Thomas Renz Short Course Ordinand, Diocese of London
What were you doing before you came to the College as an ordinand?
I was a tutor at Oak Hill College for twelve years before coming to Mirfield and functioned also as a licensed lay minister at St Thomas’s Oakwood for about half that time. I was involved in preparing people for a range of specialist Christian ministries, including ordained ministry in the Church of England. My particular responsibility was the provision of teaching in the area of Hebrew and Old Testament.
How did you recognize the call from God to ordained ministry?
I knew myself to be called to prayer and to the proclamation of God’s Word from early on in my life. I started leading Bible study groups and prayer meetings as a teenager. My call was recognised by the church and aged 19 I was in the early stages towards ordination in the Lutheran church. This was in Württemberg (Germany) where I grew up.
For various reasons the initial shape of my ministry took on a different form with greater focus on the academic study of Scripture, and I was drawn to the Church of England while studying for my PhD at Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education (now, the University of Gloucestershire).
At Oak Hill College I had the immense privilege of accompanying many students on their journey towards ordination, playing a part in their continuing discernment of their vocation. This helped me to appreciate better what ordained ministry in the Church of England means. When I became a Reader (a licensed lay minister), many were puzzled that I did not get ordained. And to be honest, I myself was sad that as a Reader I would not be leading Eucharist services. But for me ordination could only be right once I was ready to move away from the local communities in which I served. After twelve years at both Oak Hill College and St Thomas’s Church Oakwood, I was ready to move on and got in touch with various people in the Diocese who helped to discern and confirm my vocation to ordained ministry.
Why did you choose to come to the College of the Resurrection?
I was looking for a place that would provide a solid framework of daily Morning and Evening Prayer and I was keen on being part of a smaller community, given that my training was going to be short. I was also attracted by the use of chants and the attachment to a religious community. Being able to explore Anglo-Catholic spirituality more fully first-hand was an additional bonus.
Can you tell us something about your time and how it builds on your previous experience to help you prepare for ordained ministry?
My ordained ministry will not be exercised among evangelicals only and my time in Mirfield will have helped me to serve more effectively among people from other traditions, both in relation to people receiving my ministry and in relation to working together with Christians who have been shaped very differently from me.
What do you feel you have gained from the experience of living a common life in College?
Coming to Mirfield was maybe less of a shock to the system for me than others. After all, I have had daily communal worship and meals for the last twelve years! Saying Morning Prayer together before breakfast suits me fine. Spending so much time in the company of each other, I have quickly become very fond of my fellow ordinands. As a result, I think I have come to realise more fully how much the company we keep shapes the nature and growth of our Christian life.
What are your hopes and expectations as you look towards your curacy?
My title parish at St Michael’s Highgate and the neighbouring parish of All Saints in which I shall also serve promises to be an exciting and diverse community. I am looking forward to support and nurture Christian discipleship in different walks of life. I hope to be faithful in prayer and preaching and pastoral care. I’ll be involved with people from a wide range of churchmanships and I hope to be the very best pastor I can be for all of them, using and strengthening all that is good and gently correcting what is wrong or unhelpful. My wildest dreams see Highgate more on fire for Christ and me playing a role in that.