How Kinsfolk Theology Was Born
It was a warm, electric evening at my book signing for Whispers of Wisdom—Unveiling the Hidden Truth of Ruach HaKodesh as Mother Holy Spirit. The room buzzed with curiosity and anticipation. Then, a woman in the audience raised her hand and asked, “How do you feel, as a feminist, challenging the deeply rooted male theology?” I smiled, feeling the weight of her question, and replied gently, “I’m not a feminist.”
That answer lingered with me. Later, over dinner, I shared my thoughts with friends. I’d never really paused to label my position while writing my book—I just knew I wasn’t a feminist. My girlfriend looked at me with a knowing smile and said, “That’s because you’re a womanist writer.”
Let’s talk about that. Feminism and womanism are sisters, but not twins. Feminism is about gender equality, but womanism—birthed from the soul of Black women—goes deeper, reaching into the tangled roots of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Womanism is a movement that sees us in all our complexity, honoring the unique struggles and triumphs of women of color. While feminism often centers on equality, womanism insists on wholeness, community, and survival, especially for those society tries to overlook.
My writing flows from my life in the “hood,” within the sacred walls of the Storefront Church. These are places where mothers, grandmas, and aunties—fierce and faithful—rise up to minister, never waiting for a man’s permission. They know, deep in their bones, that God called them. The Holy Ghost, we now know as —Ruach HaKodesh, Mother Holy Spirit—empowered them to lead, to nurture, to transform. Sure, there are men pastors, but the women outnumber them, carrying the torch of hope, love, and spiritual nourishment. Their leadership didn’t just change lives—it redefined what ministry could be. As my beloved pastor, “Ma” Mattie Burke Brown, used to say, “The world needed a savior, and God and ‘He’ the Holy Ghost chose a woman to make that happen!”
Outside the hood, some still cling to old traditions, insisting that men alone should lead in ministry. They point to ancient texts, holding fast to the idea that spiritual authority belongs to men. But in our Storefront Churches, women have always led the way, creating sanctuaries of belonging and spiritual growth for all who enter.
This is where Kinsfolk Theology was born. It’s a way of seeing faith as a living, breathing bond—where community is family, and everyone has a seat at the table. Kinsfolk Theology is rooted in the lived reality of the Storefront Church, where faith, love, and survival are intertwined. It challenges old hierarchies and lifts up every voice, especially those too often silenced.
The Bible tells us that kinsfolk are more than blood relatives—they are all who share faith, hope, and care. In Acts 2, the early church lived this out: “All the believers were united and had everything in common.” They shared meals, resources, and hearts, embodying a radical love that changed everything. This wasn’t just a social experiment—it was a spiritual revolution, a new way of being family.
Kinsfolk Theology draws on this sacred vision, especially in Black communities where survival and faith go hand in hand. In a world that tries to divide and diminish us, the church becomes a new kind of family—a place of healing, resistance, and joy. Acts 2:44-47 calls us to be living witnesses to love that is visible, practical, and transformative.
This is the heart of Kinsfolk Theology, a framework I developed and strive to nurture. It’s about belonging, lifting each other up, about being Kinsfolk in the truest sense. As I write my next book, Wisdom in the Hood—Ruach HaKodesh, Mother Holy Spirit, the Heartbeat of Kinsfolk Theology, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let’s build a community where everyone is seen, heard, and cherished.
—Dr. Aminata Njeri
Njeri, Aminata. “The Origin Story: How Kinsfolk Theology Was Born.” 2025. Kinsfolk Theology is a theological framework created and developed by Dr. Aminata Njeri. Dr. Aminata Njeri is writing her second book, “Wisdom in the Hood - Ruach HaKodesh, Mother Holy Spirit, the Heartbeat of Kinsfolk Theology.”