Our work explores flourishing in the Church from an academic and creative perspective, by collaborating with academic, theological, congregational and artistic partners.
Creative Expression
Alongside the rigor of scientific research, we’re also turning to the arts to give beauty and expression to the concept of “Flourishing and the Church.”
Together with our academic and congregational partners, we’ll explore this through a range of creative activities and artistic collaborations. The resulting works will be shared through a curated online exhibition, offering a space for all to experience these multimedia expressions of flourishing.
Collective Imprint
Inspired by artists in Europe & Texas we will create a collaborative “seed text” – a collection of reflection statements from researchers and congregational leaders reflecting on what it means for the Church to flourish.
This text will serve as a creative expression of our shared, multidimensional understanding of flourishing and will be offered to artists to interpret through their own work.
Congregational Creative-Expression
Drawing on the concept of Social Practice Art, congregations and their members will have the opportunity to co-create artistic expressions of what a flourishing Church means to them.
Each congregation will have full creative freedom to bring this to life in any form—music, visual art, performance, or other creative mediums.
Artist Expression
Leveraging the skill and talent of professional artists to create beauty, we will issue a call to artists to express the creative declaration through their artistic medium.
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Perhaps, I ask as an artist, being an artist is not an anomaly to faith, but is central to faith and to the place of the church in the world; and in order to understand the fullness of the grace of God, we all must think, act, and make like an artist.
― Makoto Fujimura, Art and Faith: A Theology of Making
Building Connections
Across the United States and globally, different groups are exploring human flourishing and flourishing in the context of faith communities. We believe that by building collaborative relationships with these groups, we can embark on a journey of learning together and applying our knowledge for the edification of the Church. We have hosted annual gatherings on Flourishing at the Church—first at Regent University in 2024, then alongside our partners in Europe in 2025—and we look forward to continuing these in‑person events each year.
