Philomena Njeri Mwaura

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]

• Mwaura, Philomena N.; Hinga, T. M.; Kubai, A.; Ayanga, H. (2008). HIV/AIDS, Women and Religion in Africa: Ethical and Theological Responses. Pietermaritzburg: Cluster Publications. ISBN 9781875053698.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri; O’Malley, Steven (2016). Patterns of Urban Christianity in East Africa. Nairobi: Acton Publishers.

• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2007). "Gender and Power in African Christianity: African Instituted Churches and Pentecostal Churches". In Ogbu U. Kalu (ed.). African Christianity: An African Story. Africa World Press. ISBN 9780620336475.t
• Parsitau, Damaris Seleina; Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2010). "Gospel Without Borders: Gender Dynamics Of Transnational Religious Movements In Kenya And The Kenyan Diaspora". In Afe Adogame (ed.). Religion Crossing Boundaries. Brill. pp. 185–209.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2012). "Woman Lost in the Global Maze: Women and Religion in East Africa Under Globalization". In Sheila Briggs; Mary McClintock Fulkerson (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927388-1.
• Mwaura, Philomena N.; Parsitau, Damaris S. (2016). "Perceptions of women's health and rights in Christian New religious movements in Kenya". In Ezra Chitando; Afe Adogame (eds.). African Traditions in the Study of Religion in Africa:Emerging Trends, Indigenous Spirituality and the Interface with other World Religions. Routledge. pp. 175–186. doi:10.4324/9781315566047. ISBN 9781317184218.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2018). "Reconstructing mission: The church in Africa in the service of justice, peace, and reconciliation". Religion and Social Reconstruction in Africa. Routledge.

• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2005). "A spirituality of resistance and hope: African Instituted Churches' response to poverty". ORITA: Ibadan Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1–2): 65–83.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2007). "Integrity of mission in the light of the gospel: bearing witness of the spirit among Africa's gospel bearers". Mission Studies. 24 (2): 189–212. doi:10.1163/157338307X234842.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2008). "African Instituted Churches in East Africa". Studies in World Christianity. 10 (2): 160–184. doi:10.3366/swc.2004.10.2.160.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2008). "Stigmatization and discrimination of HIV/AIDS women in Kenya: A violation of human rights and its theological implications". Exchange. 37 (1): 35–51. doi:10.1163/157254308X251322.
• Mwaura, Philoeman Njeri (2009). "Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation: Agenda For Mission Studies and Praxis in the 21st Century: An African Reflection". Mission Studies. 26 (1): 17–30. doi:10.1163/157338309X446755.
• Parsitau, Damaris Seleina; Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2010). "God in the city: Pentecostalism as an urban phenomenon in Kenya". Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae. 36 (2): 95–112.
• Mwaura, Philomena Njeri; Martinon, Constansia Mumma (2010). "POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN KENYA AND LOCAL CHURCHES'RESPONSES: THE CASE OF THE 2007 POST‐ELECTION CRISIS". The Review of Faith & International Affairs. 8 (1): 39–46. doi:10.1080/15570271003707812. S2CID 143546054.

• Interview with Professor Philomena Njeri Mwaura