Samuel Kobia

Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia (born March 20, 1947 in Miathene, Meru, Kenya), is a Methodist clergyman and the first African to be elected General Secretary (2004–2009) of the World Council of Churches (WCC),^[1] a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and local churches representing a Christian population of over 590 million people. In 2010, Rev. Kobia was appointed Ecumenical Special Envoy to Sudan by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).^[2] Kobia is married to Ruth, and they have two daughters, Kaburo and Nkatha, and two sons, Mwenda and Mutua.

Early life

Sam Kobia grew up in a rural home in Meru, eastern province of Kenya, where he completed primary and secondary education under the British colonial system. His ecumenical career began with his studies at St Paul's United Theological College (Limuru, Kenya), where he graduated with a diploma in Theology in 1971.^[3]

Study and work abroad

Kobia then moved to Chicago and enrolled in the McCormick Theological Seminary to study urban ministry. His interest in urbanization and its impact on African cities lead him to continue further exploration in this field. He applied and was accepted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Masters in City Planning (MCP) in 1978.^[4] His thesis paper for his Master's is titled Origins of squatting and community organization in Nairobi.^[5]

In 1978, after graduating from MIT, Kobia and his family moved to Geneva, Switzerland to take up the post of Executive Secretary for Urban Rural Mission at the World Council of Churches (WCC). Kobia spent most of his career at the WCC, he would eventually head the international organization from 2004-2009.

In 1993, Rev. Dr. Kobia earned a Doctor of Divinity (honorary degree) from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. In 2000, he spent a sabbatical year as a fellow at the Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University.^[6]

Return to Kenya

In 1984, Kobia returned to his home country to serve as Director of Church Development activities at the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). Three years later, in 1987 he was elected General Secretary of NCCK. He served as General Secretary from 1987-1993.^[6] Under his leadership, the NCCK was vocal about the need for multi-party politics in Kenya and campaigned against repression during the Moi era.^[7][8]

Global Leadership

From Kenya, he returned to Geneva, Switzerland in 1993 to serve as Executive Director of WCC's Unit III - Justice, Peace and Creation. In 2003 he was elected General Secretary; his election was received with endorsement by global peers.^[9][10] During his acceptance speech he quoted the African proverb "If you want to walk fast, walk alone; but if you want to walk far, walk together".^[11] In this spirit, he worked to promote greater unity in the ecumenical movement through collaboration and dialogue.^[12]

In 2005, he rejected the accusation of anti-Zionism against the WCC and stated that anti-Semitism is a "sin against God and man" and "absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith," quoting from the first assembly of the WCC in Amsterdam in 1948.^[13] He has nevertheless been critical of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, calling it "a sin against God".^[14]

The same year, he paid a tribute to Pope John Paul II on behalf of his efforts for ecumenism.^[15]

Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia served as General Secretary for one term resigning in 2009.^[16] Kobia's resignation come as a surprise to the Central Committee, who stated that he had their "full support" despite harsh criticism from Rt. Rev. Martin Hein.^[17]

In 2010, Rev. Kobia was appointed Ecumenical Special Envoy to Sudan by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).^[2] Rev. Kobia has deep knowledge of Sudan having worked with the late John Garang in 1990 when the WCC set up peace talks between the mainstream SPLM/SPLA led by John Garang and the SPLM/SPLA United led by Riak Machduring. Rev. Dr. Kobia, led the six-month-long talks, which were sponsored by the National Council of Churches of Kenya and the People for Peace of the Catholic Church in Kenya, with technical assistance from Nairobi Peace Initiative-Africa.^[18] In this current post, he continues his role as peacemaker and global leader.

Selected Publications

Rev. Sam Kobia has written numerous papers and articles on Africa, peace and ecumenism; he is the author of the following books:

• Called to the one hope: a new ecumenical epoch (2006)
• The courage to hope: the roots for a new vision and the calling of the church in Africa (2003)
• Why you should vote (1992)
• The old and the new NGOs: approaches to development (1985)
• The origins of squatting and community organization in Nairobi (1978)

External links

• Kobia, Samuel Rev (Biography)
• WCC Website's biography of Samuel Kobia
• WCC says it removed doctorate from CV of its general secretary
• Controversy about Mr. Kobia's Doctorate

References