Isabelle Graesslé

Isabelle Graesslé was born in Strasbourg. She was her parents' only child.[4] On successful completion of her school studies she went on to undertake the "Grandes Écoles" preparation course. She studied Philology at Strasbourg, and then Theology at both Geneva and the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio from where she obtained a Master of Divinity qualification.[5] Her doctorate, from the Protestant Theology Faculty at Strasbourg followed in 1988. She was supervised for her dissertation by Gilbert Vincent. Her topic was "Elements for a Rhetoric of Preaching: Readings of Athanase Josué Coquerel" ("Éléments pour une rhétorique de la prédication: Lectures d'Athanase Coquerel").[6] Her habilitation, obtained from the University of Bern in 2004, opened the way, potentially, to a lifelong university professorial career.[1]

Meanwhile, in 1987 Graesslé became a part-time pastor at the Protestant chaplaincy to the University of Geneva and director of the Centre for Protestant Studies.[1] Between 1995 and 2002, within the curriculum at the Centre she taught Gender Studies at Geneva and, on the north shore, at Lausanne.[4] The course she taught was entitled simply "Women and Religion" which enabled her to address a range of religious traditions that varied over the years, but always from the same starting points: discerning an ambivalent relationship between women and religion, the balance of tensions created within religious institutions by the new challenges presented by women's emancipation, and finally the preconception of a specific link between female sexuality and the prohibition on priesthood. It is apparent that there were some at the university who viewed Graesslé's approach with disfavour.[4]

In 1998 she became vice-president of the "college" of ministers and deacons at the Protestant Church of Geneva. Three years later, in August 2001, she was elected moderator - effectively leader - of the institution.[4] Her electors were aware that "Business as usual" was not on her the agenda. In an interview with the Tribune de Genève she explained: "I told them clearly that I was not going to be their Amélie Poulain. I was determined to separate myself from this idea of the maternal woman, which was still embedded in the collective spirit. I was there to take a lead, support, encourage and indeed admonish all these ministers. Be assured that this task has not always been so simple".[7]

After finishing her three years duty as moderator, she accepted the position as director of the new International Reformation Museum. The offer was timely, coming soon after her habilitation, and six months after her application for a full professorship with the Theology Faculty at the University of Geneva, where she taught, had been turned down. Twenty years as a pastor and university teacher had provided an excellent apprenticeship for the important museum job.[4] She resigned unexpectedly, after ten years, in February 2016.[3]

Graesslé is also known for having demonstrated the key contribution of Marie Dentière to the Reformation in Geneva. It was in response to Graesslé's advocacy that Dentière's name was added to those of the men commemorated on the Reformation Wall monument in the grounds of the University, built into the old city walls.[8]