JAMES A. ROBEY, JR. (JIM)
364 PLANTATION LANE
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA 36542
Jim@AttentionalGrowth.org
(H) (251) 968-6184
(W) (205) 960-3157
PERSONAL DATA:
Born November 20, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan. Moved to Birmingham,
Alabama, in 1953 and lived there until 1973 when moved to Dallas, Texas, for
seminary. Moved back to Birmingham in 1975, and have lived in or around
Birmingham until 2004 when we moved to Gulf Shores, AL.
Married to Betty Robey, a Registered Nurse, employed at Covenant Hospice.
Two children – Jennifer Jones, married & the mother of our two
grandchildren; Mary Robey, age 19 and a college sophomore.
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT:
Executive Director & founder, ATTENTIONAL GROWTH INC: a 501(c)(3) non-
profit organization, 2004-present. Offices in Birmingham & Gulf Shores, AL
Pastoral Counselor at Gulf Shores UMC, 2004-present. (Part-time)
Interim Pastor, Daybreak UMC, Elberta AL (June - Dec 2006) (Part-time)
CHURCH RELATIONS:
ENDORSED as a Pastoral Counselor by the UMC and appointed to an extension
ministry (ATEM), 2004.
Ordained Elder and Member in Full Connection (June, 1977), North Alabama
Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Probationary Member and Ordained Deacon (June, 1974), North Alabama
Conference of the United Methodist Church.
EDUCATION:
Co-Active Coaches Training, The Coaches Training Institute, 2005-2006.
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)
Pastoral, Marriage & Family Therapy Training Program, Pastoral Care
and Counseling, Inc., Carraway Methodist Medical Center, (Therapist-in-
Training), 2002-2004.
Doctor of Ministry degree, Candler School of Theology, Emory University,
May 1984. Topic of project/dissertation: "The Role of the Pastor in Spiritual
Formation Using a Wesleyan Class Meeting Approach.”
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Jim Robey
Clinical Pastoral Education, Carraway Methodist Medical Center,
Birmingham, AL (one quarter) 1980.
Graduate Student, the 27th Session of the Ecumenical Institute, Geneva,
Switzerland; October 1978 - March 1979; an international group of clergy and
laity sponsored by The World Council of Churches; studies included
consultations with various Vatican secretariats and travels in Europe. Certificate
from the university of Geneva.
Master of Theology degree, Perkins School of Theology, Southern
Methodist University, December, 1976.
Clinical Pastoral Education, Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas (one quarter)
1974.
Bachelor of Arts degree, (Major in Psychology) Birmingham-Southern
College,
May 1973.
CHURCH EXPERIENCE:
2002 - 2004 Minister of Congregational Care & Counseling, Riverchase UMC (Hoover,
AL 2100 members).
2001 - 2002 Pastor, Oakmont UMC (Homewood, AL; 350 members).
2000 - 2001 Pastor, Oxford First UMC (Oxford, AL; 450 members).
1995 - 2000 Minister of Spiritual Formation, Vestavia Hills UMC (Birmingham: 4500
members). Responsibilities included pastoral care & counseling.
1985 - 1995 Associate Minister, Huffman United Methodist Church (Birmingham: 2,000
members). Responsible especially for membership recruitment, pastoral care
and singles. Directed the Stephen Ministry program.
1984 - 1985 Minister, Walker Memorial and West Haven United Methodist Churches
(Birmingham, Alabama; less than 100 members in each.) Two inner-city
churches.
1979 - 1984 Minister, Smoke Rise United Methodist Church (Warrior, Alabama; 120
members). New church situation located 30 miles north of Birmingham; was
the first full time pastor.
1976 - 1979 Youth Minister/Associate Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church,
(Birmingham, Alabama; 4,100 members). Responsible for development and
implementation of youth ministry and activities; also shared the pastoral
functions of worship, visitation, preaching and church management.
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Jim Robey
1975 - 1976 Internship as Associate Minister, East Lake United Methodist Church
(Birmingham, Alabama; 2,700 members). Responsible for youth ministry and
all pastoral functions.
1974 - 1976 Associate Pastor/Youth Minister, Central Congregational Church (Dallas,
Texas; 525 members). Organized the seven U. C. C. churches in Dallas-Ft.
Worth for joint youth activities and eduational workshop.
1971 - 1973 Youth Director, Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church (Birmingham,
Alabama; 900 members).
1969 - 1971 Youth Director and Assistant to the Minister, Valley Christian Church
(Birmingham, Alabama; 350 members).
SELECTED CONTINUING EDUCATION:
1990 - 2004 Other workshops offered by the Board of Pastoral Care & Counseling and by
the North Alabama Conference.
1997- 2002 MELS (Methodist Educational Leave Society) group PLUS (Preaching,
Leadership & Understanding Self) where I was the FCP (group leader) for the
group. We did several self care modules as well as preaching and leadership
sessions.
1991-1995 MELS (Methodist Educational Leave Society) group PPG (Prayer &
Preaching Group). Our experiences included times in contemplative prayer,
travel in eastern Europe, a visit to Israel, and working with Mother Teresa in
Calcutta.
