Politics in the Pulpit

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 has worked on advocating for policy change for several years, particularly focussing on the climate an...

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 University of Glasgow. Prior to this William worked at Apple where he led unionising efforts in the first union...

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 26:30 – Romans 1: 1-7 35:47 – Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 41:59 - Isaiah 7: 10-16  

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 (Magnificat) 12:04 - Isaiah 35: 1-10 21:14 – James 5: 7-10 25:33 - Matthew 11: 2-11 30:52 – Psalm 146: 5...

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 readings for Sunday 7th December. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:15 - Matthew 3: 1-12 11:35 - Romans 15: 4-13...

The first episode of the new Advent season of Politics in the Pulpit is hosted by Politics in the Pulpit editor Erica Lees-Smith, and features guests and JPIT team members Alex Clare-Young and Thomas Niblett. We are trialing some live on site episodes during advent. This week, Erica, Alex and Thomas explore the lectionary readings for Sunday 30th November.

The tenth and final episode of this season of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and features our special guest, Nicola Robinson! Nicola Anne Robinson is a URC Minister, currently serving in the Leeds URC Partnership. She has a strong commitment to social and environmental justice, for people and planet who are experiencing marginalisation and exclusion, both locall...

The ninth episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest, Lindsey Sanderson! Lindsey is a URC minister, serving as Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland since January 2024. She currently represents the Synod Moderators on the JPIT strategy group. Her commitment to social justice plays a strong part of her Christian faith. She ser...

The eighth episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Alex Clare-Young, and featuring our special guest, Mark Rowland!   Mark is Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee for the Methodist Church in Britain. He has been a Methodist minister since 2009 and his formation stretched from inner city Sheffield to the United States. He was awarded his PhD for a thesis entitled “A queer a...

The seventh episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest, Phil Nevard! Other than a few years dabbling in other jobs, Phil has been a URC minister for most of his working life - over 30 years.  For all of that time Phil has managed to escape temptation into regional URC jobs and has happily followed his calling to be a local church m...

The sixth episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest Claire Nicholls! Claire is Regional Minister for London Baptists, looking after 80 plus churches in South East London. She also oversees the Justice Hub in the association and has a particular focus on enabling and empowering women in leadership. She is a director of the London B...

The fifth episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest Melanie Smith! Reverend Melanie Smith is the Training and Development officer and Pastoral Consultant for the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church. She is also a Synod Green Apostle and a trained mediator through Place for Hope. Previously, Melanie served for two yea...

The fourth episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest Sarah Edwards! Sarah Edwards is Executive Director of the JustMoney Movement, an ecumenical education and campaigning charity which has a vision of a world where money is used to shape a greener, fairer future for all. Sarah oversees the organisation’s work, which aims to resour...

The third episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest Pat Bennett! Pat is a writer, scholar and liturgist who has worked at the intersections of the humanities and sciences fostering conversation, exploration and the exchange of ideas. She has a background in both science and theology. She is a member of the Iona Community, for whom...

The second episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is hosted by Stephen Ansa-Addo, and featuring our special guest Fiona Haworth! Fiona is a member of the Iona Community and an associate priest in the Church of England, based in St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich.  She has a long interest in issues of justice and peace, the intersection of science and faith, and climate and nature, and find...

The first episode of Politics in the Pulpit Autumn 2025 is a handover episode featuring special guest Stephen Ansa-Addo, who will be your host for the next ten episodes!   Stephen is a United Reformed Church Minister serving a cluster of three churches in Berkshire who is passionate about living out the Gospel, pursuing justice, and exploring God in popular culture and current affairs.   This week...

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 Visit...

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 C...

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. Mol...

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 a...

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 Wes...

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 Commun...