By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 (CISA) – The Second African Women Theologians (AWT) Conference opened at Hekima University College (HUC), Nairobi, with strong calls to amplify women’s voices in theology and to deepen synodality as the Church in Africa journeys toward Vision 2050.
Hosted by Hekima University College in collaboration with Watawa wa Taa, the conference runs from September 3 to 6, 2025, at the HUC Arrupe–Amani Campus, Riara Road, Nairobi. Following the historic first gathering in March 2024, which set the tone for amplifying the voices of African women in theology and ministry, this second conference is seen as a milestone of continuity, growth, and renewed commitment to fostering a synodal Church that listens, discerns, and acts.
The theme is: “Synodality in Action: Emerging Ecclesiologies, Vitality of Women and Discerning Leadership for the 21st Century.”)
Opening the gathering, Rev. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, Principal of HUC, framed the event as a continuation of the Gospel story of Mary Magdalene, the “apostle to the apostles,” who became the first herald of the Resurrection.
“On that first Easter morning, when the world was still wrapped in darkness and despair, it was Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb… She was the first preacher of the Good News, the apostle to the apostles. This is not an accident in salvation history. It is a divine reminder that the Gospel cannot be fully proclaimed without the voices, the insight, the witness, and the leadership of women,” Fr Uwineza said.
He noted that African women theologians embody the same courage of Mary Magdalene, standing “at the crossroads of cultures, faith, governance, and ministry, reimagining leadership, discerning new pathways, and reminding the Church that the Resurrection always begins at the margins.”
Placing the conference in a wider ecclesial context, Fr Uwineza linked it to the Kigali SECAM Meeting on Vision 2050, which challenged the African Church to embrace deep theological reflection, dynamic shared leadership, prophetic witness, and openness to new frontiers.
“Our gathering here is one of the first concrete fruits of Vision 2050. It signals that women theologians are not only participants in this journey but also essential co-architects of the ecclesiological and missional pathways that will guide the Church for the next generation,” he stressed.
Highlighting Hekima’s 42-year mission as a hub for theological imagination and prophetic scholarship, Fr Uwineza said the conference was a tangible expression of the university’s motto for the year: “Dreaming Deep and Flying High.”
He concluded with a challenge: “A conference, no matter how beautiful, is not an end in itself. It is a spark. The true test is whether the fire it lights continues to burn long after we leave this hall. The question for us is: How will what we do here today shape the Church of tomorrow?”
Sr. Mumbi Kigutha, CPPS, President of Friends in Solidarity and Director of Watawa wa Taa, followed with an impassioned address on why such a gathering remains necessary for the Church in Africa.
“Someone once asked me: ‘Why do we need a conference for African women theologians?’ My answer is simple: because Africa stands at a unique crossroads in the life of the Church… Our continent is home to one of the fastest-growing Catholic populations in the world… And yet, the contribution of women within this body remains restricted. When women’s voices are silenced, the Church does not grow stronger. It grows weaker. It loses vitality. It loses progress,” Sr. Mumbi declared.
She noted that the synodal process has brought hope to women, reaffirming that the Church belongs to all the baptized and that discernment must be communal.
“Because we are a uniquely blessed group, women who have attained academic formation in a field where our presence is still rare. But with this blessing comes responsibility: not to remain exceptions, but to become pioneers. Pioneers who will normalize the presence of African women theologians for the generations who come after us,” she said.
Sr. Mumbi emphasized that African women theologians gather not only for academic reflection but also to model a new way of leadership: “Leadership that listens deeply, collaborates widely, embraces patience and inclusivity, and brings lasting transformation… Let this gathering be more than just a conference. Let it be a turning point. A moment when African women theologians move from the margins to the center. From exception to essential. Because the Church in Africa, and the Church universal, cannot reach its fullness without the voices of its daughters.”
The Second AWT Conference will feature paper presentations, panel discussions, and the official launch of a book of the proceedings from the inaugural 2024 conference, further cementing the role of African women in shaping theology and leadership within the global Church.
