Dr E. S. Kempson is Lecturer and Tutor in Theology at St Mellitus College and serves on the executive committee of the Society for the Study of Theology. In 2019 she completed PhD in the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, where her research focused on a retrieval of the ancient Christian understandings of God as truth—with particular reference to the Old Testament and Augustine—and its relevance from contemporary theological and philosophical discourse. Dr Kempson holds previous degrees in theology, religion, and ministry from the University of Oxford (MPhil), Yale University (M.Div. and S.T.M.), and the University of Virginia (B.A.). Her publications include ‘Truth’ in The T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Christian Theology (forthcoming), ‘Living in Community that Embraces Others’ in A Kind of Upside-Downness; Learning Disabilities and Transformational Community, and ‘Anne Conway’s Exemplary Engagement with Origenist Thought’ in the journal Modern Theology. In addition to presenting papers at academic conferences and seminars, she has written at a popular level (‘Biblical Trinitarian Language for Those in Need’). She has also given lectures, reflections, and sermons for a variety of organisations, including: The Diocese of London, The National Gallery, St Bene’t’s in Cambridge, St Luke’s in Chelsea, and St Mary Magdalen Oxford, and Wotton’s Society of Eton College. She has been licensed in the COE as a lay preacher and has served on the PCC at St Bene’t’s in Cambridge. Emily lives in London with her husband Rev Dr Sam Hole and their daughter.

• PhD. University of Cambridge, UK, 2019. (Dissertation title: A Constructive Theology of Truth as a Divine Name with reference to the Bible and Augustine.)
• MPhil. University of Oxford, UK, 2015.
• S.T.M. Yale Divinity School, USA, 2013.
• M.Div. Yale Divinity School, USA, 2012.
• Diploma in Anglican Studies. Berkeley Divinity School, USA, 2012.
• B.A. University of Virginia, USA, 2008. (Majoring in Religious Studies and Studio Art.)

Edited Volumes

van der Tol, Mariëtta, John Adenitire, Carys Brown, and E. S. Kempson. From Toleration to Religious Freedom: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Oxford, United Kingdom: Peter Lang, 2021.

Chapters and Journal Articles

Kempson, E.S. “Anne Conway’s Exemplary Engagement with Origenist Thought.” Modern Theology. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12759

Kempson, E.S. “Toleration and Religious Freedom: From Cross-Disciplinary to Cross-Faith and Worldview.” In From Toleration to Religious Freedom: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, edited by Mariëtta van der Tol, John Adenitire, Carys Brown, and E.S. Kempson, 273-294. Oxford, United Kingdom: Peter Lang Verlag, 2021.

Kempson, E.S. “Living in Community that Embraces Others.” In A Kind of Upside-Downness: Learning Disabilities and Transformational Community, edited by David F. Ford, Deborah Hardy Ford, and Ian Randall, 61-80. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2020.

Kempson, E.S. “Appendix Two: Our Accumulated Wisdom for Welcome and Community.” In A Kind of Upside-Downness: Learning Disabilities and Transformational Community, edited by David F. Ford, Deborah Hardy Ford, and Ian Randall, 213-224. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2020.

Entries in Reference Volumes

Kempson, E.S. ‘Truth.’ In T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Christian Theology, edited by Paul Allen. T&T Clark/Bloomsbury (Forthcoming).

Popular Articles

Kempson, E.S. ‘Biblical Trinitarian Language for Those in Need.’ Covenant, Nov 23 2018, https://livingchurch.org/coven...

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