Professor (Church History)

The Rev. Dr. James D. Smith III has practiced integrated ministry as pastor-teacher for 35+ years. At Bethel Seminary since 1988, he now offers courses as Professor of Church History, Emeritus – and is Associate Pastor at La Jolla Christian Fellowship. He has lectured extensively at the University of San Diego (1993-2010), offered classes at Eastern/Palmer Seminary (Philadelphia), Southern Seminary (Louisville) and is current faculty at Pacific Theological Seminary (San Diego) and Richmont Graduate University (Atlanta). Globally, Jim has taught at Daystar University (Nairobi), in Latin America (including YWAM) and Arabia - and twice been visiting scholar at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

Ordained in 1978, ministry has brought seven pastoral positions, including senior/lead roles for BGC/Converge congregations in Boston, Minneapolis and San Diego - serving also in ABC and PCUSA churches. Preaching on occasion at LJCF, he also enjoys ministering in other (often multi-cultural) fellowships. As AAR, ASCH and CBE member, interests engage biography, spiritual life and ministry, history of missions and women in the Christian tradition. Serving as a Harvard Teaching Fellow with Henri Nouwen, Margaret R. Miles and Helmut Koester was truly formative!

As San Diego natives, Jim married Linda Westmoreland on July 4, 1972. They’ve been further blessed and stretched by three children and six grandchildren.

Education
ThD, Harvard University
ThM, Harvard Divinity School
MDiv, Bethel Seminary
AB, San Diego State University.

Recent Work
Books co-edited are The Fabric of Early Christianity, The Subjective Eye, the Encyclopedia of Christian Literature, and the ECPA award-winning Dictionary of Christian Spirituality.

In recent years, he’s been a cited consultant in Justo Gonzalez’ revision of The Story of Christianity (2 vol) and Missional To All Nations, From All Nations - and also John Mulder’s Finding God: A Treasury of Conversion Stories. Editorial advisory for the Encyclopedia of Christian Education (3 vol), and topical contributions to the Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States (5 vol) express lifetime interests.

Long a contributor to Christian History magazine, favorite projects have involved serving as advisory editor for “Christianity in Early Africa” (Issue 105) and “Christian History through Images- 2000 Years of Art & Faith” (Issue 144). Over 175 essays have appeared in historical, religious and sports (notably baseball: SABR) publications.

In 2015 (after re-publishing Julia Kavanagh’s historic 1852 Women of Christianity) came Lifetime Achievement recognition from Christians For Biblical Equality (CBE). Since then, he’s introduced new editions of Harvard mentor George H. Williams’ Christian Attitudes Toward Nature and Wilderness & Paradise in Christian Thought.

He published a new-edition English translation of Jean Gerson’s medieval classic On Bringing Children to Jesus in 2018.