When ten-year old Nyambura Njoroge was asked by her father what she wanted to be when she grew up the answer was measured – if it was at all possible, a church minister. If not, then she would be a teacher. Her hesitant response was informed by the reality that Kenyan clergy was an all-male domain and she had never actually seen a female minister, except in her mind’s eye. Growing up in the Presbyterian Church East Africa, Nyambura understood the steadfast nature of church rules and regulations but God must have heard her heart’s prayer for in 1976 the PCEA leadership voted to allow women to be trained in theology. For Nyambura it was a dream come true and in 1978 she enrolled for a Bachelor of Divinity at St Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru, and in 1980 became the first woman to graduate from that institution.
Meanwhile the debate on whether women could become pastors was intensifying in Kenya’s churches. The Anglican Bishops had decided that the country was not yet ready for female ministers and by 1980 had only gone as far as appointing a Deacon. On the other hand, in the Presbyterian Church, Moderator Rev John Gatu successfully led the motion that nothing in theology stopped a woman from becoming a pastor. In 1982, as PCEA Moderator he ordained Nyambura and her life-long dream of being able to serve as a minister in the Church came true.
Now a Reverend, Nyambura went on to pursue a Master of Arts in Religion in 1985 at Louisville Seminary in the United States and in 1996 received her Doctorate in Philosophy from Princeton Theological Seminary making her the first ordained African woman to earn a PhD in any theological field.
This lady of firsts has served with World Alliance of Reformed Churches, as well as the World Council of Churches as coordinator of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative. She has paved the way for other women to be included in the clerical fold while educating others by challenging existing stereotypes of African women. She is a widely published author of several books including Kiama kia Ngo: An African Christian Feminist Ethic of Resistance and Transformation. For her, living her calling has been about achieving social justice for women, for the poor, the sick and the disenfranchised.
We are thankful for the commitment, service and boldness of Rev. Dr Nyambura Njoroge, a clergywoman of firsts!