears to the Seven Disciples).

Simon Cross is a ...

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This week we have Revd Roy Searle helping us discuss the lectionary for Sunday the 23rd of March from a faith and politics perspective, looking at Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9.

JPIT’s Steve Hucklesby also joins this conversation with Clare Williams as our host. They discuss the importance of remembering God as the source of life amidst injustice and leaning into the prophetic. Alongside they cons...

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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host Clare Williams and JPIT Team member Paul Morrison, chat to Revd David Mayne. 

David Mayne is a a previous host of politics in the pulpit and Regional Minister Team Leader for the Eastern Baptist Association, supporting 170 Baptist churches in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Dave is Essex born and bred, and his work has consistently focused on topics of justice a...

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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our guest host and JPIT Team Leader, Simeon Mitchell, chats to William Gibson.   William Gibson is a candidate for ministry in the Church of Scotland and PhD student at the University of Glasgow researching secularisation, mission and the Church of Scotland in the 1960s. Prior to this William worked as the Student Christian Movement’s theology and resources project worker and hosted...
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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to Cathy Bird. They are joined by Florence Wright, another member of the JPIT team.   Cathy is a Methodist Minister, currently with permission to serve the Congregational Church. She is minister at Union Chapel, in the Highbury area of London; Union Chapel, as well as being known as a leading performance venue, is also a community of Christians of div...
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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to JPIT member Florence Wright. They are joined by Aoife Wright, another member of the JPIT team.   Florence brings a strong background in environmental justice and student activism, having been actively involved with ‘Just Love,’ a Christian student social justice society at Durham University. She is deeply committed to the intersection of faith and ...
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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to Hannah Fremont Brown. They are joined by Roo Stewart, a member of the JPIT team.   Hannah coordinates 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 membe...
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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to Jeronne Rudder. They are joined by Steve Tinning, a member of the JPIT team.   Jeronne is a pastor, theologian, speaker, and all-around Bible nerd who is passionate about seeing people live lives shaped by love and justice. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in theology, he brings a deep well of knowledge and insight to his work.   Jeronne is th...
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In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Clare Williams, chats to Tom Price. They are joined by Aoife Wright, a member of the JPIT team. 

Tom Price studied Philosophy at university and later completed an MA in Christian Apologetics, and is currently undertaking doctoral research in theology, philosophy and film. 

In recent years Tom has spoken to all kinds of audiences – at various levels of questioning – in diff...

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