{"id":858,"date":"2021-09-15T10:52:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T10:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jointpublicissues.org.uk\/?p=10991"},"modified":"2021-09-15T10:52:57","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T10:52:57","slug":"introducing-matt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=858","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Matt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blog<\/a> \u00b7<\/span> 15th September 2021 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I am delighted to be joining JPIT as the Team Intern for
\n2021-22. <\/p>\n

Having followed the excellent work of the team for a while
\nnow, I am excited to be contributing to their output myself over the coming
\nyear. I will be the face behind much of JPIT\u2019s social media content, as well as
\nworking on projects such as climate campaigns and ethical banking. I\u2019ll also be
\ntaking on production of the brilliant Politics in the Pulpit podcast.<\/p>\n

Raised a Christian, I enjoyed church but often felt an urge that
\nmy faith should have more to say to the great issues of injustice and suffering
\nI saw in the world around me. This led me towards studying politics at
\nuniversity. I felt that politics was a powerful channel for action to create a
\nmore just society that enabled, rather than diminished, human flourishing \u2013 a
\nkey concern of Christian faith. <\/p>\n

As I tried (and failed) to answer the big questions of justice,
\nfreedom, and power, I came to understand that politics has few, if any,
\nsatisfactory solutions. This reminded me once again that our hope is in Christ
\nand Christ alone. <\/p>\n

Yet, it is an inescapable fact that we are political beings.
\nWe exist and are embodied in communities and cultures. Our stories and
\nstruggles are interwoven with those of our fellow citizens, bound up in a
\ncommon life that requires governance. <\/p>\n

How, then, should we act politically? Christians identify as
\n\u2018citizens of heaven\u2019, but as earthly ambassadors of that heavenly reign, how
\ncan we best represent Jesus in our politics?<\/p>\n

I wanted to explore these questions further, and so I
\nenrolled in the SAGE Graduate Programme at the Jubilee Centre. This provided me
\nwith a strong biblical basis for Christian engagement in all areas of public
\nlife. While studying there, I developed an interest in attempts to bring the
\nmeans of change, power, and agency closer to everyday citizens through emerging
\nideas like community organising and citizens\u2019 assemblies.<\/p>\n

Having engaged with the intersection of faith and politics
\nintellectually, I am now very excited to be actively working in that space with
\nan organisation like JPIT. I believe that successful change happens not only by
\nengaging stakeholders and key players at important institutions, but also by
\nbuilding momentum from the ground up. In JPIT\u2019s case, this means the members of
\nour associated churches.<\/p>\n

I look forward to working at both of these levels as we
\nstrive together for peace and justice.<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

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Blog \u00b7 15th September 2021 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 … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-urc-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t