Jim came to Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1975. He grew up in Staten Island, New York and attended Park Baptist Church, an American Baptist community. After having received his call to ministry, Jim sought out an American Baptist seminary, and Eastern fit the bill.
“I had field education all three years. That was an important part of my education, and I really enjoyed those three years.” He reminisces fondly about a bulletin board on campus, which sounds similar to the web-based message boards and social networks almost universally used by students and academic institutions today. Students could post notes, comments, thoughts, and reflections. “I think I developed a bit of a reputation on that board,” he says.
In Jim’s third year, he served as president of the student body. It was a fitting role since he had found himself acting as a mediator between students whose understanding of the Bible led them to be resistant to some of the scholarship, and students who were more open to it. “To me, it was just more revelation and detail that deepened my understanding of the Bible.” He empathized with both ends of this spectrum and helped everyone appreciate where the other was coming from. For Jim, these Bible classes, and hermeneutics in particular, are skills and formation he carried throughout his career in ministry.
One class stands out in Jim’s memory: Christian Personality Development, a one-credit mandatory class that focused on the importance of relationships in pastoral ministry. He recalls that in the late 70s, it was a new concept and regarded by some as nonsense. “It helped me realize I could be the smartest guy in the room, but if I didn’t have a positive relationship from where they're coming, it might make all the difference.”
Since graduating fifty years ago, Jim has served all over the country, from New York to Utah to California. He has served as a local pastor for American Baptist Churches in three different regions. He also served as an Air Force chaplain for thirty years for reserves and active duty.
Jim’s hope for Palmer Seminary is that it will continue to adapt to the shifting landscape of our culture and the needs of its students.
About the Author
Dan lives with his wife, Libby, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Palmer Theological Seminary with his Master of Divinity in 2018. He now serves full-time as the Director of College and Young Adult Ministries with the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli, PA on the campuses of Eastern University and West Chester University. He also serves as a Chaplain and Seminary Storyteller for our Center for Alumni Care and Seminary Engagement.