Ivan is Pastor of the  newly established New Horizons UMC in St. Louis MO. Prior to assuming this  present pastoral position  Ivan served as pastor of Asbury and Samaritan UMC,  the two churches which merger to become New Horizons. 

Ivan C. James III, a St. Louis native, is  a Certified Lay Minister  and was appointed Lay Pastor of Asbury in July of 2012 and of Samaritan in July of 2015. Ivan has been a member of the United Methodist Church for over 45 years and has served the local church and conference on many boards and committees throughout the country. He was elected a Delegate to the UMC 2016 General Conference and the 2016 South Central Jurisdiction Conference of UMC, the 2019 Special General Conference in St. Louis and the delayed 2020  General Conference.  He is presently a mem ber of the Board of Ordian Ministry and services on its  Executive cpmmittee.

At the 2015 United Methodist Church Missouri Annual Conference, he was bestowed “The Unity Award,” which celebrates the spirit and work of an individual in light of the values of the Conference with emphasis on inclusiveness, justice, and worth.

 Ivan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Economics from St. Benedict’s (now Benedictine) College in Atchison, KS, and an MBA from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. In addition to working in corporate America for over 25 years, he has owned and operated his own business for over 20 years. His passion for lay leadership development and education as well as the growth of the African American church is what guides him.  

 Ivan has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO and has participated in a variety of programs with students at the University.

 Ivan has been fortunate enough to be married to the former Grace Donaldson of Kansas City, MO, and they have five grown sons and 11 grandchildren. Most importantly, Ivan is a Child of God and a preacher of the Gospel for the building of God’s Kingdom