Paula Gooder

Paula Gooder (born 1969) is a British theologian and Anglican lay reader who specialises in the New Testament. She is canon chancellor at St Paul's Cathedral. She has previously taught at two theological colleges, Ripon College Cuddesdon and The Queen's Foundation, served as theologian in residence for the Bible Society (2013–2017), and as Director of Mission, Learning and Development in the Diocese of Birmingham (2017–2018). She is a freelance writer and speaker.

Early life and education Gooder was born in 1969 in Manchester, England. From 1988 to 1992, she studied theology at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree at The Queen's College, Oxford in 1998.

Career From 1995 to 2001, Gooder was a tutor in Biblical Studies at Ripon College Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college near Oxford. She then taught at The Queen's Foundation, an ecumenical theological college in Birmingham, while attending conferences or giving lectures independently. this became a full-time role in 2016. In October 2018, it was announced she would be leaving her role in the Diocese of Birmingham to return to freelance work. In February 2019, it was announced that Gooder would be the next chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral in the Diocese of London; she was licensed to the post on 23 February 2019.

Church of England Gooder is a reader (lay minister) in the Church of England.

Selected works