Fr Luke Larner (Class) - The God Cast Interview.

A former bricklayer, Luke cut his teeth as lay pioneer minister in Luton serving communities affected by homelessness, violence and addiction. Luke is part-time priest-in-charge of the diverse parish of St Andrew in Luton and is studying for a doctorate in practical theology at the University of Roehampton, researching mission pneumatologies in the Church of England. Luke’s teaching passions include mission, liberation theologies, and practical skills for social justice engagement. He is currently helping to develop an international network of scholars and activists engaging with theologies of labour and class struggle in partnership with the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Influenced by the radical Anglo-Catholic tradition, Luke’s faith and ministry are shaped by a weaving of sacraments and social justice. A tertiary Franciscan, Luke loves to be outside cycling, kayaking, or walking with his family smiling at the birds and the trees. Confounding the Mighty: Stories of Church, Social Class and Solidarity Paperback – 28 Aug. 2023 It is long past time for the church to talk seriously about social class. Bringing together the stories of eight contemporary Christian ministers and theologians from working-class backgrounds, and putting their own life experiences into conversation with theological reflection, Confounding the Mighty explores what role class plays in the life of Churches, education establishments and social justice movements in 21st Century Britain and beyond. Written from a diverse variety of social locations, chapters explore how class relates to faith, Church, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, education, leadership, work and wider social justice issues. While lamenting injustice and personal experiences of oppression, this book suggests radical changes in how Christians, churches and theologians relate to class issues, pointing towards renewed structures and practices to bring class justice in churches and wider society. Recognizing that class is a thorny issue, the book seeks to bring a progressive theological perspective on class which pays close attention to related issues and promotes liberation for all.