Ladner United Church

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Greetings

Meet Our Minister Jim Short

I have experienced the blessings of being the Ordained Minister at Ladner United Church and living in this beautiful community for 8 years. As a family we arrived in 2001, I, my life partner Cathy and our three now adult children, Katy, Nicholas and Benjamin.

It was the faith, the commitment and the humanity of the people who first interviewed me that drew me to this place. The vibrancy of people and their incredible compassion have kept me here. I like being with people who enjoy worshipping together, studying, praying and working in God’s world. I feel passionate about supporting people on their journey of experiencing the unconditional grace and love of God as that is most fully experienced through faith in Jesus. As we continue to daily grow and experience the joys and challenges of being Jesus’ hands and feet in the world, we touch what it means to be fully human and fully alive.

 

I was raised within the United Church of Canada. (Ask sometime to see my certificate for 16 years of perfect church school attendance) As a young adult I choose to continue the faith journey as a Christian – a decision my parents made on my behalf when I was baptized as an infant and first brought into the church community.

 

I experienced a call to full time ministry in my early 20’s. I was reluctant at first as I had planned to be a history teacher. God had other plans. In the United Church I have experienced a progressive yet faithful group of people who believed that God speaks to us through scripture, other people, the church community, reason, experience and tradition and were seeking to serve God in this world by words and deed.

 

I love leading in worship, preaching, teaching, studying and sharing in pastoral care.
Though I work for the church as a full time ordained minister – each of us shares in this “ministry” to others and the world. I enjoy helping people discover and use their gifts for the glory and joy of God. I believe the church is called to serve the world that it lives in and its entire people – not just those who are formal members. I enjoy meeting people where they are and walking with time as they continue to find the joy of God’s unconditional love. I thrive when in a church like Ladner; I have the opportunity to work with people of all ages – from the children to the seniors.

 

As the love of God does not end at the property line of the church building and God’s Grace is spread throughout our world in abundance, I enjoy and participate in the larger life of the Ladner Community. I volunteer at the local thrift store and am a member of the Ladner Business Association. It’s my privilege to be able to share each year in the Remembrance Day Ceremony in Delta. I’m honored to be a part of a church like Ladner where so many of its people offer their time, talents and treasures to the ministries of our church and in the various organizations of this great community of South Delta and beyond.

It is also my privilege to be a Military Chaplain in the Canadian Army Reserve and have functioned in that capacity for 18 years. Most recently I was on leave from Ladner United Church and served a 7 month tour in Afghanistan (2008), ministering to our young men and women serving in that war torn country. I continue on a part time basis to support the men and women of the Canadian Forces in these difficult times as a padre, pastor, counselor and friend.

I receive pleasure in spending time with Cathy and my family. . I read, collect books and frequent garage sales, thrift stores and coffee shops. I like to bike to work as often as I can and am slowly teaching myself to draw and paint.

I was born in Hamilton Ontario and studied at McMaster University and Queen’s Theological College in Kingston Ontario. Ordained in 1982 I have served churches in Newfoundland, Toronto, Vancouver Island and now Ladner. I have participated in many continuing educational courses, held various offices in the broader church as well as working as a minister in the prison system, a mental health institution, a senior’s complex and a Northern First Nations Community. 
 

Click here to see information about Jim's Chief of Defence Staff Commendation Medal he received for his outstanding service in Afghanistan.