Jim was born in Charlotte, N.C. He attended Charlotte schools and Dilworth United Methodist Church was his home church. He graduated from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in 1968 with a B. S. degree in Political Science. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology in 1971. During seminary he served a student appointment of 8 churches on the Murphy Circuit in Cherokee County, N.C. Following graduation he entered the Western North Carolina Conference and was ordained an Elder in full connection in June of 1971. He was appointed and served as Minister of Youth and Education at Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville, NC for 16 years.

In 1981 Jim completed three years of study and received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University. In August of 1987 he was appointed to First United Methodist Church, Gastonia as Minister of Education, and currently serves as Pastor Emeritus. In Gastonia he has served on the Aids Council as chair of the task force on Family and Community and President. He served on the House of Mercy Board for Holy Angels. Jim is a member of the Gastonia Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

He is a certified Counselor with the Association of Pastoral Counseling and presently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Methodist Counseling Center. He has expertise in small group facilitation, as well as pastoral counseling. He enjoys clown ministry and working with children, youth and adults.

Jim is married to Barbara and they have 2 sons: Chris, who serves as Minister at Long's Chapel UMC in Lake Junaluska, and Andy who is a Commercial Sales agent for Watson Insurance in Gastonia. They have five grandchildren.