The importance of embodiment from a womanist perspective: an interview with Tessa Henry-Robinson

ABSTRACT

The original keynote at the conference was in the form of a panel discussion entitled Embodiment in Black and Womanist Theologies, chaired by Delroy Hall with the contributions of Anthony Reddie and Jarel Robinson-Brown. Tessa Henry-Robinson was also due to be on the panel but was unable to be present. The session developed into an inspiring and challenging theological reflection on the experience of the contributors, all black men living in the UK. However, the female and womanist voice was missing. In this article, Tessa Henry-Robinson makes an important contribution to discussions about embodiment and particularity from a black woman’s perspective, as someone who has known marginalisation and oppression, and is now moving into a position of more influence and authority in her role as Moderator of the General Assembly United Reformed Church from July 2023 onwards, the first ethnically minoritised woman to hold this role. In this article, in response to questions set by Manon Ceridwen James, she explores her experience, her research into embodiment from a womanist perspective, and her hopes for her new role.

KEYWORDS:

• Embodiment
• Womanist
• URC
• Black theology
• empowerment
• vocation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tessa Henry-Robinson

Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson is a Minister of the Word and Sacraments in the United Reformed Church (URC) in the UK. At present, she is Moderator Elect of the General Assembly (GA) and will be inducted into the role of GA Moderator on July 3rd 2023. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Practical Theology, an Associate Tutor at Westminster College, Cambridge, and a Womanist Practical Theologian who is interested in the empowerment of ethnically minoritised communities, women in particular.

Manon Ceridwen James

Manon Ceridwen James is Dean (for initial ministerial training) at the St Padarn’s Institute, the Church in Wales’ theological college. She is the poetry editor of Practical Theology, teaches practical theology at the St Padarn’s Institute and is Canon Theologian at Newport Cathedral. Her PhD research was published by University of Wales Press in 2018 as Women, Identity and Religion in Wales: theology poetry, story and her poetry collection Notes on a Eucharistic Life was published this year.