Dr Daniela Rizzo
Associate Lecturer in Systematic Theology; Director of HE Diplomas of Leadership and MinistryDaniela is an Associate Lecturer of Systematic Theology at AC. She has recently completed her PhD, which articulates a unique intersection between systematic pneumatology and animal studies.
Daniela's academic memberships extend to the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, the Australasian Animal Studies Association, A Rocha Australia and more recently with the Pentecostal World Fellowship Creation Care Task Force. Outside academia, she is a member of the Warrnambool Environment and Sustainability Advisory Committee, contributing to local environmental discussions and sustainable community initiatives.
Daniela's published research centres on the connection between animals and theology, aiming to address anthropocentrism within the theological discourse.
Daniela is driven by a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of animals as she contributes to a more inclusive theological dialogue. Recognising that religious worldviews significantly impact how we engage with, and assign moral weight to, our actions within the natural world, she seeks to influence these perspectives both within her Pentecostal faith tradition and through ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. Her goal is to inspire shifts in thinking that lead to proactive, tangible changes—especially in the ways we value and care for animals.
Daniela is a member of the Pentecostal Studies, Ecotheology and Sustainable Development and Theology and Society research clusters.
Qualifications
PhD (Alphacrucis University College)
Dissertation Title Theological Foundations for a Pneumatology of Animals
2025
M.A.(Theology) (Alphacrucis University 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, Elizabeth Johnson, Celia-Deane Drummond, AJ Swoboda, Richard Bauckham and Christopher Southgate.
Field of Research
TheologyBooks
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Forthcoming
- Daniela Rizzo. Animal Pneumatology. .
Book Chapters
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Forthcoming
- Rizzo, D. Pentecostal and Evangelical Ecotheologies In Eaton, M. & Harvie, T., The Routledge Handbook of Ecotheology (pp. ). Routledge.
- 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.
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2025
- Rizzo, D (2025). 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.
Journal Articles
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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
Edited Books
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Forthcoming
- Daniela Rizzo, John Griffiths and Jacqueline Grey (eds). Voice of Creation: Pentecostals Engaging Scripture for Ecological Renewal.
Internal and External Grants
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2025
- Academic Conference Funding, $3000, Alphacrucis University College
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2024
- Academic Conference Funding, $3500, Alphacrucis University College
- AC Conference Funding, $2000, AC
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2023
- HDR Travel Grant, $1500, Alphacrucis University College
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2021
- Winner of the Three Minute Thesis Peoples' Choice Award, $500, Alphacrucis University College
Presentations
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2025
- Liberation in Chains: A Theological Reflection on Captivity as a Spiritual Metaphor (2025), The Tenth Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School, Oxford, UK, 05 Aug 2025
- The Natural Will and the Divine Logoi: Maximus the Confessor, Animal Spirituality, and the Boundaries of Orthodoxy (2025), ANZATS: Remembering Nicaea, Melbourne, AUS, 02 Jul 2025
- All Creatures of the Earth, Come Praise the Lord!: Worship, Creaturely Flourishing and Pentecostal Animal Theology (2025), Society for Pentecostal Studies, Seattle, United States, 13 Mar 2025
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2024
- Jürgen Moltmann: Pioneering Animal Eschatology (2024), The Nineth Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School, Oxford, UK, 07 Aug 2024
- Animal Glossolalia: A Pneumatological Framework for Animal Theology (2024), Society for Pentecostal Studies, Atlanta, United States, 15 Mar 2024
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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
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2022
- Rizzo, D. (2022). Review of Glossolalia and the Problem of Language, by Nicholas Harkness. Reading Religion. , . | External link
Popular Articles
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Forthcoming
- Rizzo, D. In the Footsteps of St. Francis: The Path Towards Zoological Mission. , .
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2024
- Rizzo, D. (2024). God's Creatures, Our Responsibility: Jürgen Moltmann on Animal Rights. , . | External link
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2023
- Rizzo, D (2023). Animals in Relationship with God. Zadok Perspectives, Winter Edition. | AC Link
Other Publications
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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)
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