Celebrating the Life of Rev Dr William James (Jim) Stuart
June 2, 2021
by Peter Stuart
Order of service
Celebrating the Life of Rev Dr William James (Jim) Stuart
June 2, 2021
by Peter Stuart
Order of service
Short personal retirement statement 2006 Dr. Jim Stuart
June 1, 2021
by Peter Stuart
I don’t think I’d be very good at writing a ‘short’ biography at this stage in my life. So I share a few impressions of ministry after fifty years at it. For me ministry has meant many different challenges: the people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made along the way, the places I have been, the joys I have shared with others, the disappointments I have encountered, the challenges and excitement of new ideas, the many hats I have worn: minister, teacher, counsellor, community activist, chaplain, theologian, some time scholar and writer.
Ministry has taken me from the ghettoes of North Philadelphia to the narrow streets of Tübingen, Germany, from Tübingen back to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Zürich, the home of the Reformer Zwingli, from Zürich to a small college in Illinois, from Illinois through the South Pacific to Auckland, New Zealand, from New Zealand back to Oregon, from Oregon back to New Zealand at the bottom of the world.
Along the way ministry has afforded me ‘stopovers’ in England, Spain, Italy, Israel/Palestine, Australia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, Mexico – even Alaska. On this journey I’ve met some extraordinary people who have expanded my understanding of the complex world in which we all live, who have taught me the importance of compassion and commitment, of hospitality and generosity, of acceptance and grace. Although separated from them now they have left an indelible impression on me.Much of who I am today in the best sense is their legacy. I am profoundly indebted to them.
Finally, along the way, I’ve experienced numerous kairos moments, moments that have taught me the importance of such Gospel values as justice, love, the power of forgiveness, the necessity of faith, and the enduring patience and grace of God. These moments have included the civil rights struggles, the Clergyman Concerned movement during the Vietnam War, the Anti-apartheid movement, the struggle for human rights in Central America and Singapore, the recognition of Maori self-determination under Te Tiriti O Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand and many more. I have come to believe that God speaks to us most clearly in those moments where people yearn for justice and dignity and, in so doing, reminding all of us what it means to be a human being created in the image of God.
The Methodist Church has offered me the framework for my ministry. It has nurtured me, supported me and given me the freedom to grow into the fullness of God’s grace. Like its founder, John Wesley, I now understand my ministry as a ‘following the leadings of Providence’. This has been my guiding principle and Wesley’s own life and ministry has helped me to understand my own journey and the presence of God in myself and the many people I’ve met along the way. So I close with Wesley’s words, “I know He will do all things well. And therein I rest. As to the things which I do not understand, I let them alone. Time will shew.’ (September 13,1774)
I regret I can’t be at Conference and send my warmest greetings to the members of Conference, especially those who I know and worked with during my years at Lewis and Clark College
Jim Stuart
29 May, 2006
Ministry has taken me from the ghettoes of North Philadelphia to the narrow streets of Tübingen, Germany, from Tübingen back to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Zürich, the home of the Reformer Zwingli, from Zürich to a small college in Illinois, from Illinois through the South Pacific to Auckland, New Zealand, from New Zealand back to Oregon, from Oregon back to New Zealand at the bottom of the world.
Along the way ministry has afforded me ‘stopovers’ in England, Spain, Italy, Israel/Palestine, Australia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, Mexico – even Alaska. On this journey I’ve met some extraordinary people who have expanded my understanding of the complex world in which we all live, who have taught me the importance of compassion and commitment, of hospitality and generosity, of acceptance and grace. Although separated from them now they have left an indelible impression on me.Much of who I am today in the best sense is their legacy. I am profoundly indebted to them.
Finally, along the way, I’ve experienced numerous kairos moments, moments that have taught me the importance of such Gospel values as justice, love, the power of forgiveness, the necessity of faith, and the enduring patience and grace of God. These moments have included the civil rights struggles, the Clergyman Concerned movement during the Vietnam War, the Anti-apartheid movement, the struggle for human rights in Central America and Singapore, the recognition of Maori self-determination under Te Tiriti O Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand and many more. I have come to believe that God speaks to us most clearly in those moments where people yearn for justice and dignity and, in so doing, reminding all of us what it means to be a human being created in the image of God.
The Methodist Church has offered me the framework for my ministry. It has nurtured me, supported me and given me the freedom to grow into the fullness of God’s grace. Like its founder, John Wesley, I now understand my ministry as a ‘following the leadings of Providence’. This has been my guiding principle and Wesley’s own life and ministry has helped me to understand my own journey and the presence of God in myself and the many people I’ve met along the way. So I close with Wesley’s words, “I know He will do all things well. And therein I rest. As to the things which I do not understand, I let them alone. Time will shew.’ (September 13,1774)
I regret I can’t be at Conference and send my warmest greetings to the members of Conference, especially those who I know and worked with during my years at Lewis and Clark College
Jim Stuart
29 May, 2006
Methodist Conference CV at retirement
June 1, 2021
by Peter Stuart
William James Stuart III
BIRTHDATE: June 28, 1936
BIRTHPLACE: New York City, New York
EDUCATION:High School: Lower Merion High School
City and State: Ardmore, PA
College/University: Franklin and Marshall College
City and State: Lancaster, PA
Degree and Date: BA 1958
Seminary: Wesley Theological Seminary, WCC Ecumenical Student (1963/4) Űniversität Tübingen, Asbury Theological Seminary
City and State: Washington, DC; Baden-Wurttenburg, Germany; Wilmore, KY
Degree and Date: MDiv, 1965
Other advanced degree work:
School: Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; University of Zürich;
City and State: Philadelphia, PA; Zürich, Switzerland
Degree and Date: MTh, 1966; DTheol, 1974
Graduate Studies: Universität Tübingen; Lincoln College, Oxford and Richmond College, London, England
ORDINATION:Deacon (Conference and Year): Eastern Pennsylvania, 1963
Elder (Conference and Year): Eastern Pennsylvania, 1965
MINISTRY/1957-58 Romansville UMC, PA
APPOINTMENT1969 Clay City Hardwick Creek UMC, Powell County, KY
RECORD:1965-67 First German Methodist, Philadelphia
1967-69 Doctoral Studies, University of Zürich, Switzerland
1969-79 Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Greenville College, IL
1979-84 Wesley Lecturer in Systematic Theology, Auckland, New Zealand
1984-89 Chaplain, Lewis and Clark College and Northwestern Law School, Portland, OR
1989-95 University Chaplain and Lecturer in Sociology and Peace Studies, Canterbury University, Christchurch, NZ
1995-2001 Senior Minister, St Andrew’s on the Terrace, Wellington, NZ
2001-06 Minister, Wesley at Wainoni, Christchurch, NZ
CONFERENCE andCurrently:
CONNECTIONALChair, Methodist Publishing Board
RESPONSIBILITIES:Regular Columnist for Touchstone, NZ Methodist and Uniting
Congregations’ Paper
Theological Resource Person