Revd Cara Lovell is Tutor and Lecturer in Theology at St Mellitus College. After working for 15 years in the NHS as an Occupational Therapist, Cara trained for ordained ministry at St Mellitus College, completing the MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission in 2018. She is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry (DThM) at Durham University focusing on Practical Theology and the vocational discernment process towards ordained ministry in the Church of England.
Cara is Associate Minister at St Mary Hampton where her husband, Ben, is vicar. They have two daughters, Emily and Zoe. She also serves on the Pastoral Chaplaincy Team at St Paul’s Cathedral in a voluntary capacity.
Research Projects
Cara’s doctoral research focuses on the Church of England’s discernment process towards ordained ministry. She is undertaking documentary analysis to identify the underlying theology of vocation and discernment which is inherent within the process, alongside interviews with candidates to hear of their experiences and their theological interpretation of the process. Her doctoral thesis title is: “A Theological and Empirical Exploration of the Process of Vocational Discernment towards Ordained Ministry in the Church of England.”
Publications
- Lovell, Cara. ‘“Do You Believe That God Is Calling You to This Ministry?” Subjective and Objective Factors in Discerning Vocation in the Church of England’. Theology and Ministry, no. 6 (2020). Available as an Open Access document here.
- Lovell, Cara. ‘Ordained Ministry: Divine Calling or Career Choice? Is There Anything Distinct about a Vocation to Ordained Ministry?’ (Submitted for Peer Review)
- Lovell, Cara. ‘Surprise, Grace and Gift: A Pneumatological Account of the Unexpected Nature of Vocation’ (Submitted for Peer Review)
- Lovell, Cara and Lucy Swift. ‘Chronic Pain & Employment: The Role of Multi-Disciplinary Pain Management Programmes’ European Journal of Employment & Disadvantage, no 1 (2011).
- Lovell, Cara. ’Spirituality in Occupational Therapy: Theory in Practice’ British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67:1 (2004).
Education
- DThM Doctorate in Theology and Ministry, Durham University (ongoing)
- MA Theology, Ministry and Mission, Durham University (2018)
- Graduate Diploma Theology, Ministry and Mission, Durham University (2016)
- MSc Vocational Rehabilitation, Sheffield Hallam University (2010)
- BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, Canterbury Christ Church University (2001)
Areas of Interest
- Practical Theology
- Vocation
- Discernment
- Ordained Ministry