Politics in the Pulpit?

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 reaching younger generations. At age 18 Isabella moved to the UK in response to God's call and she now works supporting young adults nationally in the Baptist movement. Isabella loves connecting with people and encouraging them to grow as missionary disciples while discovering their God-given potential for the Kingdom. 

Helen and Isabella discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 25th August, which are:

This is the last episode of our summer season, and we will be back with the autumn season mid-September. 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 years. She is also Honorary Canon for Reconciliation at Inverness Cathedral; Visiting Fellow at St John's College, Durham; and Visiting Practice Fellow at the Dept of Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University. Prior to ordination, Sarah was a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the NHS. She is married to Richard, a GP, and they have 2 boys and a Labrador.

Helen and Sarah discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 18 August, which are:

1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 brought out her second book, Just Worship: Worshipping God by living just lives. 

Helen and Stef discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 11 August, which are:

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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.

Helen and Simon discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 4 August, which are:

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 of Cursing with God: The Imprecatory Psalms and the Ethics of Christian Prayer (Baylor, 2022).

Helen and Trevor discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 28 July, which are: 

 ‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 Problems (SPCK) and Human Trafficking, the Bible and the Church (SCM Press).

Helen and Marion discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 21 July, which are:

2 Samuel 7:1-14a

 ‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 Communications for the national New Housing Hub and contributed to the Arch Bishops Commission on Housing, Church and Community. 

Helen and Jade discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 14 July, which are:

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 communities to actively pursue justice. Nathan hosts a conversation with church leaders from our three denominations.

Our guests for this episode are:

Revd Fiona Bennett: Fiona is currently serving as minister of Augustine United URC in the centre of Edinburgh and as immediate past moderator of URC General Assembly. She has worked as a minister in Scotland for 27 years during which she has served (as a URC minister) in local churches in the Church of Scotland and the Methodist Church in Scotland. Fiona is a mediator with Place for Hope, has 3 adult children and is currently addicted to reading historical crime fiction.

Revd Rachel Parkinson: Rachel has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years before which she was an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive.  She is currently Chair of the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District of the Methodist Church.  Running and cycling keep Rachel sane, and she’s also passionate about pilgrimage.

Revd Steve Tinning: Steve is the Baptist Union’s Public Issues Enabler, dividing his working week between JPIT and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. At heart, Steve is an activist, with practical theology and community-organising theory working as the foundations of a ministry of justice and compassion.

The lectionary readings for Sunday 30th June, which are:

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200  

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 Study of Bible and Violence. 

Michael and Helen discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 23rd June, which are:

1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 23-49 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200 

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 for Christians. Dr Lisa Adjei currently works for Christian Aid as a British Church Relations Manager, her role seeks to support denominational leaders across the United Kingdom in justice & mission. She also sits on Churches Together England’s Board of trustees, their Racial Justice Working Group as the chair of their Theology sub-group and on their millennial leader’s forum, Emerge, for the Pentecostal & Charismatic forum – their work seeks to look at intergenerational reconciliation and legacy within the forum. Dr Lisa is the chair of a global climate youth community, Climate YES, a movement of young activists engaging in political and societal transformation. Lisa is currently an active member of Trinity Baptist Church and serves in their young adult’s ministry, Impact.

Michael and Lisa discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 16th June, which are:

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @publicissues or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001084297426200