meet our team

Pastor Jim was born and raised in the Pittsburgh, PA area. He grew up and graduated from Plum Senior High School. Jim was baptized, confirmed and served in The Presbyterian Church. He answered God’s call to ministry and was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Pittsburgh Presbytery in 2008. For five years Jim served as a Student Pastor and then as Associate Pastor at Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church in McKees Rocks, PA. In 2011, Jim was called to serve as Pastor here at Valencia Presbyterian Church. He currently has completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in Parish Ministry Focus and resides with his wife, Kathy, here in Valencia.

Education 

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA, Doctor of Ministry

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA, Master of Divinity

Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, Bachelor of Science

Service in Ministry

Valencia Presbyterian Church, Valencia, PA, Pastor

Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church, McKees Rocks, PA, Associate Pastor / Student Assistant Pastor

Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek, Elder, Youth Leader, Sunday School Teacher

Public/Private Life

Here at Valencia Presbyterian Church, in addition to leading worship, Pastor Jim also leads Bible study and small groups. In the community, he is active in visitation and in encouraging people in discipleship, as well as leading worship services and small-group Bible study at The Woodlands of St. Barnabas and at St. John’s Nursing Home. Being a follower of Jesus Christ, Pastor Jim feels blessed by answering God’s call and being supported by lots of people, including his wife, daughters, and their families.

Some of Pastor Jim’s experiences have been serving with the World Mission Initiative in Vietnam; leading, and coordinating youth/adult ministries here; and implementing discipleship opportunities for spiritual growth. In October of 2014, Pastor Jim spent 12 days in Vietnam, working with church leaders to support home churches. Then, in 2015, he and his wife, Kathy along with another couple organized a second trip to Vietnam to follow-up with support for the growing Presbyterian Church of Vietnam. Pastor Jim enjoys supporting the mission and outreach ministries at our church and in the Beaver-Butler Presbytery. He has also served on the Alumni Council of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, as support for students. Pastor Jim has also completed service on the Advisory Board of The World Mission Initiative at PTS and The Ministry Vocation Committee of Beaver-Butler Presbytery.

Pastor Jim is happy to be serving the LORD with his gifts here in leading the staff and church family as faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Having completed his Doctor of Ministry degree with a Parish Ministry Focus, his published thesis is available at the church or here, on this web site, for reading.

Pastor Jim is married to Kathy Kirk, who works as Business Administrator at the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek and is a long-time quilter. They both are enjoying spending time with their daughters and their sons-in-law, Katherine and Chris Hill and Sarah and Kenny Cline.  Pastor Jim and Kathy are now the proud grandparents of both Ruth Joellen Hill (3) and Guy Benjamin Hill (2 months)!  They would be happy to show you pictures! The Kirks feel blessed by God in many ways after 43 years of marriage, 18+ years of ministry, and being surrounded by loving church families.