The Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church provides a theological basis for gender equality
(The Lutheran World Information Centre) – Pastor Catherine Ngina Musau, the gender justice programme leader of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC), says that the situation of women in her country is gradually improving, but challenges still lie ahead. The National Assembly has yet to sign the law on two-thirds representation. (This law stipulates that the composition of state bodies elected by citizens may not include more than two-thirds of representatives of one gender – transl. note.)
“Kenya has committed to advancing women in accordance with its current 2010 constitution,” said Musau. The National Assembly has not yet approved two-thirds representation, but we are still fighting for it.” Pastor Musau explained the church’s role in promoting gender justice: it is a “forerunner” for society and the government. “At the KELC we try to run campaigns about gender justice, and we hope that this policy will be in full force in 2020.”
According to Musau, the KELC has supported women in ordained ministry. “Culturally and socially, women have been accepted and supported in the work of ordained ministry.” Despite that, it is not an easy path for all women pastors, because their pastoral role can be seen as a threat to their male colleagues, but she believes that this situation will continue to improve. “There are only a couple of cases where women’s ordination is seen as a threat and where it is thought that women should not be given a place in the church.”
As the gender justice programme coordinator at the KELC, Musau is responsible for ensuring the necessary attention to every group in the church. “My main role is to ensure that every group in the church is heard and that it has a space to express its ideas about gender. We support inclusive discussions and forums, as well as pointing out the desired achievements in equal leadership and the assignment of positions at the KELC.” She said that the programme has helped to shape an open approach to gender issues. “Thinking is changing, and there is support for this policy.”
Leaving no one behind
The churches that are members of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) affirm their positive stance on gender representation and women in ordained ministry, according to the KELC general secretary, Pastor Luke Mwololo. He said that the gender justice programme focuses on “education, informing people about the benefits that gender equality provides”.
At the centre of the advocacy programme is the “biblical and theological basis for gender justice”, KELC general secretary, Pastor Luke Mwololo.
Mwololo said that all the presentations are held in Swahili with the aim of reaching people at all levels and ensuring that no one is left behind. He said that at the centre of the advocacy programme is the “biblical and theological basis for gender justice”. At present the programme is at the stage of public engagement with the aim of reaching greater public awareness in 2020. “These principles are based on the LWF’s 2013 gender justice policy, but in our context,” added the KELC official.
Speaking about women’s ordination, Mwololo said that the church is steadily progressing and more women are joining ordained ministry. On 30 June, the KELC ordained Pastor Catherine Priska Hedi, who became the fifth woman clergy member in the church, which currently has 21 ordained pastors.
“The church began to encourage women to apply for this ministry in the late 1990s. A very small number were motivated to engage in theological education and formation for ordained ministry. The first was Pastor Catherine Ngina Musau, who was ordained in February 2002,” explained Mwololo.
He said that women’s participation in ministry is growing and that the church is blessed with the involvement of young people. “While we encourage several of the church’s women to engage in ordained ministry, overall this trend is increasing, and all young people, both women and men, are interested in this calling. They do so for several reasons. Cultural barriers do not influence their decisions as strongly. Despite that, we continue to encourage them, in order to maintain continuity.”
At present the KELC is organised into four areas, 20 circuits, 16 mission territories – a total of 36 units with 182 congregations. On average, in a church with 25,000 members, Sunday services are attended by 17,500 people. Alongside the ordained clergy, the church has five deacons and one deaconess. The church also has 37 trained evangelists, among whom there are seven women, five volunteer retired pastors and 230 non-ordained preachers of both genders.
The origins of the Kenyan church are to be found in the missionary work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The KELC joined the LWF in 1992.
Nairobi, Kenya / Geneva
19.07.2019.
Source: Lutheran World Federation news
Photo: L. Mwololo