David Hewlett

I have been Principal of the Queen's Foundation since Easter 2003, but have been closely involved in theological education in many of its different forms and modes before this. For seven years I was Principal of the South West Ministry Training Course, a regional course that serves Cornwall, Devon and part of Somerset. Experience of this Course convinced me of the value of so called 'non-residential' forms of training and their significance in the overall provision the churches need. Prior to this I was for five years joint-director of the same course, working primarily in Cornwall, parish priest of St Feock, a parish just outside Truro, and advisor for Local Ministry in the Diocese of Truro. In this latter role I was responsible for developing the Truro OLM scheme, one of the first in the country. Before this I worked for nearly five years in Dublin at the Church of Ireland Theological College, and Trinity College. This was a challenging time, where so much that appeared familiar turned out to be very different, and where the tensions between north and south were never far from the surface. Nonetheless, many foundations were laid here in teaching, in ecumenism as scandal of our separated churches was brought forcibly home, and in a life-long commitment to and passion for theological education and formation for the churches' ministries.

I have served in parishes in North London and Cornwall, and have for the last 7 years been authorised by the Methodist Conference to
act as a Methodist minister. In 2001 I was made an honorary canon of Truro Cathedral, and now am canon emeritus. I studied theology at Durham, being awarded a PhD for the thesis: Substitution and Representation: patterns of thought in Christian Atonement Theology. I completed my ordination training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.

I am married to Penny who works in administration in the Medical School. We have four children: Philip, Mark, Ruth and Timothy.

Much of my time and energy while I have been involved in theological education in this country has been devoted to working with the
churches in a range of activities. I have been a Bishops' Selector, and served on Methodist District and Connexional Candidates panels. I have been a member of the Education and Validation Panel of the Archbishops' Council since 1995. This Panel is responsible for validating all training institutions recognised by the House of Bishops of the Church of England, and those institutions with whom we work in ecumenical
partnership. I have served as a member of various working parties, including the group which was responsible for Mission and Ministry, and most recently the group which was responsible for Formation for Ministry in a Learning Church (often called the Hind report). I continued to be involved in the implementation of this report as Chair of the Curriculum working group, and as a member of the national steering group.

Although my doctoral work was in an area of systematic theology, I increasingly identify with the discipline of Practical theology, recognising that all theology is contextual and situated. My interests are in areas such as crime and justice, health, forgiveness and reconciliation, where practice and theology, church and society interact and inform each other. I seek to maintain both systematic and practical
theological disciplines by membership of the Society of the Study of Theology, and the British and Irish Association of Pastoral theology. Since 2003 I have been a Trustee of the journal Contact, a British journal of pastoral theology, and now am Chair of the Trustees.

I relax by playing the piano and can often be seen on the tennis court at Queen's, playing with more enthusiasm than skill!