Willson Lecture 1 – Featuring Prof. Esther Mombo

Jubilee and Decolonization: Navigating the Colonial Past to Redefine a Decolonized Future in African Quakerism.

Professor Esther Mombo teaches at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya, where she has served for fourteen years in senior management positions of Academic dean and Deputy Vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) Director at St. Paul’s Lifelong Learning Institute, Director of International Partnerships and Alumni Relations. Her research and teaching interests span the fields of Church History, with a focus on Mission History, interfaith Relations, and Theology & Gender Studies, with a focus on African women’s Theologies.

While connected to the University of St. Paul’s, the University of Dublin, and the University of Edinburgh, she has directed and examined postgraduate students in research, most of whom are serving the church in different capacities, including senior church leadership, organizations, and academia. She has mentored students, especially women who now serve in church religious organizations and academic institutions in different parts of the world. She has served as an external examiner for postgraduate students in several universities, including African International University, Kenyatta University, Makumira University in Tanzania, and Kwa Zulu Natal, and Pretoria Universities in South Africa.

In 2007, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Virginia Theological Seminary for her work in bringing to the fore issues of gender disparity and gender justice in Church and society. In 2023, she was awarded another honorary doctorate by her alma mater, the University of Edinburgh.

Professor Mombo has been a visiting professor at several universities, including the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGEST), Bright School of Divinity at Texas Christian University, Graduate Institute of Theology in Yonseo University Seoul, South Korea, Candler School of Theology, Emory University and Utrecht University. Professor Mombo has served in several ecumenical committees including co-chair of the Commission of Education and Ecumenical Formation of the World Council of Churches. She is chair of the African Contemporary Institute of Research in Africa(AICMAR) and the East African Co-ordinator of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (CCAWT). Currently, she serves on these boards: American Friends Service Commission and Friends World Committee of Consultation. I serve on these high school boards: Gianchere High School in Kisii County and Umoja High School in Kiambu County.

Publications

Women in Theological Education from African perspectives, an Handbook of Theological Education in world Christianity, Theological Perspectives, Ecumenical Trends. Regional Surveys. Edited by D. Werner, D. Esterline, N.Kang and J Raja.  Regnum 2010.

“I banged the table three times” The empowering Spirit and Women in the AINC in The Holy Spirit in African Christianity, Editors David Ngaruiya and Rodney L.Reed. Langham London 2022. Pages 91-104

Damaris Parsitau and Esther Mombo ‘Mama I Can’t Breathe!’: Black/African Women of Faith Groaning for Social Justice and Gender Equality: Brill Mission Studies 38 (2021) 448–469

Integrity in Higher Education A Feminist Perspective. Editors: Christoph Stückelberger, Joseph Galgalo, Samuel Kobia. Leadership with Integrity Higher Education from Vocation to Funding. Globethics.net Education Ethics No. 8 pages 55-68

In search of Women in the Archival Sources: The case of Maria Maraga. In Christian Interculture Texts and Voices from Colonial and Post-Colonial Worlds. Eds. Arun W. Jones. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania University Press. Pages 63-80.

Et al. Religious Fundamentalism and Attitudes towards Sexual and Gender Minorities and Other Marginalized Groups among Religious Leaders in Kenya. Pastoral Psychology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-021-00942-9

Et al. Facing Our Fears: The Impact of a 4-Day Training Intervention to Reduce Negative Perspectives on Sexual and Gender Minorities among Religious Leaders in Kenya, The Journal of Sex Research,

Pray Pray Pray! Women and prayer of Persistence and Resistance, Listening Together : Globak Anglican Perspectives on the Renewal of Prayer and the Religious life. Muthraj Swammy and Stephen Spencer. London Anglican Communion. 2020. 15-28 http://ihpemory.org/covid-19-resources-inter-disciplinary-scholarship/.

Gender in African Public Theology, eds. Sunday Bobai Agan; Dion a. Forster; H. Jurgens Hendriks Langham publishing. Carlisle 2020. Pages 221-230

“From St. Paul’s United Theological College to St. Paul’s University- A story of Theological Education from Kenya.” In A handbook of Theological Education in Africa (Eds) ~ Prof. Esther Mombo and John Chesworth, Isabel Apawo Phiri and Deitrch Wener. Cluster Publications 2013. 893-901.

“Mentoring Younger Scholars in Theological Education in” In A handbook of Theological Education in Africa (Eds) ~ Prof. Esther Mombo, Isabel Apawo Phiri and Deitrch Wener Cluster Publications 2013. 853-857

‘From the pew to the pulpit, engendering the pulpit through teaching ‘African women’s Theologies” in Men in the Pulpit Women in the Pew Addressing Gender inequality in Africa. Eds. HJ Hendriks, elna Mouton, Len Hansen Elisabet. L Roux Sun Press 2012

‘The revival testimony of second wives’ in the East African Revival History and Legacies Eds. Kevin Ward and Emma Wild-Wood. Ashgate 2012

If you have no voice just sing: Narratives of women’s lives and theological Education at St. Paul’s University (eds), ~Prof. Esther Mombo and Heleen Joziasse.Zapf Chancery Limuru Kenya 2011.

Society and leadership challenges and opportunities for people with disability in Disability, society and Theology voices from Africa. Edited by Samuel Kabue, Prof. Esther Mombo, Rev. Canon Prof. Joseph D. Galgalo and CB Peter. Zapf Chancery publishers 2011

From fourfold mission to Holistic Mission: towards Edinburgh 2010 in Holistic mission God’s Plan for God’s People. Edited by B. Woolnough & Wonsuk Ma. Regnum 2010.

Free Admission