Esther Mombo

Esther Moraa Mombo was born on 15th May 1957, she is a Kenyan Anglican theologian who teaches church history and theologies from women's perspectives.

Esther Mombo
Born	Esther Moraa Mombo 1957, May 15 Birongo, Kisii County, Kenya
Education	St. Paul's University, Limuru, Trinity College Dublin, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh
Occupation(s)	Academic, theologian

Biography

Born in Birongo village of Kisii County, Kenya to a Seventh-day Adventist father and a Quaker mother,^[1] Mombo received a BD from St Paul's United Theological College (now St. Paul's University, Limuru) and an MPhil from the Irish School of Ecumenics of Trinity College Dublin. She returned to Kenya to teach at an Anglican bible college, where she became an Anglican herself.^[2] Mombo completed a PhD in 1998 at School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh as part of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World.^[3][4] She wrote her PhD thesis on the topic "A historical and cultural analysis of the position of Abaluyia Women in Kenyan Quaker Christianity: 1902-1979."^[5]

Since completing her PhD, Mombo has held various administrative posts at St. Paul's University, Limuru,^[2] during a period when the institution moved from a theological college to a fully-fledged private ecumenical university.^[6] Mombo worked in top management at the same university for fifteen years, from academic dean to Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (2007 to 2013). Mombo is a member of numerous ecumenical committees, including the World Council of Churches' Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation and the All Africa Conference of Churches' Advisor on Education.^[7] Previously, she was a member of the Inter-Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission.^[8]

She has been involved in work on Christian-Muslim relations in Africa, the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Mombo was installed as a Lay Canon Theologian at the Cathedral in 2017, and has served as a Lay Canon Theologian at Southwark Cathedral.^[8] She is currently a Professor of Theology and Director of International Partnerships and Alumni Relations at St. Paul's University, Limuru.^[9]

Mombo has received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary (2007),^[7] Church Divinity School of the Pacific (2023),^[10] and her alma mater the University of Edinburgh (2023).^[11]

Works

• Mombo, Esther Moraa (1998). A historical and cultural analysis of the position of Abaluyia Women in Kenyan Quaker Christianity: 1902-1979 (PhD thesis). University of Edinburgh.
• Kabue, Samuel; Mombo, Esther; Galgalo, Joseph; Peter, C. B., eds. (2012). Disability, Society and Theology. Voices from Africa. Zapf Chancery. ISBN 978-9966-7341-7-4.
• Wafula, R. S.; Mombo, Esther; Wandera, Joseph, eds. (2016). The Postcolonial Church: Bible, Theology, and Mission. Borderless Press.
• Mombo, Esther; Nyiramana, Cecile (2019). Mending broken hearts, rebuilding shattered lives: Quaker peacebuilding in East and Central Africa. Quaker Books. ISBN 978-1-907123-95-5.
• Chirongoma, Sophia; Mombo, Esther, eds. (2021). Mother Earth, Postcolonial and Liberation Theologies. Fortress Academic. ISBN 978-1-9787-1161-7.
• Chitando, Ezra; Mombo, Esther; Gunda, Masiiwa Ragies, eds. (2021). That all may live! Essays in honour of Nyambura J. Njoroge. University of Bamberg Press. ISBN 9783863098117.
• Kaunda, Chammah J.; Longkumer, Atola; Ross, Kenneth R.; Mombo, Esther, eds. (2021). Christianity and COVID-19: Pathways for Faith. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-52229-7.

Further reading

• Corey, Emmy (2020). "Esther Mombo (1957–)". In Burns, Stephen; Cones, Bryan; Tengatenga, James (eds.). Twentieth Century Anglican Theologians: From Evelyn Underhill to Esther Mombo. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 217–225. ISBN 978-1-119-61118-9.
• Kwaka-Sumba, Truphosa; le Roux, Elisabet (2019). "African Women's Leadership: Realities and Opportunities". In Priest, Robert; Barine, Kirimi (eds.). African Christian Leadership: Realities, Opportunities, and Impact. Langham Publishing. pp. 135–154. ISBN 978-1-78368-751-0.

References

1. "Born into ecumenism, Esther Mombo says African Christianity is 'young and vibrant'". World Council of Churches. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
2. Corey, Emmy (2020). "Esther Mombo (1957–)". In Burns, Stephen; Cones, Bryan; Tengatenga, James (eds.). Twentieth Century Anglican Theologians: From Evelyn Underhill to Esther Mombo. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 217–225. ISBN 978-1-119-61118-9.
3. Stanley, Brian (2011). "Founding the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World". In Burrows, William R.; Gornik, Mark R.; McLean, Janice A. (eds.). Understanding World Christianity: The Vision and Work of Andrew F. Walls. Orbis Books. pp. 51–59. ISBN 9781608330218.
4. "Esther Mombo". Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
5. Mombo, Esther Moraa (1998). A historical and cultural analysis of the position of Abaluyia Women in Kenyan Quaker Christianity: 1902-1979 (PhD thesis). University of Edinburgh.
6. "Interview with Professor Esther Mombo : Sexuality and Religion Network in East Africa". serene.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
7. . Henry Center. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
8. "Professor Esther Mombo". Southwark Cathedral. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
9. "Prof. Esther Mombo". St. Paul's University. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
10. "Commencement 2023". Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
11. "Honorary DD Conferred upon Centre Alumna, Professor Esther Mombo". Centre for the Study of World Christianity. 29 November 2023.