[December 2019] St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Kailua welcomed the Diocese's newest Deacon in James Shire, who was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on Saturday, December 21, 2019.
James was born in Honolulu and was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area until 2009, when his family returned to Kailua. It was while studying at Pepperdine University in California, that he began attending an Episcopal Church. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Pepperdine University in 2011, his Master of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 2015, and his Master of Arts in Religion from the University of Toronto in 2017. He is currently a doctoral student in religious studies at the University of Toronto.
James was received into the Episcopal Church in 2012, while taking part in the Episcopal Service Corps, a service ministry for young adults, and is a member of St. Christopherʻs in Kailua. In Toronto, James attends St. Thomas’ Anglican Church and is the Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for their Friday Food Ministry. The Friday Food Ministry is a weekly meal program that serves people experiencing poverty in the city. The program operates year-round and serves between 60-100 guests each week and partners with various colleges, schools, churches, and organizations to maintain the ministry.
When he is not studying, James enjoys cooking and reading science fiction and fantasy.
Congratulations to the Reverend Deacon James Shire!
