Each year, the Lynnette J. Mullings BA Dissertation Prize and the John Hull MA Dissertation Prize are awarded for outstanding dissertation performance at the Queen’s Foundation.
Lynnette J. Mullings BA Dissertation Prize
The Lynnette J. Mullings BA Dissertation Prize was established in 2015 in the memory of the Reverend Lynnette J. Mullings (1977-2014), tutor in black theology in the Centre for Black Ministries and Leadership at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham between 2008 and 2014.
About Revd Lynnette Mullings
Lynnette was an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Holiness Church and her research interests spanned the field of New Testament studies, black biblical hermeneutics and black / womanist theology. Lynnette passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 38 whilst in the final stages of writing her doctoral dissertation, undertaken at the University of Birmingham, which focused on developing a black biblical hermeneutic for the African Caribbean community in the UK. Her published writings include:
- ‘Reading Black: Language and Biblical Interpretation in a Black British Context’, in J. Harold Ellens (ed), Text and Community: Essays in Memory of Bruce M. Metzger, vol. I. (Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2007).
- ‘The Message of the Cross is Foolishness: Atonement in Womanist Theology, Towards a Black British Perspective’, in Derek Tindball, David Hilborn and Justin Thacker (eds), The Atonement Debate (Zonervan, 2008).
- ‘Teaching Black Biblical Studies in the UK: Special Issues for Consideration and Suggested Hermeneutical Approaches’, Discourse2 (2009), 81-126.
- ‘Migration and Theological Education – Theological training programs for migrant churches (Great Britain)’, in Theological Education in World Christianity: World Report on the Future of Theological Education in the 21st Century (ETC/WCC and WOCATI, 2009).
Recent recipients
2025: Solomon Walker, ‘How can Kierkegaard Illuminate the Apparent Tensions Between Stated Intention and Lived Reality in YWAM Kona? A Phenomenological Exploration of Paradoxical Faith and Stagnation’
2024: Michaela Barker, ‘To what extent can the Church’s mission be informed by an increased interest in pilgrimage?’
2023: Sue Baker-Maher, ‘What can I learn from female biblical leaders to inform my practice as a Methodist Minister’. Read Sue’s reflection here
2022: Judith Lincoln, ‘Can Dementia Be Redeemed?” A Critique of Baroness Mary Warnock’s “duty to die” statement, exploring theological issues around the impact of dementia on human identity.’
2021: Tim Broughton, ‘The implications of reading the Genesis creation story as temple building narrative for a contemporary understanding and practice of the Sabbath.’
John Hull MA Dissertation Prize
About John Hull
John Hull was professor of religious education at Birmingham University, the first full professorship in the subject at a UK university. Following his retirement in 2002, he became an honorary professor at The Queen’s Foundation, where the emphasis of his teaching and research moved from religious education in mainstream secular contexts to the training of ordinands for Christian ministry. In 1980, Hull lost his sight and for the last 35 years of his life was totally blind. He wrote extensively about the experience, including reflections on how blindness had changed and deepened his faith. His book, ‘Touching the Rock’ was the basis for an award-winning film, ‘Notes on Blindness’, which came out after his death.
Recent recipients
2025: Amy Brown, ‘What are the pastoral implications of direct cremations? How might the Church of England respond?’ Read Amy’s article here
2024: Rachel Read, ‘Exploring Theological Themes within Young Adult Literature with a particular focus on A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness’
2023: Leah McKibben, ‘A historical-critical exploration of a Wesleyan model of ministry and an evaluation of how that is reflected in the Methodist Church in Ireland today by using a ‘four voices’ interpretive framework.’ Read Leah’s reflection here
2022: Angela Sheard, ‘Living in the borderlands: a partially auto-ethnographic study of the belonging of mixed-race people in the Church of England.’
2021: Ruth Harley, ‘A feminist analysis of ecclesiologies expressed during the IICSA Anglican Hearings.’
