Center for Faith and Human Flourishing

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“WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR”

The Center for Faith and Human Flourishing (CFHF) exists to advance LCC’s mission through research and academic engagement. The size of our institution cultivates intimacy, which makes interdisciplinarity almost a necessity—a welcome benefit for ourselves and our students. Questions relating to faith and the immaterial aspects of human existence are not considered ‘out of bounds.’ LCC enjoys affiliations with North American networks such as the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and is also well situated to participate in projects funded by the European Research Council. Opportunities for CFHF research partnerships include: faculty exchange; research fellowships, including housing and stipend; and assistance in applying for public and private research grants. For more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Benjamin Giffone
Director, Center for Faith and Human Flourishing

“WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR”

The Center for Faith and Human Flourishing (CFHF) exists to advance LCC’s mission through research and academic engagement. The size of our institution cultivates intimacy, which makes interdisciplinarity almost a necessity—a welcome benefit for ourselves and our students. Questions relating to faith and the immaterial aspects of human existence are not considered ‘out of bounds.’ LCC enjoys affiliations with North American networks such as the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and is also well situated to participate in projects funded by the European Research Council. Opportunities for CFHF research partnerships include: faculty exchange; research fellowships, including housing and stipend; and assistance in applying for public and private research grants. For more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Benjamin Giffone
Director, Center for Faith and Human Flourishing

Purpose Statement

The Center for Faith and Human Flourishing (CFHF) exists to advance LCC’s mission to provide Christian liberal arts education within a diverse learning community that transforms people for servant leadership by:

empowering the faculty and student body for more and better academic engagement with important contemporary intellectual voices;
fostering scholarly conversations within the disciplines represented at LCC, but especially promoting interdisciplinary dialogue that feeds LCC’s liberal arts model;
encouraging active and experiential learning outside the seminar room, such as community projects and relationships with regional churches;
stimulating faculty research productivity as well as faculty and student research collaboration.

The CFHF reflects LCC’s identity as an international Christian liberal arts university. The CFHF integrates perspectives from all branches of Christianity represented at LCC (and beyond), and promotes dialogue between people of different faiths with respect to all aspects of human flourishing.

Research Agenda

A research agenda provides focus for the CFHF and its activities. While other research projects undertaken by any department, research cluster, or individual member of the University community may be supported by the CFHF, preference will be given to projects and researchers focusing in these areas. In order to reap the benefits of consistent, concentrated efforts, the CFHF will maintain this focus in its initial five years (2017-2022).

Area 1: Migration, Economic Development & Flourishing Communities

Migration is a key element in human flourishing: the free movement of individuals and families to escape insecurity and poverty in pursuit of survival and economic opportunity.

Economic migration, family migration, migration
Humanitarian migration (refugees); IDPs; migration due to ecological disaster
International contexts: Baltic states, European Union, post-Soviet states
Economic development
Diaspora and return migration, particularly as contributing to economic development in home countries
Securitization of migration; how states and host populations treat migrants as problematic/dangerous; migrants at risk of deportation
Integration of migrants (socio-economic/family/humanitarian migrants); reception, suspicion, racism, xenophobia
Religious persecution and conflict
Religion as contributing factor to attitudes toward migrants and migration

Area 2: Trauma, Relationships, Flourishing Individuals and Families

Safety, love, and sense of belonging are significant contributing factors to human survival and satisfaction.

Interpersonal relationships, especially families, as key to flourishing
Influences on attitudes towards marriage
Marital and couple adjustment
The role of faith in quality of marriage experience
Gerontology; capability and flourishing in advanced age, aging populations
Attitudes towards mental health issues; obstacles to seeking psychological help
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Depression, suicide
Physiological measures of psychological function
Communication norms and patterns within nuclear and extended families, in post- totalitarian societies

Area 3: Textual Studies, Faith and Conception of Flourishing

Texts and other artistic expressions, including the foundational texts of faith such as the Bible, reflect and shape conceptions of meaning, purpose, flourishing, and relationships. As a liberal arts institution, LCC is committed to foundational principles and tools of inquiry that empower free individuals to pursue meaning within a free society.

Biblical, theological, literary, historical, and philosophical studies, within the following contexts: Lithuania, the Baltic States, Eastern Europe, and post-totalitarian and post-secular societies
Christian ecumenical dialogue, and interreligious dialogue
Rhetoric and persuasive communication
Conceptions of ethnic and national identity
Modes and methods of artistic expression, including visual and performing arts

Research Fellows

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Benjamin Giffone, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Faith and Human Flourishing/ Assistant Professor

Markku Ruotsila, Ph.D.

Research Fellow/ Professor

Jonathan Warner, Ph.D.

Research Fellow

Jason Peck, Ph.D.

Research Fellow

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Events

Upcoming Events

Trauma Competent Caregiver Training | September 12-14, 2019

Past Events

Trauma Competent Caregiver Training | September 12-14, 2019

Fellowship Application

Research Fellows of the Center for Faith and Human Flourishing may be in-residence or non-resident members of the LCC faculty. As a fellow at CFHF you can get following benefits and support: