St. James Church Athens GA

Our Vision

To see an unmistakable move of God transforming our communities through

redemption, restoration, reconciliation, and revival.

Our Mission

To Engage our community with the good news of Jesus Christ

and Equip believers to become devoted followers of Christ.

St. James is a church that loves all, invites all, welcomes all, and declares to all the good news of the redeeming love of Jesus. Additionally, we desire to assist all in living sanctified lives that reflect the character and mission of Christ.

Our Core Values

Jesus: While each Person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is God, and are one in essence, majesty, glory, and will, the Bible testifies, and we believe, it is Jesus who is the perfect sacrifice for sin. Reconciliation with Father God is possible only by placing our faith in Jesus. Therefore, it is Jesus we preach, teach, and offer to those that have not yet come to know Him as Savior and Lord. (John 3:16, Acts 4:11-12)

God’s Word: Jesus said that people cannot live by food alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We believe that the Bible contains the sacred, unchangeable, undeniable words of God that are to be the foundation of everything we do. (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Prayer: God desires intimate relationship with those created in His image and, by His grace, has provided access to Himself through prayer. We will seek the Lord and His will in all that we purpose, committing our way to Him, and trusting that He will act on our behalf. We believe in the power of God to transform lives as we pray for others. (Jeremiah 29:13. Psalm 37:5)

Discipleship: A primary commission given by Christ to His Church is to make disciples. Ultimately, the character of a disciple of Jesus is one who has wholeheartedly submitted his/her will under Christ. As the church and as believers, ours is the responsibility to teach, train, and equip others to know the Word and be bold in proclaiming the Word. We also teach and train so that others' lives are more and more conformed to the image of the Son of God. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Community: Communities can be geographical (towns, neighborhoods, areas where people live or work) or they can be relational (entities of people having a common interest). As a church, our calling is to both. First, we seek to proclaim the good news to the geographical communities in which we live or interact. Second, recognizing that we live out our faith best in fellowship with one another, we seek to form, promote, and support relational communities that at their core are Christ-centered and offer a place of belonging, caring, learning, worship, and accountability. (John 20:21, Hebrews 10:24-25).

Our Affiliation

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, St. James Church affirmed the Leadership Council's recommendation to join the Global Methodist Church.

Why join a denomination rather than be independent? The Methodist Church has always been a connectional church. It is in our DNA. In fact, the term Independent Methodist is an oxymoron. From the early days of Methodism's Classes and Bands, Methodists have sought to join with like-minded individuals, groups, churches, and the like to better engage in the mission and ministry of the church.

Connectional relationships make us stronger, enable us to learn from one another, provide varying levels of accountability, and present opportunities to unite for joint ministry in our communities and around the world. A denominational connection allows St. James to multiply our efforts in and for the Kingdom and ensure that our strength will be greater than the sum of our parts.

Why join the Global Methodist Church? While there are a number of reasons for affiliating with the Global Methodist Church, we feel the most important are that the Global Methodist Church:

Has a strong orthodox theology built on scriptural authority. Does not have a Trust Clause (we will own our own property). Empowers the local church to live out its calling with greater autonomy. Provides greater accountability for Bishops, Presiding Elders, Clergy, and churches. Enables us to use more of our funds for local ministry rather than supporting large institutional bureaucracies.

 

Question: How long do the services last?

Answer: The 9:00a traditional service lasts about 50 minutes, while the 11:00 more contemporary runs for 60 to 70 minutes.

Question: What about children?

Answer: A nursery for newborns through 2 years is available for both morning worship services. Children's Church is available at the 11:00 service for kids ages 3 through 5th grade. Children will sit with their parents for the first portion of the service then our Children's Church team will lead the children downstairs for an age appropriate worship experience.

Question: Where do I park?

Answer: There is visitor parking in the front of the church and in the first row at the back of the church. Follow the signs to the sanctuary or nursery.

Question: What do people wear?

Answer: You will find people dressed in jeans, an occasional sport coat/suit and tie, and everything in between.
 

Download St. James Church vCard with Service Times

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Download Pastor James William Curington II vCard with bio

Click here to contact James William Curington II  

 

https://sjathens.org/  

 

 

Know how to get there? Share the knowledge with others!  

There is visitor parking in the front of the church and in the first row at the back of the church. Follow the signs to the sanctuary or nursery.  

 

 

 

St. James Church organized on October 7, 1956, with the tentative name "The Five Points Area Methodist Church."

On November 25, 1956, St. James Methodist Church was approved as the official name of the church.

Less than a month later, the church secured property at the corner of West Lake Drive and S. Lumpkin Street.

The first service in the newly constructed church was held on April 2, 1961.

In 1968, the church's name changed to St. James United Methodist Church with the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church.

St. James rebranded in April 2021 by introducing a new logo, using St. James Church as the common name, and emphasizing our mission statement as a way to increase our identity in the Athens area.

In August 2023, St. James voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.

The North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church ratified St. James' disaffiliation on November 18, 2023.

On December 17, 2023, St. James affirmed the Leadership Council's recommendation to join the Global Methodist Church.

On December 19, 2023, all properties held in trust by the United Methodist Church were transferred over to St. James Church, Inc. effectively ending the disaffiliation process from the United Methodist Church.