First Congregational Church of Greenwich presents “Parenting and the Role of Spirituality: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Miller, Author of The Spiritual Child.” Dr. Lisa Miller, Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University Teachers’ College and author of a groundbreaking new study on the role of spirituality in child development, will share her findings at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22. The public is invited and admission is free for the presentation, which will be held in the church Auditorium.
Dr. Miller’s latest book, The Spiritual Child: The New Science of Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving, is a 2015 New York Times bestseller based on ten years of research by the Spiritual Child Team at Columbia Teachers College. That research yielded some remarkable data about the effect of spirituality on children and their well-being as teenagers.
The Columbia Team found that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances, 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers, and 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex than other children. They also have significantly more positive markers for thriving, including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success.
Dr. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale, and received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is frequently cited in print and on-line media and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC’s Today Show.
“We are delighted to be able to bring Dr. Miller to Greenwich, and we hope to have wide participation from the entire community,” said Rosemary Lamie, Director of Family Ministries at First Church. “Child care and refreshments will be provided at the event, and Dr. Miller will lead a conversation with participants after her formal presentation.”
First Congregational Church is located 108 Sound Beach Ave. For more information, visit fccog.org
