Jim received his bachelor degree at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, the Master of Divinity degree at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, the Doctor of Sexual Attitude Reassesment degree (DSAR) by the National Sex Forum, San Francisco and the Doctor of Divinity degree by Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1991.

Jim served as church pastor in Galveston, Texas and Anamosa, Iowa. In 1961 he began over 30 years of service with the American Lutheran Church national office. In 1969, he was called to begin a new Department of Congregational Social Concerns in the ALC national office in Minneapolis.