Daniela is Associate Lecturer in Systematic Theology at AC. She is currently completing her PhD on animal theology and pneumatology, which articulates a unique intersection between Pentecostal theology and animal studies. Her research aims to explore the value of non-human creatures to God and their place within the theological landscape. Her thesis centres on developing a pneumatology of animals, structured systematically across several thematic chapters: Covenant & Creation, Predation & Sin, Soteriology, Glossolalia and Eschatology.
Daniela is a dedicated advocate for compassionate conservation and an active member of the Australasian Animal Studies Association, the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, the Society for Pentecostal Studies, the Warrnambool Environment and Sustainability Advisory Committee and more recently with A Rocha Australia. Her efforts have focused on addressing the overdevelopment of the South-West coast of Victoria and its detrimental effects on the local koala population. Daniela has also been a vocal opponent of proposed offshore gas mining, recognising the grave threat it poses to the delicate balance of the marine environment.
In addition to her environmental work, Daniela is passionate about encouraging people in local churches to value and consider non-human creatures as loved and valued by their Creator. She believes that this perspective shift can lead to transformative faith-communities that advocate for restored relationships, not only between people and God but also with our co-creatures.
Daniela is a member of the Pentecostal Studies, Ecotheology and Sustainable Development and Theology and Society research clusters.
Qualifications
PhD- Candidate (Alphacrucis College)
Dissertation Title Theological Foundations for a Pneumatology of Animals
2024
M.A.(Theology) (Alphacrucis College)
Dissertation Title 'Animal Glossolalia- Towards a Pentecostal Theology of Animals.'
2020
B.A.(Biblical Studies) (Harvest Bible College) 2006
Research Interests
Animal Theology
Eco-Theology
Pneumatology
Pentecostal Theology
Systematic Theology
Key Interlocutors that inform my research include Jürgen Moltmann, Andrew Linzey, David Clough, Frank Macchia, Amos Yong, Denis Edwards, Mark Wallace, AJ Swoboda, Richard Bauckham and Christopher Southgate.
Book Chapters
-
Forthcoming
- Rizzo, D. Beyond Eco-Mission: Towards Zoological Imperative in Theological Discourse. In Eugene Baron and Amos Yong, eds., Pentecostal Missiology and Environmental Degradation (pp. ). Carlisle, UK: Langham Global, (forthcoming).
- Rizzo. D. Towards a More Holistic Sustainability: Animal Sentience and Spiritual Potential In Luetz, J.M., Nunn, P., & Filho, W.L., Handbook of Traditional Spirituality and Sustainability (pp. ). Springer.
- Rizzo, D. Pentecostal and Evangelical Ecotheologies In Eaton, M. & Harvie, T., The Routledge Handbook of Ecotheology (pp. ). Routledge.
Journal Articles
-
2024
- Rizzo, D (2024). The Word Made Flesh and the Spirit's Breath: Bridging Christology and Pneumatology in Animal Theology. Religions, 15(11):1355. | External link
- Rizzo, D (2024). Animal Glossolalia: A Pneumatological Framework for Animal Theology. Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, 46 (1), 60-79. | External link
Internal and External Grants
-
2024
- Academic Conference Funding, $3500, Alphacrucis University College
- AC Conference Funding, $2000, AC
-
2023
- HDR Travel Grant, $1500, Alphacrucis University College
-
2021
- Winner of the Three Minute Thesis Peoples' Choice Award, $500, Alphacrucis University College
Presentations
-
2024
- Jürgen Moltmann: Pioneering Animal Eschatology (2024), The Nineth Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School: Animal Thinkers, Oxford, UK, 07 Aug 2024
- Animal Glossolalia: A Pneumatological Framework for Animal Theology (2024), Society for Pentecostal Studies, Atlanta, United States, 15 Mar 2024
-
2023
- Animal Glossolalia: A Pentecostal Consideration of Animal Voice (2023), Pilgrims with the Planet, Sydney, Australia, 05 Oct 2023
- Animal Glossolalia: A Pentecostal Consideration of Animals (2023), World on Fire: Pentecostal Eschatology and Eco-theology, Frankfurt, Germany, 01 Sep 2023
Engagement Publications
Book Reviews
-
2022
- Rizzo, D. (2022). Review of Glossolalia and the Problem of Language, by Nicholas Harkness. Reading Religion. , . | External link
Popular Articles
-
Forthcoming
- Rizzo, D. In the Footsteps of St. Francis: The Path Towards Zoological Mission. , .
-
2024
- Rizzo, D. (2024). God's Creatures, Our Responsibility: Jürgen Moltmann on Animal Rights. , . | External link
-
2023
- Rizzo, D (2023). Animals in Relationship with God. Zadok Perspectives, Winter Edition. | AC Link
Other Publications
-
2023
- Rizzo, D. (2023). The CreatureKind Lectionary- Season after Pentecost: Proper 11. | External link | AC Link
Professional Memberships
A Rocha Australia (since 2024)
Australasian Animal Studies Association (since 2021)
Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics (since 2021)
Society for Pentecostal Studies (since 2023)
The Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Studies (ANZATS) (since 2021)
If you’d like to contact Daniela, you can use the form below.
If you’d like a reply, please include your return email address in the box provided.