Who We Are

The St Johns Theological College Women’s Leadership Development Group (WLDG) exists to serve Anglican women in leadership women in lay or ordained ministry, and/or women who have either been or are being trained theologically.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to discover, grow, send and support Anglican female leaders to be confident, courageous, credible, competent and generous disciples who disciple others using the spiritual gifts, knowledge and skills God has given them for ministry and mission for the sake of the world.

​We hope to do this intergenerationally and in partnership with Dioceses, Hui Amorangi, and the Anglican Women’s Studies Centre (AWSC), by creating a provincial network where friendship and collegiality might be discovered, given and received through networking, training, mentoring and advocacy.

​To achieve these aspirations, we would love your contribution!

If you would like to contact us, receive updates, or let us know how you might be able to contribute to this developing WLDG network, please click here to email the group coordinator.

Meet the Group

Meet the wāhine involved with the Women’s Leadership Development Group.

The Reverend Dr Eseta Mateiviti-Tulavu

The Reverend Dr Eseta Mateiviti-Tulavu is a theologian, academic, and pastoral leader who serves as Tokoni and Lecturer at St Johns Theological College (Hoani Tapu) in Auckland. With deep itaukei (indigenous Fijian) and Solomon Islands heritage, she brings invaluable Pacific Indigenous perspectives to theological education and ministry formation.

Dr Mateiviti-Tulavu was awarded her PhD from the University of Auckland and serves as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Otago. At St Johns, she provides both academic instruction and pastoral support specifically for Tikanga Pasifika students, playing a crucial role in nurturing Pacific Island Anglican clergy and lay leaders.

As a published scholar specializing in Pacific Indigenous theologies, she has contributed significantly to theological discourse through book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. Her work bridges traditional Pacific spiritual wisdom with contemporary Christian theological reflection, contributing to the decolonization of theological education in Oceania. Her current research focuses on clergy women leadership in Pacific contexts and the historical impact of blackbirding in the Pacific, demonstrating her commitment to justice-oriented scholarship.

She is passionate about pastoral care and is extremely committed to enhancing men and women who are called to ministry and leadership. She has three adult children.

The Reverend Dr Jekheli Kibami Singh

Jekheli is the daughter of Sümi parents from Akuluto, Nagaland, India – a multicultural, multilingual, and predominantly Christian state. She holds a BTh, BD, MTh (OT) from the Senate of Serampore College (University), India, and a PhD in Theology (Biblical Studies) from the University of Auckland.

Her ministry experience in India includes serving as a Lecturer in Old Testament at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Assam. For over fifteen years, she has been an ordained priest in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia for over 15 years and has served for the past eight years as a volunteer Chaplain with Hato Hone (St John Ambulance). She has also taught as a Guest Lecturer for Laidlaw Bible College, and an adjunct Lecturer for St Johns Theological College.

Together with her husband, Rev’d Rajnish Singh and their two sons, she served in various parishes within the Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki Diocesan. She now serves as the Pou Wairua (Chaplain) at St Johns Theological College, where she offers pastoral support to the College community, and alongside her colleagues in te Waka Tūāpapa (Formation Team), journeys with students in their formation for ministry.

She is deeply committed to the conviction that women and men are called to serve God in all areas of ministry and leadership. This conviction is reflected in her pastoral ministry, research, and publications. She believes that love and justice are at the very heart of the biblical story. She draws inspiration from women and men who challenge injustice, are unsettled by indifference, and make spaces for counternarratives – both within the church and in society. She affirms that when people empower one another across cultures and genders, they embody God’s wholeness and hope.

The Reverend Dr Nyasha Gumbeze

Nyasha is an ordained alumnus of St John’s Theological College. She serves in the Diocese of Auckland as Vicar of St Michael’s and St Mark’s in Henderson. Nyasha and her family came from Zimbabwe 19 years ago. She attended Laidlaw College, is a graduate of the University of Auckland and completed a Doctorate in Ministry in 2019 through Virginia Theological Seminary.

Nyasha is passionate about people from all walks of life. For many years she was the Link Representative for the Diocese of Auckland on the Anglican Women Studies Centre.

Currently, she is a councillor on the same board. Nyasha is passionate about women fully taking advantage of the opportunities given to them and seeks to encourage those interested in theological study to put their hands up when opportunities are presented to better themselves. She believes if given equal opportunities women can excel in every way possible.

Further to her love of people she has an eye for nice shoes and enjoys having a good laugh with friends, time outdoors and is a physical exercise fanatic. Above Nyasha is a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The Reverend Dr Miryam Clough

Miryam is a research affiliate with the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Otago University, and has been a member of the research community at St John’s College and on the faculty at Ōrongonui, te Kura Mihingare ki Te Tai Tokerau, since 2021. She is the author of two books and several book chapters and articles on sexual violence in the church, and is on the editorial teams of three theology journals. She was awarded her PhD in Theology and Religious Studies in 2014 (Bristol University/Trinity College, Bristol), and has a BD in Hebrew Bible and a BA in English (Otago University). Her latest book is New Zealand Churches Respond to the Covid-19 Protection Framework: Loving Our Neighbours? (Routledge, 2025). Prior to returning to Aotearoa from the UK in 2020, Miryam practised and taught homeopathy, also providing clinical supervision for students and qualified practitioners. She has two adult daughters and two little granddaughters.