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Ian Scott RENNIE

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Ian RENNIE Obituary

Published by Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on Oct. 10, 2015.

RENNIE, Rev. Dr. Ian Scott
October 22, 1929 - October 2, 2015
Passed away peacefully in the company of his children and grandchildren. Predeceased by his parents Helen and Charles; brother William Rennie of Winnipeg and beloved wife Lee (Leonore Marianne McPhail). Ian earned both an M.A. and Ph.D. in History. He loved his Lord, Jesus Christ, and His Church past, present and future. This motivated his ministry with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and three Presbyterian Churches: Knox (Toronto), Petawawa and Fairview (Vancouver). After serving as Associate Professor of Church History at Regent College, Vancouver, he was Academic Dean of Ontario Theological (Tyndale) Seminary until his retirement. A gifted preacher, pastor and scholar, he called many to obedient service to Christ. Younger ministers are grateful for his wise counsel and former students remember him fondly for his remarkable memory, mentoring and encouragement. After retirement Ian and Lee returned to Vancouver to share in the lives of their family: Mardythe (Gary Hewitt), Catherine (Brenda Walsh), Scott (Paula) and Jillian (Andrew Strachan). Ian's greatest joy was frequent visits with his four grandchildren, Marc and Liane Hewitt and Collin and Emma Rennie. This gracious gentleman enjoyed all of life with utmost exuberance.
Toodley-pip Arch!
A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, 2733 West 41st Ave., Vancouver. We are sincerely grateful for the excellent and loving care of the staff at South Granville Park Lodge and Dr. Will Johnston. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fairview Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer Society of BC would be appreciated.

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Recent Activity

April 4, 2022

Daniel Mickelson posted to the memorial.

October 17, 2015

Linus and Sharon Morris posted to the memorial.

October 11, 2015

Someone posted to the memorial.

6 Entries

Daniel Mickelson

April 4, 2022

Dr. Rennie was/is the real deal. Not only a great anchor for Christian history at Regent but a kind and authentic Jesus person.
He inquired of me one day at the Regent parking lot where I told him of the birth of my first son, David, now 41, and then he inquired how we were doing as a young family attending - he seemed to sense the financial stress and within weeks I ended up with a surprise grant from a lumber company in northern Canada that enabled me to finish at Regent.
I have been a happy pastor in the Pacific Northwest now for almost 40 years - I will also be grateful and praise God for Dr. Rennie.

Linus and Sharon: looking forward to a reunion with Ian and Lee

Linus and Sharon Morris

October 17, 2015

I am so grateful for the influence Ian had on me during and after my Regent College days (I also visited Ian at OTS in Toronto). I can't improve on what I already wrote in "The Divine Expedition: Where Are You in the Book of Romans?":

"Being united with Christ and new life in Him transforms our outlook, even when facing difficulties and death. One of my (Linus Sr.) mentors was Ian Rennie, my church history professor at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Ian influenced me greatly, not only by what he taught me in class, but also by the kind of person he was outside the classroom. He was a great teacher, had an enormous love for Christ and for people, and was a constant learner. While at Regent, he took special interest in my studies and directed my Master's of Christian Studies' dissertation.

On one occasion, Ian and his wife, Lee, invited Sharon and me to join them at a conference he was leading in Fort Saint John in northeast British Columbia. Sharon and I stopped by their hotel room prior to one of our meetings and discovered Ian reading a phone book. Now I had never seen someone read a phone book before so I asked what he was doing. He replied he was learning about the ethnic origins of the city by reading the names of people listed in the phone book. I would never have thought of doing that.

Ian was more than a professor, he was also a pastor, friend, and example of what it means to live from the indwelling life of Christ. When I heard about the terminally diagnosed cancer of Ian's life-long wife and friend, Lee, as well as his own failing health, I called to express my deep appreciation for the influence he had upon me. As always, he exhibited his usual kindness and other-centeredness, asking me about my family and me. He later wrote a note to me that said, 'Our days in this world are limited with Lee having a recurrence of chemotherapy. I am not able to do much writing, and cannot drive or speak in publicyet there is endless joy in our Lord.'

Thanks you Ian.

Linus Morris

October 11, 2015

Students to the early Regent College, Vancouver, will remember Dr. Rennie very well indeed. He was its very capable and learned professor of Church History. But more than that, he will be remembered as a very fine pastoral man with a real heart for young people. Dr. Rennie was a very approachable man, and he could often be found getting many of the college's students out of scrapes and dilemmas. I can recall hearing stories of many late night phone calls to Dr. Rennie from students who needed help and counseling, and he was always there for us. The loss of so great a compassionate and pastoral men is a heavy one. I extend my condolences to his surviving family members.

October 11, 2015

Students to the early days of Regent College, Vancouver, will remember Dr. Rennie as its very capable professor of Church History. But he was much more than this to very many students, as he was also a very capable and compassionate pastor who often got we students out of many scrapes and fiascoes. One could approach and talk to Dr. Rennie whether in trouble or free from trouble. I recall more than a few students crying on his shoulder over the telephone in the wee small hours of the morning. The loss of so kind and spiritual a man is a heavy one. I extend my condolences to his surviving family members.

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October 10, 2015

He was an elder when I was attending Knox. I was the coordinator of the Adult Biblical Curriculum. I so much appreciated the way he agreed to teach at adult Sunday School. It elevated the level of teaching to that of a seminary class! He was a wonderful man and a mammoth intellect! Blessings, Myrna Talbot

Dave and Barb Horwood

October 10, 2015

We met Ian in Wingham in 1962, Lee shortly after at Fairview. Ian asked to let him baptize our youngest son, when we were visiting family in Vancouver. We appreciated their friendship and encouragement when visiting with them over these many years! With our love and prayers to the family!

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