First Five Years
Things They Never Taught You in Seminary
Rev. Dr. James Bushfield

Seminary prepares pastors for a lot of things, but not parsonage life: balancing home, family, and work; difficult boundary issues; and the appointment process. After more than 30 years in United Methodist ministry, Jim Bushfield has discovered some of the things needed to survive parish ministry.

REV. DR. JAMES BUSHFIELD is an Elder in the South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as Director of Connectional Ministry. He has been a District Superintendent, a local pastor in small membership and large staff settings. He also served on the Board of Ordained Ministry for 12 years, chaired for 7 of those years, and was cabinet representative to the board for 5 additional years. Jim is a graduate of Indiana University, with a M.Div. and a D. Min. from United Theological Seminary. Jim is married to Debbie, and together they published “Things They Never Taught you in Seminary.” Currently they live in Bloomington, Indiana.