SERMON BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY
This year's Sermon Before the University will be a slightly different format from previous years. Rather than one distinguished speaker giving an address at Choral Matins, three speakers will each give a short address. King’s College Choir will sing, but the occasion will not be shaped as a Christian worship service: rather as the opportunity to hear from three women who will speak from the perspectives of each of the great Abrahamic faiths. Their biographies are below.
All are warmly welcome.
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of Chapel
Isabelle Hamley is an Anglican priest, writer and broadcaster. She writes and speaks on the Old Testament, public theology and mental health. She is currently Principal of Ridley Hall, after posts as a parish priest, university chaplain, chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops. Her publications include Embracing Justice; God of Justice and Mercy: A Theological Commentary on the Book of Judges; The Bible and Mental Health (with Chris Cook) and Struggling with God (with Chris Cook and John Swinton).
Rabbi Charley Baginsky is the CEO of Liberal Judaism and Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism. One of the UK's most senior rabbis, she has a real passion for inclusion, outreach and interfaith work. Rabbi Baginsky served Kingston Liberal Synagogue for more than 10 years, before joining the Liberal Judaism national movement team - first as Director of Strategy and Partnerships then as CEO. Along with Rabbi Josh Levy, she is currently leading the merger between Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism which will create one Progressive Judaism for the UK, representing one third of synagogue-affiliated Jews.
Zara Mohammed was the first female, youngest and first Scottish Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB): a post which she held until early 2025. Her role was to provide strategic direction and leadership for the largest and most diverse Muslim umbrella organisation in the UK. Her vision is to invest in young people, inspire more women into leadership and build partnerships across society. After working in the charitable sector for several years, Zara has now set up a consultancy with a focus on developing excellence in leadership, better governance and improving equality and diversity in the workplace.
