Getting to know: Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson

Churches Together in England welcomes Rev Dr Tessa, Free Churches Group CTE President for 2025 to 2028.

As her term of office begins, Rev Dr Tessa (TH-R) spoke to CTE’s Senior Communications Manager, Sarah Ball (SB)

SB: Welcome to the CTE Presidency Rev Dr Tessa. How did your ecumenical journey begin?

TH-R: My ecumenical journey began long before I understood the word. As a child in Trinidad and Tobago, I lived the beauty and complexity of the Christian tradition through my family. My father was born in Tobago and raised in the Methodist tradition. My mother was born in Trinidad and raised in a Roman Catholic and Pentecostal household. I was baptised in the Methodist Church, educated in Roman Catholic and Anglican schools, and worshipped in Pentecostal settings during holidays with my maternal grandparents.

From early on, I encountered difference as a gift. That beginning shaped my lens, and helped me to see the rich variety within the body of Christ as something to honour, not to fear. My journey continues to unfold as one committed to the hard work of shared mission, mutual respect, and spiritual integrity across denominational lines.

SB: What was your first ecumenical experience? How formative was this?

TH-R: My earliest (formal) ecumenical experience came in the early 2000s while I was a member of Christ Church Bellingham. I was part of a small team tasked with building relationships across five local churches. That experience was not only informative. It was deeply formative. It taught me that unity across Christian traditions is not just an abstract hope. It is a relational task that demands presence, humility, and trust.

As I worshipped, dialogued, and shared life with colleagues from a range of denominational backgrounds, I began to sense the Spirit moving in ways I had not seen before. I witnessed how God works through different liturgies, languages, and leadership models. Some tensions surfaced, of course. But they were not held as obstacles, they were used as invitations and opportunities to grow deeper in grace. Ecumenical work has never been about erasing difference, it is about honouring difference, engaging it with love, and letting it stretch us toward fuller faithfulness.

Unity, for me, is the hard and holy commitment to keep choosing one another because of our differences, not despite them.

SB: You are a URC Minister, how has being part of that church influenced your thoughts on Christian unity?

TH-R: The United Reformed Church is itself a living sign of ecumenical commitment. Its very formation brought together multiple denominations in pursuit of a more faithful expression of the Church. To be a URC minister is to have been shaped in the context of being reformed and always reforming in a denomination that not only values being reformed and building unity, but was born from “Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei”, “The church reformed, always being reformed according to the Word of God.” My ministerial formation has been rooted in the conviction that Christian unity matters—that we can be deeply faithful to our own traditions while also working generously across them.

The URC has given me space to live this conviction in practice: through shared worship, collaborative ministry, and openness to the Spirit speaking through other voices and traditions. I have been formed by a community that has moved from just talking about being a multicultural church with an intercultural habit, and becoming anti-racist, to being in the process of seeking, diligently, to embody these principles. This experience has instilled in me a deep hope that visible unity in the Body of Christ is not only possible, but essential to our witness in the world today. 


Nourishing Roots with Catherine Todd – ‘Silence Inside’

A day of reflection, restoration and retreat for chaplains with Catherine Todd – ‘Silence Inside’

Date and time: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00 - 16:00 GMT

Location: The Garden Room, Quaker Meeting House, John Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ

Please join us on Wednesday, 19th November at the Quaker Meeting House, John Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ.

Nourishing Roots retreat days, held three times a year, are an opportunity for chaplains in healthcare, prisons, education and beyond to retreat, reflect and recharge spiritually and emotionally from their challenging ministry contexts.

Catherine Todd will lead the day. She has worked in prison chaplaincy since 2007 in various prisons and now works nationally, supporting chaplaincy in the Youth Custody estate. Previously, she has worked in parish ministry, midwifery and nursing. She has also trained as a psychotherapist. Her particular interest is in experiential spirituality, of meeting the holy in the moment, wherever and whatever that moment is like. Silence is a good medium for this, and the day will very much be based in silence, with attentive, deep listening practices.

Tickets cost £15 for FCG Chaplains or £25 for non-FCG Chaplains. Please contact Mark Newitt at mark.newitt@freechurches.org.uk for FCG Chaplains ticket. note that refunds can be issued up to 7 days beforehand, but for catering reasons not beyond that date.

Register your place HERE.

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

Artificial Intelligence: A Faith Perspective on Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping many aspects of our daily lives, communities, and even the ways churches and faith-based organisations engage in social action. This transformation was the focus of a special event hosted by the Free Churches Group, in collaboration with Eurodiaconia (a European network of churches and Christian NGOs), and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).

The event, held on 13th March in London, brought together faith leaders, theologians, and social service providers to explore the intersection of AI, theology, and social action.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Revd Paul Rochester, General Secretary of the Free Churches Group, and Clotilde Clark, Deputy Secretary General of Eurodiaconia. Both speakers set the stage for a thoughtful discussion on AI and its role in social action, churches and social services.

