Moving from Hegemony to Partnership in Leadership

When God created women and men, the intention was for them to be partners with each other and to serve in the world as cocreators with God. The story of human beings, however, has been impacted with culture and other social factors to create different forms of hegemonies. These hegemonies have been key in values that create social injustices that are in all spheres of life but more so in women and men relationships. In cases of leadership and in many cultures, men have adopted attitudes that justify exclusion of women from leadership. In religious circles, it is justified by the ways texts are read and interpreted through the lens of culture. If we begin from the premises of justice and believing in a God of justice, then hegemonic ways of understating leadership should be null and void. Acknowledging that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God demands that we act differently. What this has meant is to challenge injustice in leadership by men and women in partnership. The circle of concerned African women theologians in Africa, where Rev. Edith Chemorion is a member, has, over the years, provided safe spaces for mentoring women to research and write about the experiences of women but much more so to call for justice in all areas, including the study of theological education and for leadership in the churches. This has borne results because of the partnership of men and women. Reverend Edith's contributions to the rallying call is that society moves from hegemony to partnership in all fronts, but especially in offering leadership by all. We are strong when we partner, and we image God's will for society in partnership.

Prof. Esther Mombo

Lecturer, Faculty of Theology

St. Paul's University, Limuru, Kenya