Get to Know - Sharon Prentis

Revd Dr Sharon Prentis is the Dean of Ministry

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Originally from West Yorkshire, I have spent most of my formative years living in diverse communities. I am married to Calvert who is also ordained, and we have an adult daughter. Growing up during the 1970s, my neighbours were from a variety of backgrounds: Asian, African, Caribbean, Eastern European, English, Irish and Jewish. That experience of living among a variety of cultures was deeply embedded and I went on to study sociology and anthropology as an undergraduate and then as a postgraduate. Public health and teaching qualifications followed, and I began working, lecturing, and carrying out research in community development and public health. After getting married, we settled in Coventry where my husband, Calvert served as curate on an outer estate where I did voluntary community work. It wasn’t until 17 years later that I felt an inclination to explore my own sense of being called into ministry. Calvert is now Diocesan Director of Ordinands in Birmingham and has been ordained for 24 years. Over the intervening years, I have had the privilege to work in community and education contexts, as a senior lecturer at Huddersfield University, as the Deputy Director of Research Development at the Salvation Army, a Director at Oasis a faith-based organisation, and in ministry across various diocese including Southwark, Chelmsford and more recently Birmingham where I was the Intercultural Mission Enabler. I am also an Honorary Canon Theologian at Lichfield Cathedral.

What is your faith story?

My mother would take us, as children, to a church where the emphasis was on learning the Bible and living in ways that reflected what it meant to be a ‘called out' people. It was there I met Calvert at the youth club, so we've known each other for over 40 years. Even though I grew up in church, at 16 I had a definite sense that I wanted to commit my life to Jesus Christ and work in a way that was not about the usual career trajectory. Most of our married life has been spent as leaders in various ministry settings: early years in a Black Majority Church and the last 30 in the Anglican church. I think being an Anglican has always been in my ‘blood’ – a fact that I discovered 10 years ago. My mother’s family, who hail from the island state of St Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean, have been consistent attendees at one of the oldest Anglican churches on the island, which means I can trace my church heritage back over several generations. One of the things that I learned from my faith as a young adult was that becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ was an adventure- not in any conventional sense, but one of inner as well as outer discovery. I remember as a teenager having conversations with church leaders about fundamental existential questions of why I am here, and what is my purpose. I guess my faith is the continual working out of those questions.

Why St Mellitus College?

The College’s principle of generous orthodoxy has always resonated with me as an embodied way of life. How we encounter one another, navigate difference, and live from a Christ-centred faith concerns a missional, generous spirit. I had the privilege to work previously for the College a few years ago as the Beginning Theology Co-ordinator. The course provided an opportunity for people to explore theology and progress to further studies. During the time I worked as Coordinator it never failed to amaze me the wisdom of those who came to participate. I had the privilege of seeing people discovering theology. It is important for people to be given an opportunity to explore what they are being called to and that's what I value about St Mellitus College. People come to fulfil specific training requirements, but also to continue the inner work of discernment through study. St Mellitus provides a place where teaching and learning are framed in a context of generosity with one another. If anything, the last 18 months have revealed the deep fractures within our communities and yet, we have seen some of the greatest acts of service and support coming from the church. My hope is that we will support the development of Christians in all the circumstances they might find themselves, both within and outside of the church. It is important that wherever we serve, we follow the example of Christ by being mindful of who is not represented, and intentional about how we mediate power and privilege.

As Dean of Ministry, I will be part of a larger team who will work to develop a vision of what it means to cultivate Christian formation that is both bold, relevant, and influential; confident and wise trailblazers who communicate the love of God authentically as themselves, and who can move beyond words to live out what it really means to love one another.

What are you hoping and expectant for in your role?

One of the things I am encouraged by are those individuals, inspired by God’s love for others, who want to make a difference in their local context. The role of the Dean of Ministry will support the College’s work to further equip a range of Christian leaders who will shape the church. My hope is that by God’s grace, we will continue to re-imagine education provision by discerning the needs of Christian leaders as they respond to the wider social context. There is a number of prevailing issues that the church must deal with: elitism, racism, and other forms of ‘othering’ that exclude people from equal participation.

