Politics in the Pulpit

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Matt Forsyth, chats to Revd. Dr Sally Mann. They are joined by Steve Tinning, a member of the JPIT team. Sally is Co-Director of  www.redletterchristians.org.uk  and one of 5 co-vocational ministers at Bonny Downs Baptist, an inclusive church in East London. She is the 4th of 6 generations of her family to stay put and serve in that East-...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Matt Forsyth, chats to Jacob Dimitriou. They are joined by Roo Stewart, a member of the JPIT team. Jacob Dimitriou is the Director for England at Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice, he has previously worked for the Labour Party and Commonweal Housing. Jacob was closely involved in the Everybody In initiative during the pandemi...

Welcome to this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit. Nathan Maguire introduces Matt Forsyth, future Vice President of the Methodist Conference, who takes over hosting duties. Matt is joined by Steve Hucklesby, a policy advisor for the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT). Matt and Steve delve into their roles, emphasising the intersection of politics and faith. They explore the importance of unity...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Isabella Senior.  Isabella is the Young Leaders' Development Coordinator for Baptists Together. She's from Brazil and grew up church planting with her family. Isabella first came to the UK age 15 on a mission trip when she heard God speak to her about not waiting to be older to serve Jesus and to focus on r...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Revd Dr Canon Sarah Hills.  Sarah was born in South Africa and brought up mainly in Northern Ireland. She has been Vicar of Holy Island since January 2019, and Area Dean of Norham for the last 3 years. Before moving to Newcastle Diocese, she served as Canon for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral for five...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Stef Benstead.  Stef is an independent researcher in social security and disability, and is herself dependent upon benefits due to a genetic chronic illness. She is currently studying for a Master's in Theology, Community Development and Social Change at Nazarene Theological College, and has recently brough...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Revd Dr Simon Woodman. Simon is the Minister of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in the West End of London, and has previously been a market stall holder on Camden Market, a Baptist Minister in Bristol, a Tutor at South Wales Baptist College, and a lecturer at Cardiff University. He is married to Liz. Hele...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Dr Trevor Laurence.  Trevor Laurence (PhD, University of Exeter) is the Executive Director of the Cateclesia Institute and Theologian-in-Residence at Trinity Church (PCA) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He serves as a Research Associate with the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence and is the author...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Dr Marion Carson.  Marion Carson lives in Glasgow where she serves as Chaplain to Glasgow City Mission. She is also a senior research fellow at the International Baptist Study Centre in Amsterdam. She is the author of several books and articles, including the Pastoral Care of People with Mental Health Probl...

We're back with a brand new season! In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our new host, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, chats to Revd Jade Zerk.  Jade is a Baptist Pioneer Minister at Hope in Highbridge, working as a consultant to the Trussell Trust Church Engagement Team one day a week. Prior to this Jade was a Community Engagement Worker in a New Housing Estate in Swindon, helped run Communic...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, we focus on the upcoming General Election. With Sunday 30th June being the final Sunday before the General Election on the 4th July.  This episode is hosted by Nathan McGuire, who is the Campaigns and Church Engagement Officer for JPIT, and is a Baptist Minister and is driven by a strong passion for community organising and equipping Christian comm...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Helen Paynter. Helen will take over as our podcast host in our Summer series, beginning on 9th July.  Helen Paynter, PhD, is a minister accredited by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, who now serves as tutor in Old Testament at the Bristol Baptist College. She is the founding director of the Centre for the St...

In this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Dr Lisa Adjei.   Dr. Lisa Adjei is an international speaker and writer who holds a Ph. D. in Biochemistry & Physiology from the University of Surrey in Guildford, where she was also a church leader for many years. Lisa is the founder of  Sankofa Collective , an ecumenical racial justice and reconciliation community...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Tim Judson.   Reverend Doctor Tim Judson is a theologian and Baptist Minister passionate about the intersection of theology, arts, and social justice. He explores how beliefs shape lives, engaging with liberation theologies to challenge systemic inequalities. As one of the few White members of Baptists Together...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Dr Jo Cox-Darling.   Joanne Cox-Darling is Superintendent of the Wolverhampton Methodist Circuit, Chair of the Mission Committee, and trustee of the Southlands Methodist Trust.  A lifelong proponent of holding the space for both justice and evangelism, Joanne continues to help the church notice what God is up to....

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd George Pitcher.   George Pitcher is a visiting fellow at the LSE and an Anglican priest. He's a journalist and writer by background, an occasional broadcaster and a former senior adviser to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. He recently completed 10 years of rural parish ministry in Sussex.  Michael and Geor...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Paul Kerensa.   Paul is a British Comedy Award-winning writer, working on TV shows including Miranda, Not Going Out with Lee Mack, Top Gear, and many more. As a comedian he’s performed over 3000 gigs, from Montreal Comedy Festival to London’s Comedy Store, via countless churches and Christian festivals. He’s author of...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats his brother, Revd Mark Wakelin.   Revd Mark Wakelin is a Methodist Minister in Chessington, in Greater London. Mark has been a Methodist Minister for over 40 years and was President of the Methodist Conference 2012-2013. He is currently Chair of Trustees of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Mark enjoys gardening, singing...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Deacon Eunice Attwood.   Deacon Eunice Attwood is the Church at the Margins Officer for the Methodist Church. Eunice brings over twenty years’ experience of ordained diaconal ministry from a variety of contexts, including theological education and city- and town-centred ministry amongst marginalised and vulnerable comm...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Revd Hayley Young.   Rev Hayley is currently the Regional Minister: co-team leader of Southern Counties Baptist Association.  In 2022-2023 she was President of Baptist Together, she has a passion for encouraging churches to out hospitality at the heart of their mission and ministry.   Michael and Hayley discuss preachi...

In this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, host Michael Wakelin chats to Rev Naomi Nixon.  Naomi is CEO of the Student Christian Movement which has been at the forefront of putting progressive theology into action for over a century. As an Anglican priest, in addition to parish ministry, she has worked in clergy training, college chaplaincy and is currently assistant pioneer minister at St...

In our first episode of this new series, our new host, Michael, chats to Dave Tomlinson.  Dave is an Anglican priest and chaplain to the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, who holds a masters degree in modern hermeneutics. He is the author of many books including ’The Post-Evangelical’, ‘How to be a Bad Christian and a Better Human Being’, and ‘Black Sheep & Prodigals, an Ant...

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Jacky is chatting to Michael Wakelin. Michael will be our podcast host for the next series, beginning 9th April.  Michael is known for his work in interfaith dialogue, media production, and academic contributions. He is currently the Executive Chair of the Religion Media Centre and Executive Producer at TBI Media. His responsibilities include Radio...

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Jacky is chatting to Chine McDonald.  Chine McDonald is director of the religion think tank Theos. She is a regular writer and media commentator on issues of religion in public life, race, and gender. She is the author of ‘God Is Not a White Man: And Other Revelations’ and the upcoming 'Unmaking Mary: The Myth of Divine Motherhood'.  Jacky and Chin...

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Jacky is chatting to Wendy Lloyd.  Wendy lives and works on a croft on the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. She is a spiritual director, pilgrim guide and retreat facilitator under the name of her own fledgling project, Mull Another Way. She creates and curates worship resources for GoHealth, GoHealth is shorthand for the Guild of Health...