A search for new engaging voices thinking theologically about the contemporary world
Open to anyone aged 18-30, Theology Slam is a two-part competition judged by some of the top theologians and communicators in the Christian world.
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
The first round of the 2020 competition opens for entries 1 November 2019.
The competition is open to anyone aged 18-30. To enter, you need to write 500 words on one of twelve contemporary issues - to be announced in November - and submit a short video introducing yourself and your ideas.
Three finalists will have the opportunity to refine their piece into a punchy 7-10 minute talk with the help of a public speaking coach. They will present their ideas in front of a live audience and panel of judges at the Theology Slam Final on Thursday 26 March 2020.
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.
