Rev. Jim Turley
Board Member
Jim Turley did most of his growing up the small West Texas town of Grandfalls. He graduated from Texas Tech University with an accounting degree in 1965, was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in 1966, and graduated from The University of Texas Law School in 1968, when he began practicing law with the Houston law firm of Baker Botts. He became a partner in the firm in 1976, and practiced tax and corporate law there until May of 1992, when he resigned his partnership in the firm. Jim and his wife, Susan, moved to Dallas where Jim entered Perkins School of Theology at SMU to prepare for full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church.
While attending Perkins, Jim served on the staff of Highland Park United Methodist Church as Minister of Evangelism. Jim was ordained in the United Methodist Church in June, 1994, and graduated from Perkins in December, 1994. He returned to his home church, Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, where he served as Minister of Discipleship and Evangelism from July of 1994 until June of 1997, when was appointed as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Henderson.
Jim and Susan had the joy and pleasure of serving the wonderful First UMC Henderson family for six years. In July of 2003, he joined the staff of Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, to begin a new ministry providing leadership, self-care and spiritual formation resources to pastors and laity in United Methodist churches across the State of Texas. At the end of 2014, Jim retired as the Senior Vice President of TMF’s Leadership and Area Representatives’ ministries.
Jim continues to work on special projects for Texas Methodist Foundation, and provides safe conversation spaces and prayer for pastors and leaders in United Methodist congregations across the state. Jim also serves with and supports the Discipleship Staff of Susan’s and his current church family – First United Methodist Church of Georgetown. Jim and Susan live in Georgetown and have been married for almost fifty-three years. Their three beautiful daughters and wonderful husbands have blessed them with seven spectacular grandchildren.
