Early Life and Education of Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye - Case Study Example

Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye A critical review No of pages – 9 – 6530 Her Early life: Mercy Amba Oduyoye was born in 1934 in Ghana in Africa ofAkan parentage during the time of the British rule. Her childhood and later her career happened to coincide exactly during this tumultuous period of Modern African History. At a very young age she faced the struggles of political instability, colonial domination, war and violent ethnic and religious strife, famine, ecological disasters, the overthrow of Apartheid, the ever widening economic gap and the torturous path to Democracy. She became the leader of the Ecumenical Council and strived tirelessly to make the voices and concerns of the suffering population be heard amidst the tumultuous uproar in the African Society. Her society was matrilineal and therefore like all Akans, she was defined politically by her mother. The Akans say, “Without women the lineage is finished”. Women are considered the center of the kinship and from a very young age, they are made to feel the weight of responsibility of this issue. Most of the women around her worked by doing farming, processing and selling food and other necessities and trading, but Amba had a vision of her own and pursued her dream of changing the ugly face of Africa. In Amba’s own words, “I grew up with a keen sense of my own importance and the necessity to play my role faultlessly”. Her Education: Mercy Amba Oduyoye did her MA in women’s studies in religion program in Harvard Divinity School from the University of Ibadan in 1985-86. Her project was on “Religious Feminism in Africa”. Her paper was a critical appraisal of the role of women in African Christianity and other Traditional Religions with particular emphasis on self perception of religion of women in Southern Ghana and Nigeria. Her fire- brand kind of writing, ignited many a heart, as she begged them to join her in her quest for justice and religion. Mercy Amba Oduyoye was a theologian and an author of great repute who wrote on theology, philosophy and many social issues Positions held: She became the President of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians during the critical period under the British and fought wholeheartedly for the rights of the suffering women of Africa. She was a John A. Mackay Professor of World Christianity (1994 – 95) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Amba was one of the seven authors who reviewed the new Christian Ecclesial Movement in Africa. This book “The New Dimension in African Christianity” was a part of the African Challenge Series of the All Africa Conference of Churches. She is a member of the Methodist Church in Ghana and has rendered exemplary service on the issue of religion. Mercy began her services for the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1967 and later became the Deputy General Secretary from 1987 to 1994. She is presently the Director of the Institute of Women in Religion and Culture at the Trinity Theological Seminary of Legon, Ghana. She is also the founder of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. As an Author: Mercy Amba Oduyoye is a powerful author besides being an active feminist. The topics in her books cover a wide range of materials but primarily she is a theologian who writes about Christianity in Africa and the Liberation of her people. Her books are published by Orbis Publications which is a unit dedicated to publishing works that enlighten the mind, challenge the conscience and nourish the spirit. Orbis books seek to serve the cause of peace and reconciliation in a global dimension. Amba’s writing style and presentation have captured the hearts of many a reader. Her works are filled with a burning zeal of God’s love and also that of a Feminist Liberator who strives hard to release her brothers and sisters of Africa from their bondage. She has written several books and has around eighty published articles to her credit. Amba possesses a wide vocabulary which she uses deftly in her books. She shows a lot of compassion and commitment for her people when compelling them to turn to Christianity. The issues covered in her books are varied but filled with truth and sincerity. Issues covered in her works: Amba’s wide range of written literature is a treasury for theologians all over the world but most especially for the women theologians of Africa. Some of the issues that she has dealt with are on subjects such as “The Bible”, Doctrine of God, Church, its Mission, Spirituality and Anthropology. One of her pivotal concerns was the shape of African culture and religion and the influence and impact it had on African women. Recently, a book by the author was featured on BBC, in which the author likens “genocide to bullying”. She says that both these come out of treating others with contempt – it is as if they were not human. This program was being aired as Sister Thandeki Umlilo’s “Little Girl Arise”. In this book, Umlilo deals with incest and abuse that was meted out to her by her own male family members in her household such as her father, uncle and two brothers. She also speaks of how her mother maintained a stony silence in all her days of torment that she had to pass through. “She felt that her humanity had been violated and her person held in contempt” (1) The situation of Africa has been time and again lamented about and was always the focal issue of conversation whenever they met. It is uncanny that those who wield power are the ones who are amply protected by the law. She unabashedly describes the manner in which the people, who are paid to serve the public, deal with the citizens. She says that it should be experienced to be believed. They are seen at every place possible- in markets, offices, roads and frontiers taking all kinds of bribes from the public and exude tardiness while delivering services. The victims find no justice because these people are above the law and are not punished. Even the many TV shows that decry these issues emphatically time and again, receive no positive feedback from people concerned. Things never change! Praying for God’s Transformation of Africa: “Transformation has become almost a cliché .We need everything to be transformed- individuals lives, our society, our culture, our economic status and just about everything we need to be transformed. We often state the need for transformation but rarely do we mention God or Grace in the context. Is it possible to lift ourselves up without the grace of God? The up coming World Council of Churches 9th Assembly has attracted a lot of attention to its meaningful theme -"God, in your grace, transform the world". Phrases like “God in your grace” or “God be gracious to us” are common in the language of Christian spirituality. We pray for God’s grace, but then again we ask him to be gracious and transform the world. The author often wonders if we do this because “We know that our sinfulness cannot over shadow the image of God”. The author thinks we affirm this because God is our creator and judge and is also our Redeemer. In Amba’s words, “My experience is that where the fire of faith smolders in the ashes of wrong, we affirm that the grace of God will fan the dying