NAIROBI – At a landmark gathering in Nairobi, African women theologians are charting a bold path for the global Church. The Second African Women Theologians Conference has convened voices from across the continent and beyond, carrying a clear message: for the Church to embody true synodality, it must listen to and walk with the voices of women, especially in Africa, the new heartland of Catholicism. With nearly one-fifth of the world’s Catholics already in Africa, a figure expected to double by 2050, the continent stands not at the margins but at the center of Catholic life, and it is speaking with clarity and conviction.
Held at Hekima University College, the event brought together leading women scholars from across the globe. The atmosphere was charged with an exciting blend of scholarly intensity and a spirit of change. More than a conference, this gathering functioned as the focal point of a subtle ecclesiastical transformation. Under the theme “Synodality in Action: Emerging Ecclesiologies, Vitality of Women, and Discerning Leadership for the 21st Century,” the event went beyond academic conversation, evolving into a dynamic space for the Church to reflect the communities it serves.
The assembly’s commencement on September 2 was far from a mere opening ceremony; it was a strategic launch. Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, Principal of Hekima University College, framed the stakes with a clear charge: “What is envisioned here must not remain within these walls. It must permeate our classrooms, seminaries, and parishes to shape a new generation of leaders.” This imperative, to translate reflection into curriculum, to shape the next generation of leaders with the wisdom of women, fueled days of intense discourse, as the intellectual foundation of this movement was established by prominent scholars. A keynote from Dr. Philomena Njeri Mwaura masterfully reframed synodality not as an imported Vatican concept but as one inherently aligned with African traditions of communal discernment. “In our African context, synodality is not an innovation but a homecoming, a return to our ancient practice of walking together in discernment,” she affirmed. This was powerfully complemented by a second keynote from Professor Teresa Okure, whose address acted as a catalyst, launching deep-dive sessions that dissected everything from scripture to the gritty realities of canon law. “We are not here to ask for a place at the table,” Professor Okure asserted, “but to rebuild the table itself, ensuring it reflects the entire People of God.”
For many participants, the conference was a rare sanctuary. Imagine a religious sister from a rural diocese where her theological degree is overlooked. Here, her expertise is not just welcomed; it is central. The sense of validation is palpable, in the vigorous nods during lectures, in the passionate conversations over tea, and in the shared understanding that they are part of something far larger than themselves. “This gathering has awakened a profound truth: our voices are not supplementary; they are essential to the Church’s mission,” shared a participant from Kenya.
The conversations were characterized by a clear-eyed courage that bridged the theoretical and the intensely practical. Scholars confronted the Church’s complicity in sexual and gender-based violence, arguing with theological precision for its duty to become a true sanctuary. In a groundbreaking workshop, canon law expert Sr. Dr. Jacinta Auma Opondo moved beyond critique to offer a toolkit for change, mapping often-overlooked avenues within Church law itself to transform it into a handbook for advocacy. “Canon law is not meant to be a weapon of exclusion,” she explained, “but a framework for justice. We are learning to use its own mechanisms to advocate for the marginalized.”
The most transformative idea to emerge was a fundamental reimagining of power itself. Theologians are championing a new model of leadership inspired by the African metaphor of motherhood, rooted in nurturing, community, and collective wisdom, akin to the consensus-building of a village council. This is not about joining the old system; it is about building a new one.
This event draws from the rich legacy of past movements but is laser-focused on the future. The critical collaboration with the Watawa Wa Taa (Consecrated Women of Light) network forges a vital bridge between scholarly theology and the rich, often silent, lived experience of women religious ministering across the continent, grounding lofty ideas in the reality of pastoral work.
The deliberations here are poised to directly inform the global synodal process, particularly as the Church moves into the crucial implementation phase. The conference’s findings are being synthesized into formal recommendations destined for the Vatican, ensuring that African women’s perspectives are not an afterthought but a central contribution to the most significant ecclesial reform movement in decades.
The consensus is clear, and the warning remains stark: the success of synodality depends on the Church’s willingness to reform its leadership culture. “Without structural change, synodality risks becoming another empty promise,” a theologian from Nigeria emphasized. “We are moving from words to action, from diagnosis to implementation.”
The focus has now decisively shifted from diagnosis to implementation. The anticipated outcomes are specific and systemic: forging unbreakable pan-African networks, creating pastoral resources, and irrevocably weaving these perspectives into theological curricula.
The message from Nairobi, born of the participants’ maternal concern for an authentic synodal Church, has matured into a declaration of faith and hope. It carries the weight of intellectual rigour, pastoral depth, and an abiding love for the Church, expressed with unwavering resolve. These women are not on the margins but at the heart of the Church, patiently and faithfully shaping a more welcoming home for all. As mothers, sisters, and daughters of the faith, they are weaving a new tapestry of Catholic theology, one rich with African wisdom and feminine insight. What emerges from their work is not a demand but a gift: an invitation for the whole Church to walk more deeply together in the Spirit of synodality.