AI and Theology: Laying Theological Foundations

The first keynote speaker, Revd Professor David Wilkinson, a theologian and Director of Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS) at St John’s College, Durham, presented a theological perspective on AI. He discussed how AI fits into the broader narrative of human creativity, which is a divine gift from God. Whether in work, play, or rest, creativity is at the heart of human existence, even in a fallen world. As AI takes centre stage in global conversations, it raises critical ethical and theological questions—especially about what it means to be human and how theology can engage in these public debates.

Making allusion to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), Prof. Wilkinson noted that some view science as a saviour, while others see it as a path to utopia. Some, however, see technology as a tool for power and division. In light of this, he encouraged faith communities not to shy away from engaging with AI, recognising that all things were made by God and that creation is inherently good. AI's potential to serve in medicine, education, and other fields should be met with gratitude, and we should also support Christians working within the AI sector.

Prof. Wilkinson also highlighted the need to view AI and creativity in the context of "new creation," drawing parallels with the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25). While AI represents a remarkable potential to support the development of human creativity, it is crucial to assess its ethical implications and the intentions behind its development. The church must remain vigilant, hopeful, and discerning as AI continues to evolve while protecting and preserving human creativity.

Opportunities and Risks: A Theological Reflection

On her part, Dr. Kathryn Pritchard provided a balanced view, discussing the duality of AI—offering both opportunities and risks. She explored whether AI empowers humanity or risks overpowering it. From a theological standpoint, she encouraged Christians to discern whether AI should serve as a friend, a partner, or a master.

As an empowering tool, AI has the potential to connect the world, support education, enhance medical interventions, and challenge economic systems. However, it also poses existential risks, amplifies cultural biases, and perpetuates inequalities. In this context, human flourishing must remain central to public discourse about AI. Dr. Pritchard urged church leaders to engage actively in these discussions, advocating for justice and a thoughtful response to AI's societal impact.

Ethics, Risks, and Opportunities in AI for Social Action

Sara Speicher's keynote focused on the ethical concerns surrounding AI and its implications for social action. She emphasised the need to address the ethical challenges of AI, particularly in areas such as data privacy, security, ownership, and the risks of misinformation, deep fakes, and surveillance. AI's environmental impact and its potential to widen the digital divide were also key concerns, especially as many systems are designed for the Western world, leaving marginalised groups further excluded.

Despite these risks, Speicher acknowledged AI's potential as an assistant in the church and faith communities. From notetaking to support with sermon writing, AI can be a valuable tool for administrative tasks. However, careful review is necessary to ensure accuracy and avoid plagiarism. On a positive note, AI can also foster inclusion, as seen in the case of a German pastor using text-to-speech AI to reach a Spanish-speaking community. Nonetheless, human oversight is essential to ensure AI remains a tool for good.

Panel Discussion: AI and Marginalised Groups

The event concluded with a panel discussion on how AI is already impacting marginalised groups and what can be done to address these issues. Dr. Mundo MacDonald (Church of Scotland), Dr. Erin Green (joining online), and Dr. Kathryn Pritchard discussed how the church can advocate for ethical AI development, particularly in relation to inequality and poverty. Dr. Green highlighted the importance of transparency and addressing algorithmic bias, while Dr. Pritchard reinforced the need for churches to respond practically and theologically to the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Dr. Erin Green also introduced the concept of "play" in AI development, emphasizing the experimental nature of digital theology. As the digital landscape advances, the need to embrace physicality and human embodiment remains essential.

To conclude, the participants agreed this was just a beginning of the discussion and churches and faith based NGOs must get more involved in monitoring the ethical use of AI.

A Hybrid Seminar on Artificial Intelligence & Ethical Use in Churches and Faith-Based Organisations recording is available to view HERE.  

Photo by Pixabay.

Statement on the Election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, we, the Free Churches Group in England and Wales, extend warm congratulations to you on your election.

We welcome the spirit of your first address, in which you called for “building bridges”, reminded us that “we are all in the hands of God” and urged us to advance together.

These words resonate powerfully with our shared calling to unity, compassion, and faithful witness in a divided world.

Our prayers are with you Pope Leo XIV, as you begin this important global ministry. We look forward to continuing dialogue and cooperation as pilgrims together in Christ’s mission of peace, justice, and reconciliation.

May God bless and guide you in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson
Moderator of the Free Churches Group

A Statement from the Moderator of the Free Churches Group on the Passing of Pope Francis

Today the Free Churches Group join many around the world in expressing condolences to the global Catholic community, and in recognising the life and work of Pope Francis, who carried out his duties as one whose witness was rooted in love and the boundless mercy of God.

 He was a pioneer of conscience, courage, and conviction—one who refused to look away from suffering. He turned toward the wounded people and places of the world as a Gospel imperative, reminding us that God’s presence is not found in the triumphs of power but in the cries of the poor.

 He was a listening Pope - a leader who will be remembered.

 For a life poured out in service, we give thanks.

 May he rest in peace.

Photo by Annie Chen from Pexels,com