embers into active flames”. Amba also contributed, together with a few other authors to “The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology” whose aim was to bring out or outline feminist theology through an analysis and contribute to the present day theological landscape. This book critically analyses theological assumptions and presents a challenge for future theological and philosophical scholarships. Mercy Amba’s contribution comes in part II of the book and is titled “Jesus Christ”. The contribution to Jesus Christ by an African woman reflects the faith of the African Christian women in an African context. Jesus Christ yesterday, today and tomorrow needs the African people to declare their faith in relation to today. In Amba’s own words- "It is not the material poverty that constitutes the biggest problem of Africa in the bid for social transformation. It is the lack of a vital inner force, a moral will and a capacity for sustained initiatives in the struggle for positive change" (3) Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Eighth Assembly, Mercy Amba wrote –“A Letter to my Ancestors”- From Cover to Core”. In this letter she praises her ancestors for preserving the essentials of the religion that is ingrained in their culture and handing it down to them. She speaks of contributing towards shaping the history of Christianity and demonstrating the coming of Jesus Christ. She calls upon all her African bothers and sisters to make a change for the better and accept conversion and commitment to Christianity. Through this letter Amba also pours out her feelings of helplessness in trying to spread God’s words and deeds. According to the consultation she received it clearly warned –“It is deceptive and dangerous to preach a Gospel of Prosperity in the midst of massive poverty. "She greatly relies upon her ancestors to give her the strength and courage she needs to continue her journey of spiritualism. In 1989, Mercy Amba initiated and inaugurated “The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians” that consisted of African women who joined together and worked towards spreading Christianity among the African people. They also contributed to Theological literature that is being processed in Africa. In her “African Experience of God through the Eyes of an Akan Woman” Mercy delves into the Christian religion but speaks of God in a multi- religious context. She says that God is an active participant in the lives of all human beings and man’s destiny, philosophy and the phenomena in the universe all depend on Him. Each time a Muslim speaks of either the past or the future, he never fails to use the phrase “Insha Allah” which means “by the will of Allah”. Christians use the word DV (Latin which means “God Willing”. The Akan of Ghana say- “nsem nyina ne Onyame,” which means “all things/affairs pertain to God”. Amba also states that when words fail, we use symbols for expression, such as “star”, “royal maces” and “gold weights”. She stresses that God should be experienced from the foundation of our existence and there is never a need to debate the existence of God. According to African women, Christology is centered on Jesus, “friend and liberator who upholds the dignity of humanity of women”. Africa is faced with a multitude of problems such as slavery, polygamy forced marriages and other unequal and inhuman treatment, so therefore it calls for a change for the better. Western influences have caused havoc among the African community and has seen the breakdown of many families, and hence it has nothing but trouble to offer. Large scale epidemics like AIDS and urbanization have only added to Africa’s problems. Unable to see the plight of these suffering women, Mercy Amba, who is also an ardent speaker and activist speaks in theological terms saying –“We banish peace when we don’t live out compassion filled justice”. She continues to say –“May we live God’s justice so that those who see us proclaim the only God”. Some of her other famous books were – “Daughters of Anowa”, “Who will roll the stone away”, “Beads and Strands”, and “Introducing African Women’s Theology”. Culture as a Struggle: Another burning issue that Mercy Amba Oduyoye took up was the problem of racial discrimination. The African people suffered at the hands of the British and were brutally ill-treated because of the color of their skin. Amba was seething with contempt to see her own people suffering insults and shame for the one reason that they were dark skinned. She gave fiery speeches pleading with her people to turn to God who would set their spirits free from the bondage imposed upon them by the Westerners. She encouraged them to have faith and hope in themselves to build a new tomorrow. Amba never lost sight of her goal of preaching about the one true God Jesus Christ. She empathized with the African women on their misfortunes, but at the same time trained many of them to join her in Evangelism. The Issue of Interest to me: According to me, I would say first of all that I am greatly impressed by Mercy Amba Oduyoye, just for the fact that though she is a lady who has seen life in its worst component, still she has great guts and pertinence to stand up for what is right, in the face of great adversity. Another thing I like her is her selflessness and unshakable zeal which she portrays in all of her works. The best thing about her is her genuine concern that she has for her less fortunate and down-trodden sisters and brothers of strife ridden Africa. Though she is a lady, yet she has exhibited great courage and strength in her endeavor to create a more peaceful and God- fearing world. The issue that is of interest to me is that of religion and the extent to which she goes to evangelize about Jesus Christ whom she believes to be the center of all things. By doing so, she has brought hope to the teeming millions of the poor and oppressed of Africa. She pleaded with them to see that if Christ was the center in their lives, they would have nothing to fear. In preaching Christianity, she was able to convince many like minded women in Africa to join her in the struggle. She not only preached but actively took part in spreading the word of God and at the same time bringing before them the wrong goings on that they had to put up with. Her sense of resilience and perseverance in her quest for spreading Christianity and her devotion to her unfortunate brothers and sisters leaves much to be admired. References: Thandeki Umlilo, Little Girl, Arise! New Life after Incest and Abuse, Pietermaritzburg, Cluster, 2002 Mercy Amba Oduyoye www.calbears.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qt=+Mercy+Amba+Oduyoye The Cambridge Companion of Feminist Theology. Oduyoye, Mercy Amba- Cambridge Collections on line. www.cco.cambridge.org/credited_person?id=OduyoyeMercyAmba www.theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1996/v52-4article6.htm The Church of the Future, Its Mission and Theology – A View from Africa. www.womenreligious.org/~education/FemTheol/Readings/Hilkert.htm A Letter to My Ancestors: From Cover to Core www.wcc.coe.org/wcc/assembly/or-mo-ehtml Mercy Amba Oduyoye and African Women’s Theology Indiana University Press, 2004. Access My Library http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12107951_ITM Read More