KENYA: Women Theologians Reminded to Challenge the Status Quo with Love
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
African Women theologians who attended the International Conference at Hekima University College (HUC) and presented empirical papers emphasizing synodality, were reminded to clothe themselves with love as they challenge the existing state of affairs in the Church.
In his closing remarks on Sunday, March 10, the Archbishop of Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese where the four-day conference took place, told the women that their voices need to be heard in a compassionate, gentle, and respectful manner.
“Let your voices ring out, clear and strong…do not be afraid to challenge the status quo, but do so with the love of Christ and a commitment to building bridges,” Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo shared with the theologians from across the continent and continued, “Remember, the most powerful voices are not the loudest, but those that speak with authenticity and compassion.”
As the women theologians voice out their concerns the Archbishop said, “Let your faith be your compass, your intellect your guide, and your compassion your driving force. May your voices be prophetic, your scholarship ground-breaking, and your actions transformative.”
The Archbishop stressed to the theologians that the Church needs them now more than ever to be the voice of the voiceless and to speak especially on the challenges currently facing the women.
“My daughters, the world needs to hear your unique song. The Church needs the richness of your perspective to address the challenges of our times, let your femininity, a wellspring of creativity, empathy, compassion, and nurturing strength, be the very essence of your theological exploration,” The Archbishop said emphasizing further, “Engage with the challenges facing our communities; poverty, gender inequality, environmental degradation and offer theological frameworks that foster healing and hope.”
“Be the bridge between the academy and the lived realities of people on the ground and let your lived experiences as mothers, daughters, sisters, and leaders inform your theological discourse as you bring out challenges women face in our communities, the need for gender justice within the Church, and how our faith can empower women to be agents of transformation in society,” he added.
Archbishop Anyolo told the women theologians at the conference held during the synodal journey and themed: Celebrating Decades of Women’s Theological Empowerment, that they are to complement their counterpart men in the vineyard.
“As we embark on this synodal journey, a journey that demands we listen deeply to the Holy Spirit and one another, I want to be clear: you are not competitors to your male counterparts. Men and women, theologians and laypeople, must build a Church that reflects the beautiful diversity of God’s creation,” The Archbishop disclosed
He stressed further, “However, you are collaborators, working alongside your brothers in Christ for the common purpose of building a more just and holistic society. Together, masculinity and femininity, reason and intuition, can create a holistic understanding of the divine and its reflection in our world.”
As the Church journeys towards a more synodal Church, the Prelate said, “May we be guided by the example of our Blessed Mother, who faithfully accompanied Jesus on his earthly mission. May her courage, faith, and love inspire us to walk boldly in the footsteps of her Son, working tirelessly for the building of God’s kingdom.”
He concluded, “Go forth, dear, women theologians, and leaders. May your scholarship illuminate, your actions inspire, and your femininity be a transformative force in the Church and the world.
Besides, “May your voices be a beacon of hope, a testament to the transformative power of faith, and a catalyst for a more just and compassionate world,” he said.
