Martine Audéoud and Sibonokuhle Ncube have written a chapter in a recently published book about African women in theological education.
Two Mennonite Mission Network authors have contributed to Empowering Voices: African Women in Theological Education, a compilation of 10 essays. Sibonokuhle Ncube, one of Mission Network’s regional directors for Africa and Europe, and Martine Audéoud, a mission worker based in Ivory Coast with a global teaching ministry, collaborated on the final chapter, “African Female Theologians: Challenges and Opportunities for Publications.”
Empowering Voices, edited by Felicia Chinyere Priest, Verena Schafroth and Marilyn Naidoo, draws from the experiences and expertise of a diverse collection of scholars to produce an exploration of gender issues in theology. From exploring the biblical basis for women in leadership to discussing how to exist in a male-dominated Christian world, these essays encourage the empowerment of female leadership in theological education and other Christian contexts in Africa.
Though living on different continents, Audéoud and Ncube were able to find a way to complete their chapter, through many Zoom sessions, because they saw the importance in advancing the cause of African women, “and, thus, to serve the African church in a more relevant and equitable way,” Audéoud said.
“Encouraging academic publishing by female theologians requires a multifaceted approach that addresses systemic barriers, fosters supportive environments and promotes gender equity within the academic and publishing community,” Audéoud said.
Audéoud and Ncube suggest implementing:
- Mentorship programs.
- Networking opportunities.
- Institutional support.
- Targeted funding.
- Collaborative publishing opportunities.
- Multi-media facilitation.
- Advocacy efforts.
These strategies can “empower female theologians to contribute their unique perspectives and expertise to theological discourse and scholarship,” Audéoud said. To order Empowering Voices, email literature@langham.org.
