In 2023, Regent’s own Professor Anthony Reddie, Director of the Centre for Religion and Culture, was awarded the title of Professor of Black Theology. He is the first person to hold the title, a landmark moment in the history of the University of Oxford. 

When asked what the Professorship means to him, Anthony said:  

“There’s a huge element of pride, obviously. To be a professor at Oxford in any subject is enormous. It’s not something I expected when I started here four years ago. But to be a professor of Black theology means a huge amount. Because it’s not just any subject – it’s part of who I am in terms of my commitment to being a human and my desire to try to engage in issues hopefully for the betterment of all people. To make the world a better place, I mean. It sounds a bit hippieish to say it like that but that’s what I’m committed to.”  

Professor Reddie hopes that the award will have implications for Black theology as a discipline at Oxford and beyond. “Black theology has been well developed in the U.S., which is where it started. It’s been slow to take off here. Before the murder of George Floyd in 2020, you could count the places that taught Black theology on one hand, and Oxford University was not one of them. So, the fact that they now not only teach it but have granted a professorship in it is significant. It gives a level of legitimacy to the discipline. The hope is that students from across the world, but hopefully especially in the UK, will see this and be encouraged to pursue Black theology. And hopefully it will also kick-start other institutions into having professorships and courses in the subject.” 

In an interview with the Equality and Diversity Unit at the University, Anthony talked about the learnings that Black Theology can tell us about equality, diversity and inclusion at Oxford:

“Black theology is always committed to siding with the perspectives of those who are socially marginalised and oppressed by existing systems and structures, procedures and processes that favour white middle class privilege at the expense of the former. Given Oxford’s history of entitlement and privilege, especially for those identified with the ‘upper classes’ and the ‘establishment’ much has changed in Oxford university over the past decades. Increased efforts have been made to effect greater equalities, diversity and inclusion within this ancient and venerable institution.”

Since the announcement of the award, Anthony has experienced an increase in emails from external organisations and students. The highlight, he says, was when the President of Union Theological Seminary reached out to request a meeting. Union, a nondenominational progressive theological college based in Manhattan, was the home to James H. Cone for most of his career. Cone, the author of the first book on Black theology, had a foundational influence on Professor Reddie’s work.  

Professor Reddie’s achievement means a great deal to the College, too. Regent’s Principal, Sir Malcolm Evans wrote: 

“We are delighted that the University has conferred on Anthony this title, and are proud that Regent’s is associated with this historic moment through Anthony’s leadership and research at Regent’s. Not only is it a timely recognition of Anthony’s contribution to scholarship but also of his community engagement and passion for social justice. Under his tutelage, we look forward to the Centre playing an ever greater role in the vital discussions and debates concerning the future direction of thinking concerning social and racial justice – a matter which affects so many so deeply both in the UK and around the world. His championing and amplification of voices so long left unheard resonates with the overall mission of the College as it seeks to educate, to inspire, and to generate and disseminate knowledge and understanding concerning key questions that confront us in the 21st century.” The College is hoping to start a Regent’s Black Theology Centre, based on Professor Reddie’s Professorship, hopefully to commence in the New Year.  

Professor Reddie’s Research 

Professor Reddie joined the College and University in 2020. In addition to his role as Director of the OCRC, he also supervises Master’s and Doctoral students. He is a founding editor and Editor-in-Chief of Black Theology: An International Journal and has written and edited many books in the field over the past 25 years. Beyond Oxford, Professor Reddie is Professor Extraordinarious in theological ethics at the University of South Africa, a Methodist lay preacher, and a member of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission.  

Professor Reddie has recently completed a book for Oxford University Press, Living Black Theology: Issues of Pedagogy, Mission and Praxis. This work explores notions of contested history and the decolonisation of the curriculum, from a Black Theology perspective. According to Anthony, the book “seeks to be proactive and constructive in equal measure.” It will be out in 2025, and we look forward to telling you more about it then.  

Anthony’s other project, the sequel to Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission (2023), co-edited with Revd Dr Al Barrett and Revd Dr Jill Marsh, Towards a Critical White Theology, is a landmark text exploring the dynamics of whiteness in the history and the present of the Christian Church, and setting an agenda for the future, especially for White-racialised theologians committed to dismantling whiteness. It will be published in late Spring/early Summer 2025. 

He was also recently interviewed by the University’s Equality and Diversity Unit about his reflections on becoming a Black Liberation theologian, which can be read here.