Converse Mourns the Loss of MMFT Co-Founder Jim Rentz Sr.

Beloved by his Converse students and colleagues for his compassionate nature and gift for teaching, Rev. Dr. James N. “Jim” Rentz Sr. passed away on August 10, 2026. He was widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of marriage and family therapy within South Carolina, advocating for the state to recognize and provide licenses for marriage and family therapists. He held license number 1 for LMFTs in the state.

Rentz, along with Marty Lovett, Ed.D., then Dean of Graduate Studies co-founded Converse’s Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) in 1996. The program is now one of the hallmarks and most popular programs of The Graduate School at Converse, and it is the only Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) -accredited MMFT program in South Carolina. Its graduates have gone on to serve individuals and families throughout the region, across the country, and internationally.

Rentz, along with Marty Lovett, Ed.D., then Dean of Graduate Studies co-founded Converse’s Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996.

Born February 10, 1941, in Orangeburg, SC, Rentz grew up in Woodruff and was a standout football and baseball player. His faith played a central role in his life. In 1959, he enrolled at Furman University as a pre-ministerial student, and after graduating, attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained into Christian ministry in 1963, and he continued his service as a chaplain in the U.S. Army, including assignments at Fort Gordon, in Vietnam, and at Fort Knox. 

After his active military service, Rentz pursued advanced educational studies while continuing to serve in the Army Reserve as chaplain. He earned a master’s degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree. In 1973, Jim became a pastoral consultant and clinical chaplain at the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center. He was dedicated to making counseling services accessible to people facing financial hardship.

In addition to many other commitments, Rentz was a charter member and officer of the South Carolina Board of Examiners for the Licensure of Counselors and Therapists. In recognition of his decades of service, he received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the South Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Mental Health Association of Spartanburg County (MHA Spartanburg).

When MHA Spartanburg honored Rentz in 2022, the organization recognized his leadership in the mental health community in the Upstate of South Carolina, including his role in establishing the MMFT at Converse as well as WestGate Family Therapy, now EMERGE Family Therapy Center and Teaching Clinic. 

“Dr. Rentz has had immeasurable impact on the community of mental health through his direct actions and the actions of the hundreds of therapists who were trained by him and by the programs he established,” said Susan Lea, MHA Spartanburg’s Advisory Board Chair, at the time of the award. “Thanks to his efforts, many people have benefitted from well-educated and trained marriage and family therapists.”

Rentz is survived by his wife, Martha; his children, Jamie (Beth), Jon (Lesley), Kim, Kelly Ann (Hunter), and Will; his stepson, Reed; and his nine grandchildren, Kenneth, Jake, Adrian, Ansley, Caleb, Creighton, Charley, Browning, and Louisa. View his full obituary and see the memories Converse community members shared on the Alumni Association Facebook page.