The 20th anniversary of the formation of the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) was celebrated with a service of thanksgiving at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster on 2 November. The event drew together people who had been involved in JPIT over the years, current and former staff members, supporters, and senior representatives of denominations and partner campaign organisations.
In 2006 the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church committed to formally working together for peace and justice through advocacy, political engagement and witness in the public square. More recently, JPIT has also formed partnerships with the Church of Scotland and the Iona Community.
In my role as current JPIT team leader, I reflected on the remarkable array of activities we have undertaken and their wide impact. These included producing reports on contemporary concerns, organising advocacy campaigns on many different issues, facilitating the political engagement of the churches, producing resources to support people to put their faith into action, and holding events and conferences which have inspired and connected justice-seekers from across the churches.
Special guest Lucy Berry, who was for a time the team’s poet-in-residence, performed her poem “Ideas, like Doves”, originally written during JPIT’s 2018 conference.
The impact of JPIT’s internship programme was showcased, with many former interns in attendance at the service, and others contributing by video message. The experience had served as a launchpad for enduring friendships and careers in politics, charities and the church.
Bible readings were given by Rev Alex Afriyie, President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and Rachel Lampard, Director of Social Justice and Social Action at the Methodist Church, who served as JPIT Team Leader from 2007 to 2021.
Reflecting on Micah 6:8, our guest preacher, the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, Bishop Mike Royal, spoke about the church’s responsibility to be an active presence in the struggle for justice, rather than simply a place of worship or a provider of charitable support. He paid tribute to JPIT’s role in challenging churches to use their public voice, stand alongside people experiencing injustice, and address the structures that cause inequality.
He spoke about the importance of churches working together across denominational boundaries, rather than retreating into their own traditions or keeping their heads down in difficult times. He also highlighted the need to challenge Christian nationalism and the ways in which Christianity can be used to divide communities, particularly around questions of religious identity, migration and people seeking refuge.
The service made use of some resources produced by the team in response to rising polarisation and hostility in society and politics. Team member Paul Morrison led the congregation in ‘An affirmation of faith in an age of division’, and the congregation sang ‘Jesus, You Have Shown a Welcome’, a new hymn written by Steve Tinning, the Baptist Union’s Public Issues Enabler, set to the tune of Ode to Joy.
Prayers were led by Katherine Fox, Chair of JPIT’s Strategy & Policy Group, and a blessing was given by the Rev Jenny Mills, Deputy General Secretary (Faith in Action) for the United Reformed Church.
JPIT’s first team leader, Alison Jackson, attended the service. She reflected: “It was really good to be in at the start of all this. It’s developed an awful lot since I moved on, but I think it’s an absolutely fantastic resource for the churches. I hope it continues to tackle all the difficult issues and to help churches understand and deal with them.”
Resources from the service:
An affirmation of faith in an age of division
New hymn: Jesus, You Have Shown a Welcome
A longer version of this report first appeared on the JPIT website.