Esther Moraa Mombo | |
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Born | 15 May 1957 Birongo Village in Kisii County, Kenya |
Occupation | Professor of Theology |
Title | Professor |
Academic background | |
Education | PhD- University of Edinburgh Master of Philosophy- Trinity College, Dublin Bachelor of Divinity-St.Paul's United Theological College |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Theology |
Sub-discipline | African Women Theology |
Institutions | St. Paul's University Limuru,Kenya |
Main interests | Mission History,Interfaith Relations,Theology &Gender Studies |
Esther Moraa Mombo is a Kenyan female theologian and a full professor of theology in the school of theology at St. Paul's University,Limuru. She researches church history with a focus on mission history,interfaith relations and theology,and gender studies with a focus on African women's theologies,sexuality,and HIV/AIDS. She is the founder of the Tamar campaign in Kenya which acknowledges gender-based violence in society and empowers churches to address it. She is a founder member of The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians St. Paul’s chapter in Kenya.
Esther Mombo was born on 15 May 1957 to Stanley Mombo Maikururi and Maria Vulimu Mombo [1] at Birongo Village in Kisii County,Kenya. Her father was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and her mother was a Quaker. However,she was brought up by a Quaker grandmother who she referred to as her first pastor and theological educator. [2]
Mombo earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from St Paul's United Theological College (now St. Paul's University,Limuru) and a Master of Philosophy degree from the Irish School of Ecumenics of Trinity College Dublin. [2] She returned to Kenya to teach at an Anglican bible college,where she became an Anglican herself. [3] Mombo completed her Ph.D. in 1998 at School of Divinity,University of Edinburgh as part of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World. [4] [5] She wrote her Ph.D. thesis on the topic "A historical and cultural analysis of the position of Abaluyia Women in Kenyan Quaker Christianity:1902-1979." [6]
Mombo started her teaching career at St. Paul's United Theological College,Limuru Kenya,(now St. Paul's University) in 1999 as a lecturer in historical studies and women's studies [2] and rose through the rank to become a full professor of theology at the school of theology in the same university. Since then,she has held various administrative posts at St. Paul's University,Limuru, [3] during a period when the institution moved from a theological college to a fully-fledged private ecumenical university. [7] Mombo worked in top management at the same university for fifteen years,from academic dean to Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (2007 to 2013). She has also served as the Director of International Partnerships and Alumni Relations at St. Paul's University,Limuru. [8]
She has worked as an external examiner for postgraduate students in several universities including Africa International University,Kenyatta University,Makumira University in Tanzania,and in South Africa the University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of Pretoria. [9]
Mombo has served as a visiting professor at a number of academic institutions,including Candler School of Theology at Emory University,Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University,the Graduate Institute of Theology at Yonseo University Seoul in South Korea,and the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGEST). [9]
Mombo is a member of numerous ecumenical committees,including the World Council of Churches' Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation,the All Africa Conference of Churches' Advisor on Education, [10] Friends World Committee for Consultation, [11] American Friends Service Committee,Gianchere High School in Kisii County,and Umoja High School in Kiambu County. [9] Previously,she was a member of the Inter-Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission. [12]
She has served as a trustee of the Programme for Christian-Muslim relations in Africa,member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians and the coordinator of East African region [13] installed as a Lay Canon Theologian at the Cathedral in 2017 and has served as a Lay Canon Theologian at Southwark Cathedral. [12]
She is the founder of the Tamar campaign in Kenya which acknowledges prevalence of gender-based violence in society and empower churches to address it. [11] She is a gender activist,working with religious organizations on issues of Gender and how patriarchy affects full participation of women in church and society. [13]
Mombo has received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary (2007), [10] Church Divinity School of the Pacific (2023) [14] and her alma mater the University of Edinburgh (2023) [15] for her work of bringing to the fore issues of gender disparity and gender justice in Church and society. [2]
Mombo is recognized as one of the leading 20th century Anglican theologian in a book Twentieth Century Anglican Theologians:From Everlyn Underhill to Esther Mombo. [1]
Mombo is known for her research in missiology and HIV/AIDS thus her contention that in the context of HIV/AIDS and traditional rites of widow-inheritance,the church is challenged to offer more than just funeral services for the dead. [16] The missiological challenges and opportunities she unravelled include:rethinking the relationship between gospel and culture in the era of HIV/AIDS;developing a theology and spirituality to cope with the growth of a countervailing prosperity gospel;ameliorating the root causes of poverty that lie at the heart of HIV/AIDS pandemic;and engaging in rigorous moral advocacy on behalf of those most vulnerable in the society. [16]
Mombo is also known for championing for African women theology and examining how patriarchy affects full participation of women in church and society thus her philosophy,'women are in pews men are at the pulpits'. [2] This is so because of the existing strong link between theology and ordination. In Africa,theological education was an investment,and churches invested in men. Some churches also were not open to ordination of women,so they had no reason to send women to study theology. To her,Women's ordination in Africa plays a vital role in helping to overcome gender inequality,poverty,violence and HIV/AIDS as 'it provides an important place for women to contribute to the wellbeing of people in society. [17]
As an African feminist theologian,Mombo propose that any theology that is going to be inclusive and global needs to interrogate the pervasive nature of patriarchy that continues to appear in church and society. [2] Therefore,she advocated and raised her voice to building an inclusive Church where both men and women will see themselves as children of God. [18]