I am delighted to be joining JPIT as the Team Intern for
2021-22.
Having followed the excellent work of the team for a while
now, I am excited to be contributing to their output myself over the coming
year. I will be the face behind much of JPIT’s social media content, as well as
working on projects such as climate campaigns and ethical banking. I’ll also be
taking on production of the brilliant Politics in the Pulpit podcast.
Raised a Christian, I enjoyed church but often felt an urge that
my faith should have more to say to the great issues of injustice and suffering
I saw in the world around me. This led me towards studying politics at
university. I felt that politics was a powerful channel for action to create a
more just society that enabled, rather than diminished, human flourishing – a
key concern of Christian faith.
As I tried (and failed) to answer the big questions of justice,
freedom, and power, I came to understand that politics has few, if any,
satisfactory solutions. This reminded me once again that our hope is in Christ
and Christ alone.
Yet, it is an inescapable fact that we are political beings.
We exist and are embodied in communities and cultures. Our stories and
struggles are interwoven with those of our fellow citizens, bound up in a
common life that requires governance.
How, then, should we act politically? Christians identify as
‘citizens of heaven’, but as earthly ambassadors of that heavenly reign, how
can we best represent Jesus in our politics?
I wanted to explore these questions further, and so I
enrolled in the SAGE Graduate Programme at the Jubilee Centre. This provided me
with a strong biblical basis for Christian engagement in all areas of public
life. While studying there, I developed an interest in attempts to bring the
means of change, power, and agency closer to everyday citizens through emerging
ideas like community organising and citizens’ assemblies.
Having engaged with the intersection of faith and politics
intellectually, I am now very excited to be actively working in that space with
an organisation like JPIT. I believe that successful change happens not only by
engaging stakeholders and key players at important institutions, but also by
building momentum from the ground up. In JPIT’s case, this means the members of
our associated churches.
I look forward to working at both of these levels as we
strive together for peace and justice.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing and watching sports, listening to music, and consuming a wide range of podcasts. The photo above is from my most memorable gig, the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy at the Royal Albert Hall. I hope to take full advantage of living in London to see plenty of live music and sport over this year!
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