St. Barnabas on the Desert

Jim Clark

Jim made his way through pentecostal, evangelical, and charismatic traditions on his way to joining the Episcopal Church in 1987. He refers to himself as a contemplative follower of Jesus, a sacramental and sane evangelical pastor, and a grateful heir of our Episcopal heritage. Jim has committed his life to following Jesus and inviting others to the same: “Jesus offers good news not bad news. He reveals a God who is for us not against us; a God who is present not distant; understanding not blaming; forgiving not shaming; embracing not rejecting. Jesus comes to us, moment by moment, in our imperfection and says, ‘I am with you always.’ That is good news!" Jim’s hope and passion is for the maturation of the human family and the transformation of the world...in a phrase: the full arrival of the Kingdom of God. “It will happen, because it must happen. Our God is the God who makes all things well. So why not live into it right here, right now?” As the Christian family grows beyond reactionary-ism, Jim believes our contribution to the whole human family will be monumental. Jim and his wife Betsy celebrate over three decades together. They have four children. “When Betsy and I were married our pastor said, ‘Jimmy, you are marrying your seminary. She is the gift of the Holy Spirit to you. She will teach you all you need to know.’ Hyperbole? Yes. Nonetheless, what God has taught me through Betsy and the children exceeds all.”