Moses Penumaka, ThD

About

Moses Paul Peter Penumaka is a Systematic Theologian. He is a senior lecturer and serves as the Director of Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM). He was an assistant professor of Contextual Theology at PLTS from 2008 to 2012 and taken up the full responsibility to direct and develop TEEM since 2012. He teaches Theology and Religion. His interests are; Contextual theology and Christology from global south, interfaith leadership, and Liberation theology. Moses Penumaka was instrumental in designing, launching, and accompanying the first cohort of TEIL (Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders). TEIL is the first of its kind of theological education. Its curriculum and pedagogy was designed and taught by American Indian and Alaska native wisdom keepers and prepared ten indigenous leaders through the first cohort to serve as pastors, deacons, and lay leaders in the ELCA. Moses Penumaka has been involved in many leadership roles not only at the grassroot organizations but all also at international and regional organizations, and at the Churchwide in the ELCA. Currently, he serves on the Church Council and the Executive Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Theological education inspires, enlightens, and liberates us to know the meaning and purpose of life in serving faith communities, building inclusive societies, and conserving all God’s Creation. Theological education equips us to critically analyze our context and seek wisdom, understanding, and relevance of our faith in multicultural and multireligious context. Theological Education for Emerging Ministries TEEM has transformed the heart and mind of ELCA brining diversity and equity to the leadership in the Church. Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders is liberating indigenous siblings to have freedom to live and do indigenous theology for celebration of live in abundance.  

Brief Professional History

• Pastor/Mission Developer, Good Shepherd South Asian Ministry, Fremont, CA (2005–2008)
• National General/Executive Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India, SCMI, Bangalore, India, affiliated to the World Student Christian Federation, WSCF, Geneva, (1994–2000)
• Faculty at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India (1993–1994)
• Youth Director (Bishop’s Assistant for Youth Ministry and rural Pastor for 9 point rural parish, Daggupadu, AELC, (Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church), Andhra Pradesh, South India (1985–1991)

Select Special Service

• Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee GCC, at CLU (2025-28)
• Member Church Council and Executive Committee, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, (2025-2032)
• Member Asia Project, Graduate Theological Union GTU (2008-2015) Director (2009-11)
• Member Synod Council, Sierra Pacific Synod, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2002-2008)
• Member ELCA Theological Roundtable representing ALIC (Asian Lutheran International Conference)
• Member ELCA Task Force for Strategic Diversity TFSD, and advisory board member STAD Strategy Toward Authentic Diversity
• Member Coordinating Council for Association of Teaching Theologians ATT of ELCA and ELCA In Canada. 
• Member, Coordinating Council, Western Mission Network, 2013-2016
• Member Teaching and Learning Committee, CLU
• Lutheran Advising Clergy, Shepherd by the Sea Episcopal Lutheran Mission, Gualala, CA

Education

• Th D, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA (2006)
• B D (1985), M.Th. (1993), United Theological College, Bangalore, South India
• B Sc, Andhra University, Waltair, South India (1979)

Expertise

Christology from the Global South

Liberation Theology 

Interfaith leadership and Engagement 

• “Towards Inter-religious Spiritual Hospitality: A Lutheran Perspective” Sherma., Rita D. & Purushottama Bilimoria, Editors and Pravina Rodrigues, Associate Editor, Sustainable Societies: Interreligious, Interdisciplinary Responses, Springer United Nations SDG Book Series, Dordrecht: Springer, 2021.

  “A Kairos moment for Theological Education in the ELCA: Reflections on TEAC from the margins”, in Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Vol. 18, Issue 5, September/October 2018. https://elca.org/JLE/Articles/1251

  “Communities of Faith as Classroom for “Doing” theology and Ministry” in Vethanayagamony, P. and Greifenhagen, F. V. Eds Global Lutheranism, vitality and challenges, Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran University Press, 2018.

   “Reformation and Theological Education in Asia” at the American Academy of Religion conference, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2017. (In process)

  "The Suffering Reality of the Oppressed in God- The World's Future and its Implication for Dalit Theology" in Currents in Theology and Mission, Vol. 39, No. 4, August 2012.

   Guest Editor, TEEM and the Future of Theological Education, Currents in Theology and Mission, Vol. 38, No.3.June 2011.

  “Luther and Shankara: Two Ways of Salvation in the India Context,” Dialog, A Journal of Theology, Volume 43, No.3, Fall 2006.

   “Confirmation Ministry in the Crossfire of Tolerance and Fascism,” Dialog: A Journal of Theology, Volume 41, No.3, Fall 2002. 

  Editor (1994 -2000) Aikyatha, (SCMI: Bangalore) a publication of SCMI.

  Editor, Struggles to Celebrate Life: Biblical Reflections on women, Dalit and Media, (SCMI: Bangalore, 1998).

  “Theological Implications of the Historical Reconstruction of Jesus Movement and Early Church from a Feminist Perspective”, in Prasanna Kumari, ed. Women in Church and Society: Essays in Honor of Florence Robinson (Department of Women Studies- Gurukul: Chennai, 1999), pp. 67-79.

  “Female Infanticide and Feoticide: Unwanted at Birth and Even After Birth” in Elizabeth Joy, ed. Lived Realities: Faith Reflections on Gender Justice. (CSIRS: Bangalore, 1999), pp. 101-112.

  “Dreams of Joseph and Pharaoh: A Brief Biblical Reflection on Globalization” in P. Jagdesh Gandhi & George Cherian, eds. Globalization: A Challenge to the Church (AIASCA: Chennai, 1998), pp. 103-105.

  “Tiger and Lamb graze together: Mission and Evangelism in the Context of Megatrends in Asia” in Soman Das, Ed. Mission and Evangelism (ISPCK: Delhi, 1998), pp. 164- 170.

  “Transcending Boundaries with the Son of Man, of No-boundaries,” Transcending Boundaries for a True Ecumenism, Report of the consultation in honor of Rev. Dr. Satish C. Gyan (RCDRC: Raipur, 1998), pp. 58-63.

  “Easter and the Dalits: Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Vidyajyothi: Journal of Theological Reflection, Vol. 58, No. 5, May 1994, pp. 292-297.

  “A theological reflection on Cry for life—A Faith Response,” Aikyatha (SCMI: Bangalore) April 1994.