Rena Turnham

The Venerable Rena Turnham was ordained to the diaconate in 2013. She served as a deacon at St. Stephen’s and Gethsemane, and now serves at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Rena shepherds the laity in leading outreach efforts and encourages and equips Cathedral members to engage in acts of witness and advocacy in gun violence prevention, climate justice, ending homelessness, racial justice, and immigration reform. She is a certified Daring Way™ facilitator and holds a certificate from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago’s College for Congregational Development. Rena is trained as a Called to Transformation Asset-Based Community Development facilitator and trainer.

Rena has enjoyed mentoring deacons through the Iona Center’s Thriving in Bi-Vocational Ministry program. Rena currently serves on the board of The Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, as the leader of ECMN’s Cuban Ministry Commission, as a deputy to General Convention, and as a member of ECMN’s team in Luther Seminary’s Faithful Innovation for Judicatories cohort.

Rena loves to innovate, collaborate, and reimagine "the questions" in her call to inspire, equip, and connect followers of Jesus as "sent" people. 

Rena serves the central metro, west metro, and southwest mission areas.