Agnes Abuom
Agnes Abuom | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Abuom in Cologne, 2009. Photo: Raimond Spekking | |
| Born | Agnes Regina Murei Abuom |
| Occupation | Moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) |
| Known for | Africa president for the WCC |
| Children | 2 |
Agnes Regina Murei Abuom is a Kenyan Christian organizational worker who has served as moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) since 2013. She represents the Anglican Church of Kenya.[1]
Biography
Born in Nandi Hills to a family of six children and a mother who worked with community development, Abuom was educated at mission schools first in her local area and later at a boarding school. She went to high school near Nairobi and then undertook studies at University of Nairobi.[2]
She became involved with the World Council of Churches when the WCC's assembly was held in Nairobi in 1975. She also was involved in student organizations and politics – the latter causing controversies that led her to leave Kenya for Sweden in 1976. She learnt Swedish and earned a degree in education. After two years as a youth worker for WCC in Geneva, she returned to Sweden and earned a doctorate in missiology with the thesis "The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Development".[3] She later worked with refugee issues for WCC in Sudan and worked two years in Zimbabwe as a tutor.[2]
Returning to Kenya in 1989, Abuom was for a time imprisoned for her opposition to President Daniel Arap Moi. She went on to work for the Anglican Church of Kenya, mostly with national development issues, and from 1991 with a civic education program.[2]
She became Africa president for the WCC in 1999 and served to 2006. She has also worked with All Africa Conference of Churches,[4] African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) / Religions for Peace, and National Council of Churches of Kenya.[1] She has been involved in ecumenical work and peace-building efforts in the Horn of Africa and other places.[2]
She is the executive director of the organization TAABCO Research and Development Consultants, which was established in 1997 and focuses on consultant work for civil society organisations and aid organisations.[2][5][6]
In November 2013, Abuom was unanimously elected moderator of the WCC Central Committee at the organisation's assembly in Busan, South Korea. She is the first woman and the first African to hold that position.[1]
Abuom is married with two daughters.[2]
References
- ^ a b c "World Council of Churches elects first woman and African moderator of Central Committee". Christian Today. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "A Discussion with Agnes Abuom, Executive Committee, World Council of Churches". Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ Mikael Stjernberg (8 November 2013) Agnes Abuom första kvinna at läda Kyrkornas världsråd Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (pdf) Template:Se icon Sveriges kristna råd. Retrieved 4 March 2014
- ^ "Dr Agnes Abuom – Moderator of the WCC Central Committee". World Council of Churches. 2014.
- ^ Abuom, Agnes (15 October 2013). "Disowned by faith leaders". D+C. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ "Who We Are". Taabco. Retrieved 22 February 2014.