OTN trustee secures visa just in time for first ordained role

Augustine Tanner-Ihm is an African-American activist, writer, speaker who recently trained for Anglican ministry at Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College, Durham, and is now a Doctoral Student in Leadership, Culture, and Practical Theology at Bakke Graduate University. He was also the winner of the 2020 Church Times Theology Slam competition.

WATCH Augustine’s video intro to the Open Table Network [2 mins]

OTN TRUSTEE Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who has trained for ministry in the Church of England but faced challenges in finding his first ordained ministry role, has been granted a UK visa just in time for his ordination this weekend.

In May, Augustine, who is African-American but has lived in the UK for the past nine years, was invited to take up his first post at St James and Emmanuel, Didsbury, in the diocese of Manchester, on the condition that he was granted a visa.

St James and Emmanuel, Didsbury is the evangelical church which went through a major journey towards greater inclusion following the death of 14-year-old Lizzie Lowe, who took her own life because she was afraid of being rejected because of her sexuality.

Augustine was the winner of the 2020 Theology Slam competition, during which he spoke of being told by a diocesan director of ordinands that he would not suit a church which was ‘monochrome white working-class, where you might feel uncomfortable’.

He tweeted on Tuesday:

Only a few days before ordination and I finally got my visa. 😅😅😅 That was cutting it very close. Thanks @DioManchester @BishManchester @CottrellStephen @NicholasBundock for all your prayers and support.

- K. Augustine- Tanner-Ihm (@augustineihm) Twitter, June 29, 2021

Augustine is being ordained as a deacon at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday 4th July 2021 at 10.30am.

Prayers and congratulations for Augustine on this new stage of his ministry, from all in the Open Table Network!