(Global Impact) The Work of Service not Power in the Anglican Church of Kenya with Rt. Rev. Dr. Emily Onyango

Listen to hosts, Mimi and Kim as they interview Rt. Rev. Dr. Emily Onyango in the Global Impact thread. Emily’s deep humility and focus on leadership as service versus power was profoundly evident in her life and vocation. Modeling herself after her Sunday School teacher, Emily remains deeply committed to girls, women, and youth. Emily models the confidence of Christian women, which she also celebrates in the women leaders of the East African Revivals in her book, Gender and Development: A History of Women’s Education in Kenya.  

 

As Bishop in her community, Emily takes on the role of grandparents who nurture youth spiritually, socially, educationally, and economically. She reminds her community that while they lack economic wealth, God has given them great joy in their relationships.  

 

Emily discusses her joy both in serving beside the male bishops, but especially in in serving with the second woman bishop Rt. Rev. Rose Okeno ordained shortly after Emily.  She speaks of their sister alliance that gently reminds their brother bishops they are now joined by sister bishops in God’s work. 

 

Bio 

Last year Rt. Rev. Dr. Emily Onyango was ordained as the first woman bishop in the Anglican Church of Kenya.  She serves as senior lecturer and dean of students at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya. She earned a PhD from the University of Wales, a ThM from the Asian Center for Theological Studies and Mission in Seoul, South Korea, and a BD from St. Paul’s University, Limuru. She is the author of Gender and Development: A History of Women’s Education in Kenya