Dr. Daniela C. Augustine
Lee University’s Dr. Daniela C. Augustine was awarded a Louisville Institute Grant. Dr. Augustine, assistant professor of theological ethics, received the Sabbatical Grant for Researchers, which assists the conducting of major academic research and writing projects that have the potential to contribute to the vitality of Christianity in North America.
“This is a well-known, high profile, very competitive grant funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.,” said Dr. Augustine. “In view of the intense competition and high volume of applications by excellent scholars, I feel truly honored by the affirmation of the selection committee.”
Dr. Augustine’s research will contribute to the recent efforts of laying a foundation for Pentecostal ecclesiology, the theological study of the church. The project will focus on developing a constructive Pentecostal theology of the sacramental life and investigate potential insights offered by Eucharist-centered Orthodox ecclesiology to a Word-centered Pentecostal liturgy.
The project involves research at St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary, Balkan Orthodox countries, and the University of Heidelberg. The research will be presented at conferences and featured in journal articles. It will also be published as a volume, which will serve both scholars and pastors within the North American Pentecostal movement.
“The potential for this project to have positive impact on Christianity in North America has much to do with the passionate commitment and charismatic communication skills of Daniela Augustine,” said Dr. Rickie Moore, associate dean of the School of Religion at Lee.
Dr. Augustine joined Lee’s full-time faculty in 2010. In addition to her time at Lee, she has also been a guest lecturer, speaker, and presenter at many theological forums and educational institutions such as Charles University located in Prague, Czech Republic, Princeton Theological Seminary, Bangor University located in Wales, United Kingdom, Harvard Divinity School, Wheaton College, and Regent University. Her areas of interest and academic research include theological ethics, public theology, interdisciplinary studies in social transformation, postmodernity, theology of economics and globalization, religion and culture.
Dr. Augustine earned her Doctorate of Theology from the University of South Africa, her Masters of Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary, and her Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria.
She is the author of many publications including articles in professional journals, chapters in edited books, and two monographs, “At the Crossroads of Social Transformation: An Eastern-European Theological Perspective” and “Pentecost, Hospitality, and Transfiguration: Toward a Spirit-inspired Vision of Social Transformation.” She serves as the chair of the Christian Ethics Interest Group for the Society for Pentecostal Studies and as an associate editor for the Journal of Pentecostal Theology.
For more information about the different grant programs of the Louisville Institute, visit http://www.louisville-institute.org/Grants/programs.aspx.