Tamsyn Kereopa appointed Commonwealth Theologian
Wednesday, 11th November 2026
The Reverend Tamsyn Kereopa has been appointed as Westminster Abbey's Commonwealth Theologian in Residence for the Lent Term 2027.
This annual appointment is offered to an exceptional theologian from a Commonwealth country, living and worshipping as a member of the residential community at Westminster Abbey, whilst pursuing a research or writing project for a period of four months.
About Tamsyn Kereopa
Tamsyn Kereopa is a Māori theologian, educator and Deacon in Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Manawa o Te Wheke. She has taught theology at the University of Otago, and her doctoral research, Towards a Wahine Māori Theology of Liberation, explores the intersections of faith, Indigenous identity, gender and justice.
Her work centres Indigenous women’s experiences and knowledge, bringing a wahine Māori perspective to questions of liberation, cultural tradition, economic justice and climate justice.
Since 2015, Tamsyn has served on the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation, advocating for Indigenous priorities in theological education. She has also helped develop the Global Ecumenical Indigenous Women’s Theological Network, fostering connection, learning and leadership among Indigenous women.
Tamsyn is of Te Arawa and Tūwharetoa descent, with whakapapa connecting her to the central North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
A living relationship with the Commonwealth
The Reverend Tamsyn Kereopa said:
‘I am deeply honoured to have been appointed Commonwealth Theologian at Westminster for 2027. My predecessors have made valuable contributions to this role, and I hope to build on their work while bringing my own distinctive perspectives. Alongside the opportunity to advance my research, I look forward to exchanging ideas and working with colleagues at Westminster Abbey, Cambridge, and across the United Kingdom.
On a personal level, this appointment also represents something of a pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of family members who have gone before me. Among them was my great-grandfather, who travelled with his parents from Aotearoa to attend the coronation of King George V at the Abbey in 1911. To return in this capacity, generations later, carries a profound sense of connection and responsibility.
I see this appointment as a significant opportunity to exchange and enrich perspectives in wider conversations about God, justice, and our responsibility to creation. My hope is that the relationships and exchanges fostered during this time will contribute to the mutual nourishment of theological reflection in Aotearoa, the Church of England, and more widely into ecumenical engagements, opening new possibilities for shared learning and collaboration.’
The Abbey’s Canon Theologian, the Reverend Dr Jamie Hawkey, said:
‘Over the last two years, we have been delighted to welcome two Commonwealth theologians of distinction and imagination from Nigeria and India. Tamsyn Kereopa’s appointment extends the geographical reach of this annual scheme which is intended to celebrate theological scholarship across the Commonwealth, and to create receptive learning opportunities between different churches and cultures. Over the last months, we have been deeply engaged in a public history project exploring Indigenous histories in Westminster Abbey, so it is a particular joy to welcome a Māori theologian who will be able to help us develop some of that reflection.’
