Philomena Njeri Mwaura | |
---|---|
Occupation(s) | Theologian and Professor |
Academic background | |
Education | Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Arts, Second Class Honors, Upper Division, University of Nairobi 1979,. Masters of Arts (MA) in Religious Studies, University of Nairobi, 1986. PhD Kenyatta University, 2002. |
Alma mater | University of Nairobi Kenyatta University |
Academic work | |
Discipline | African Christianity- History and Theology,New Religious Movements |
Sub-discipline | Christian Religious Education,Church History,Mission Studies,Gender and Theology,Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in Africa,African Instituted Churches,African Women’s Theology,Religion and Health. |
Institutions | Kenyatta University |
Philomena Njeri Mwaura is a Kenyan theologian and an Associate Professor Religious Studies at Kenyatta University,Kenya. She has published widely in the areas of African Christianity- History and Theology and New Religious Movements.
Philomena obtained a Bachelor of Education in 1979 from the University of Nairobi,Kenya,and a Master of Arts [1] in 1984 from the same university. She wrote her masters thesis on the Akurinu churches. [2] She received her PhD from Kenyatta University [3] in 2001 with a thesis titled A theological and cultural analysis of healing in Jerusalem church of Christ and Nabii Christian church of Kenya. [4]
Mwaura was Coordinator of the Theology Commission and Women's Commission (Africa Region) of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians [5] and president of the International Association for Mission Studies. [6] She is a member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians and Chair of the Collaborative Centre for gender and Development in Kenya. [5] Mwaura teaches in the Center for Gender Equity and Empowerment at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, [3] and was previously its director (2012- 2016). [5] She is in the advisory council of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography. [7]
Philomena is affiliated to several professional bodies. Some of these professional bodies are:International Association for Mission Studies,Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians,Ecumenical Symposium of Eastern Africa Theologians,and African Association for the Study of Religion .
Philomena has won several awards and grants. in May August 2018 2012,she was a senior Research Fellow at the Nagel Institute,Calvin College USA. Her other awards are:recognition as 8th position among Directors in Kenyatta University who had achieved their Performance Contract Targets. Awarded Senior Research Fellow at Yale Divinity School and Overseas Ministries Study Centre,New Haven,Connecticut,USA :2010. Recognized the 4th among 50 top researchers in Kenyatta University,2007. Awarded William Paton Research Fellowship at University of Birmingham,UK,2007. Awarded a scholarship to study at the Center for the Study of New Religious Movements at Selly Oak Colleges,University of Birmingham,UK,in 1996. Philomena was a consultant for the Project”Engaging Africa”,organized by Nagel Institute Calvin College USA and Funded by John Templeton Foundation 2013-2017
Mwaura's research is in African Christianity,new religious movements and religious education. [3] She was co-editor of Theology in the Context of Globalization:African Women's Response and Challenges and Prospects of the Church in Africa. [3] Mwaura argues that the founding of churches by women in Africa is "the ultimate act of religious independency and self-determination". [8]
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