Dr Jessica Bent graduated from the University of Otago in New Zealand (PhD) and Acadia University in Canada (BTh, MA). Her doctoral studies centred on a comparative dialogue between Biblical Studies and Practical Theology using the lens of spiritual family language. Her first single-author article was published earlier this year (2024), highlighting an interview tool she created that helps participants share their experiences of spiritual family within church communities.

Based in Cambridge, UK, where she lives with her husband, Jess works for a local parish church where she focuses on the discipleship of young people. Alongside this role, she acts as a research assistant for Dr Lynne Taylor in the area of pastoral care and faith formation. Jess also enjoys writing short stories, and her most recent story, My Friend, the Stranger, was published in Faithful AI: Stories of Hope from 2045 (2024) by AI and Faith. In her free time, you’ll find her in the pool swimming laps.