When we think about leadership, we tend to primarily assume it concerns ordained roles, but leadership is so much wider than that. From self-leadership to leadership roles in specific contexts, there are different styles of leaders displayed by a variety of people who honour and glorify God. As Dean of Ministry, I will be part of a larger team who will work to develop a vision of what it means to cultivate Christian formation that is both bold, relevant, and influential; confident and wise trailblazers who communicate the love of God authentically as themselves, and who can move beyond words to live out what it really means to love one another. Our task is to model the co-creation of hopeful and braver spaces for dialogue and learning not only in education but also in our churches. Leadership is not a task to be done in isolation, other people are an important element of that. My hope is that the role will first, be in one in which we think about formation for ministry and by doing so start to develop a framework in which we can inhabit the 5 marks of mission. For example, what does it mean to confidently proclaim the Christian faith and proclaim a narrative of hope? What is required to nurture and equip women and men for the increasingly complex and diverse environments they find themselves in? What does it mean to be resilient as a Christian? How do we speak to the inequalities within our society, and consider the shame and despair felt by many? And finally, how are we being mindful of our responsibilities to both the human and non-human world?

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about the values of justice and righteousness as reflected by the kingdom of God. I ‘fell’ into community work quite by accident. Over the years, I have always been interested in the ways that individuals and communities can flourish. My faith has been integral to my work, which has been simultaneously joyful, complicated, frustrating, and inspiring. I have learned a lot about myself, my relationship with God, and my interdependence with others. The paradox is the more I learn, the more I realise there is to learn. Our society is now more diverse, and some might even say more fragmented as the impact of social and economic disparities and power impact our communities. Consequently, issues of belonging have not diminished and become even more accentuated. Our witness as the church is to confront those divisions within ourselves and become reconciled reconcilers.

My heart is to see every person be affirmed and encouraged to fulfil their vocation, irrespective of background. There is a need not only for representation but for participation and collaboration in church. That can only be done where there is an intention to see that happen. It means an honest appraisal of who we are and what has made us be this to some extent. It also means being intentional about addressing some of the issues and inequities that exist.

My favourite pastimes are reading and watching old movies- not simultaneously! I like science fiction and would consider myself a Star Wars/Mandalorian enthusiast. One of my earliest memories is being intrigued by the moon and the stars and wondering what was out there. There is something wonderful about looking up at the night sky, taking the constellations in, and realising that you are a tiny part of an expanding universe. It is awe-inspiring to contemplate that God created all of it. I've always had a sense of being a part of something enormous and yet, astounded that I am personally known and loved. That thought has given me a desire for everyone to know that each one of us is special in a unique way. No matter who we are in the spectrum of humanity our distinctiveness is precious.

My heart is to see every person be affirmed and encouraged to fulfill their vocation, irrespective of background. There is a need not only for representation but for participation and collaboration in church

What would you say to someone considering studying theology or exploring their vocation?

I would welcome them to the adventure of discovery: discovering they are loved and who they are is reflected in the wide narrative of God’s story. One of the things the pandemic has highlighted is a deep awareness of our need to identify purpose, connection, and belonging. Our sense of purpose comes from understanding what we are invited to bring, to join in with God. A favourite quote of mine is from Howard Thurman who said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Being at St Mellitus will give you the opportunity to explore the character of God, the person's Christian faith, its teaching, and develop your sense of purpose. Alongside formal studies, we consider key questions such as: what is it about faith that motivates you? What are you created to be and your purpose? In this way, formation and study come out of living relationally with others in the context of a learning community. Individually and together, we reveal a unique aspect of God that is called into the world. We can then give ourselves away. As author Parker Palmer suggests instead of asking ourselves, “What do I want to do?” ask instead,” what do I want to let go of, and what do I want to give myself to?”

And finally, for something unexpected…

In junior school, we learned Russian, which was pretty radical at the time! However, it’s not something that I have used since. To be honest, I can’t remember much, but I can still say ‘ hello’,’ goodbye’ and ‘the weather is fine today!’