Young taught theology at the
University of Birmingham from 1971, becoming the
Edward Cadbury Professor and head of the Department of Theology in 1986. During her time at the university, she also served as dean of the Faculty of Arts (1995–97) and pro-vice-chancellor (1997–2002). In 1984, she was ordained as a
Methodist minister, and has combined preaching in a local Circuit and pursuing her academic career. In 1998, she was awarded an
OBE for services to theology and in 2004, elected a Fellow of the
British Academy. In 2005, she retired from the university. On 15 November 2005, she preached at the opening service of the 8th
General Synod of the
Church of England, the first Methodist and the first woman to preach at the five-yearly inauguration ceremony. She delivered her
sermon at the
Eucharist service at which the then-Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rowan Williams, presided. She served as editor of volumes 39–43 of the
Studia Patristica and wrote academic and more popular theological writings, drawing on her work on the
New Testament and on
Christianity in its formative centuries, but also on her experience as the mother of a son (Arthur) who was born with profound physical and mental disabilities. ==Bibliography==