The Queen’s Foundation proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking Racial Justice Empowerment Project, made possible by a substantial grant from the Church of England’s Racial Justice Fund. This project, titled “Empowering UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage Theological Educators & Enabling Anti-Racist Practice in Theological Education,” seeks to address the urgent need for equitable representation and practices within theological education in response to the From Lament to Action Report.
The official launch event, held on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, on the Queen’s campus, welcomed over 30 church leaders and stakeholders in theological education who engaged in profound discussions following a compelling keynote address delivered by The Right Revd Dr Anderson Jeremiah.
The project, held within the Centre for Black Theology and the Centre for Research and Global Partnerships led by Dr Dulcie Dixon McKenzie and Dr Andrew Mein respectively, seeks to empower UKME/GMH theological educators and enable anti-racist practices within the field. It also includes mentoring opportunities for UKME/GMH students aspiring to postgraduate studies.
The launch event featured a keynote speech by The Right Reverend Dr. Anderson Jeremiah, who addressed “The Global Church, Theological Education, and Racism.” His insights covered critical themes, including the evolving landscape of global Christianity, the church’s colonial context, and the pivotal role theological education plays in empowering diverse communities. Bishop Jeremiah emphasized the importance of adapting theological education to the realities faced by minority and marginalized groups, while also articulating the need for it to cultivate essential skills in leadership, discipleship, community engagement, and contextualization.
The launch began with a warm welcome from The Right Revd Anne Hollinghurst, Principal of Queen’s Foundation and featured introductions from project lead, Revd Canon Dr. Carlton Turner and Dr Mabel Alkali, the Post Doctorate Researcher. Revd Dr Turner describes the project as exactly what has been needed within the context of the Church of England given its complex history around blackness and otherness.
Group discussions at the launch also emphasized strategies for empowering UKME and GMH individuals within the Church of England, reinforcing the collective commitment to fostering an inclusive environment in theological education.
As part of the Racial Justice Empowerment Project, Queen’s can now offer scholarships and bursaries for UKME/GMH candidates to undertake postgraduate theological studies. For more information, please visit Racial Justice Project: Empowering UKME/GMH theological educators – The Queen’s Foundation (queens.ac.uk)
