Contemplative-Seeker-Mentor-Friend
I’m James. I’ve been a pastor for almost forty years, and for three of them I wasn’t one. I left ministry after a hard season, sold vacuum cleaners, worked in billing offices, and still went to church, but I struggled. Then I entered pastoral counseling and, to my surprise, found God there.
I didn’t arrive at what I believe by never doubting. I arrived by losing it, grieving it, and finding it again, changed but truer. One sentence came out of that: you are infinitely precious and unconditionally loved for the gift you already are. I say it at the end of every episode. I’m still learning to live inside it.
Today I serve as pastor of Dulin United Methodist Church in Falls Church, Virginia. I host the Infinitely Precious and Dulin Weekly podcasts and co-host Spiritual, Not Religious.
I hold an M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. I’ve also studied in the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation with Fr. Richard Rohr, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, and Dr. James Finley.
What I love most is walking alongside people on their way. If you’d like to talk, I’d be glad to hear from you.