1990 USSR Goodwill Trip with the North Alabama United Methodist Youth.
Visited 9 of the 15 republics.
1988 - 1989 Academy for Spiritual Formation, sponsored by the Upper Room, Camp
Sumatanga, Alabama.
1987 Spirituality and Sexuality: the Travail of Wholeness with Morton Kelsey,
Walter Wink, and June Keener-Wink, New York.
1986 Stephen Ministry Leadership Training, Baltimore, MD
Pastoral Response to Substance Abuse, especially Alcoholism, Birmingham.
Assessing Your Personality Strengths: Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory,
Birmingham.
1985 National Conference for Leaders of Single Adults, workshops on Sexuality
and Spirituality for Singles, Nashville.
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Jim Robey
SELECTED EVENTS LED:
2006 - present Coach Skills Training, a TelcClass led for the Intentional Growth Center.
1998 Renovare Steering Committee co-chair to bring Richard Foster & Donn
Thomas to Birmingham
1987 - present Many retreats and Walk to Emmaus & Young Adult Chrysalis weekends.
1987 - present Divorce Recovery Workshops (37) for some 800 people.
1986 - 1996 Variety of workshops at the Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska,
including Jesus and the Single Sheep; Spirituality in the Wesleyan Tradition;
and Spirituality for Busy Pastors.
1987 North Alabama Singles Retreat, leader for worship and workshops on Divorce
Adjustment and Loss of Spouse to Death
1986 North Georgia Singles, worship leader
Spirituality for Youth, Southeast Jurisdiction Convocation for Youth, Lake
Junaluska, NC
1985 South Georgia, workshop leader on Spirituality
Interfaith Images of Israel with Rabbi Steve Glazier and Father Paul Rohling
(sharing our trip to Israel and our friendship)
1984 Speaker for Mississippi Youth Retreat for Spiritual Growth
1979 - 1987 Twenty sexuality workshops for youth and parents across Alabama in
different churches
OTHER EXPERIENCE:
2005 - present Theologian for the Academy for Spiritual Formation #25 held at Camp
Sumatanga, Alabama.
2004- present Spiritual Formation Committee, Alabama-West Florida Conference, UMC.
2002 - 2005 Member, Pastoral Advisory Board, Birmingham-Southern College.
1991 - Present Monthly meetings with Dr. Eleanor DelBene who serves as my spiritual
director.
1991 - 1995 Member of the Board, Mental Health Association of Jefferson-Shlbly
Counties, and Chairperson of the Education Committee.
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Jim Robey
1987 - 1991 Member of the Review Committee in the "Facts of Life Line" for Planned
Parenthood of Alabama
1986 - 2000 Member Alabama Holocaust Advisory Counsel, to plan Alabama's State
Holocaust Remembrance in Montgomery, Alabama
1982 - Present Participant and speaker/spiritual director for the Walk to Emmaus spiritual
retreat weekends
1981 - 1991 Monthly meetings with Rev. Ron DelBene (Episcopal Priest) who served as
my spiritual director. Also participated in monthly spiritual discovery
meetings with other ministers.
1986 - Present Divorce Recovery Workshop Leader
1976 - 1997 Human Sexuality Workshop Leader, working with junior and senior high
youth and their parents
1975 - Present Speaker and spiritual guide for youth and adult retreats. Participant in various
continuing education programs and retreats.
1976 - 1979 Clergy-on-call (University Hospital), an ecumenical group sharing
problems/issues of the pastorate and providing emergency services
NORTH ALABAMA CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES:
1994 - present Joint Review Committee and then Committee on Investigations for the North
Alabama Conference. Elected Chairperson in 2005.
1984 - 1986 Chairperson of Steering Committee for Spiritual Recovery Retreats, held
twice a year at Camp Sumatanga .
1980 - 1988 Member, Committee on Evangelism.
1976 - 1980 Member, Commission on Religion and Race.
1975 - 2000 Resource Person for Conference Youth, Summer Camp and weekend retreats;
small group leader in spiritual growth, youth ministry, communication skills,
the church, the Bible and general discussions.
1977 - 1978 Adult Advisor, Mission and Service Committee, Conference Council on
Youth Ministry.
1975 - 1976 Adult Advisor, Social Concerns Committee, Conference Council on Youth
Ministry.
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Jim Robey
1972 - 1976 Member of Conference Council on Ministries.
1973 Coordinator of Conference Jr. High summer camps.
1973 - 1976 Served on staff of Nina Reeves for Mid-high and Senior High Conference
summer camps.
1968 - 1973 Served on Conference Council on Youth Ministry, including President (1968-
69) and Chairperson (1971-72).
1972 Elected Lay Delegate to Annual Conference.
1970 - 1971 Youth Leader and participant at several Southeastern Jurisdictional youth
meetings at Lake Junaluska, NC
1969 Worked in Bolivia for two months as a member of a (summer) youth team
doing construction work and being good-will ambassadors from the North
Alabama Conference.
SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
1972 Worked as an assistant at the Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health
Center
1970 - 1973 Staff member of Freedom House - a center for youth and young adults,
especially in the areas drug counseling and youth-related problems
1970 Worked in an interdenominational, inner-city day camp in Birmingham.
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11/18/11