Theology is exciting. It is about God’s word, God’s world and God’s people. It is vitally important for the church to nurture young Christians into thinking, speaking and writing about God and the world, and it is even more important that the Church listen to their voices. #TheologySlam encourages us to do just that: listen to God, listen to the world, and listen to the voices emerging within the Church, so we can join into God’s work in the world today.
Archbishop Justin Welby
Theology Slam 2020
Theology Slam is back, continuing its search for the most engaging young voices on theology and the contemporary world. Judged by some of the top theologians and communicators in the Christian world, Theology Slam aims to encourage a new generation to think theologically about the world around them – and to encourage the church to listen to what they have to say.
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, we have decided to cancel the Theology Slam final which was due to take place on Thursday 26 March.
There will be a chance for our finalists to showcase their work later in the year... watch this space.
2020 Finalists
Augustine Tanner-Ihm, 29, who is a Masters student in theology and an ordinand at Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, Durham. He is originally from Chicago, Illinois. He will talk on theology and race, reflecting on the biblical theme of belonging.
Molly Boot, 22, who is a Masters student in medieval church history at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She will be speaking on theology and #MeToo, considering how sexual harassment has changed her understanding of the Christian mystics.
Sam Hodson, 23, who works in a community with people who have learning disabilities. Speaking on theology and disability, he will reflect on what the people he encounters in his work have taught him about God.
Finalists will be judged by a panel of experts and leading theologians.
Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley – Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury
Selina Stone – Tutor and Lecturer in Political Theology at St Mellitus College, London
Mark Greene – Executive Director, The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC)
Hannah Malcolm – Winner, Theology Slam 2019
Theology Slam 2019
The final of the first Theology Slam took place on 7 March 2019 at St John’s, Hoxton.
Three finalists - who were chosen from nearly 75 entries - delivered their talks to an audience of nearly 150 people. The judges praised all the finalists for the quality of their talks, and chose Hannah Malcolm as the winner.
Watch the entire event here:
The three finalists were:
Hannah Barr, 27, a first-year ordinand and Ph.D. student at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. (Theology and #MeToo.).
Watch Hannah’s talk:
Hannah Malcolm, 26, project co-ordinator at God and the Big Bang, an organisation that runs workshops for young people on science and religion. (Theology and the Environment).
Watch Hannah’s talk:
Sara Prats, 23, from Spain, who is studying for a Bachelor degree in divinity at the University of London and for a Master’s at the University of Birmingham. (Theology and Mental Health).
Watch Sara’s talk:
Watch Professor John Swinton’s talk:
Watch Dr Eve Poole’s talk:
You can also listen to the talks on The Church Times Podcast.
The talks – and responses to questions from the audience and other speakers – were judged by our esteemed panel: the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury; Dr Eve Poole, theologian and Third Church Estates Commissioner; Professor John Swinton, winner of the Michael Ramsey Prize; and Mark Greene, executive director of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity.
Read more about Theology Slam:
Theology Slam is a collaborative event by LICC, Church Times, SCM Press, and the Community of St Anselm.