Dr. Wayne Darbonne
Senior Pastor, Head of Staff
Pastor Wayne is passionate about the local church and its God-given mission in the world. Wayne grew up on the Central Coast of California where he came to know Jesus Christ through the lives of others, including his high school sweetheart and wife Robin. He served three churches in California and Ohio before becoming our pastor in 2006. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (MIS), a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Gospel and Culture from Columbia Theological Seminary. Wayne loves being involved in our community, including serving as an Adjunct Professor at Denver Seminary teaching courses in evangelism, discipleship and leadership; he also served as the lead chaplain for Littleton Police Department. His wife Robin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with her own practice, Momentum Mental Health here in Littleton. Wayne and Robin love spending time with their three adult children, enjoying the outdoors and traveling. Send Wayne a message
Pastor Jim Stuart
Parish Associate
Born and raised through high school in suburban Minneapolis, I remain a staunch Minnesotan at heart, though my Colorado roots go way back as well. My wife Sally and I attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and following seminary at Princeton, we received our first call in ministry here at St. James. Teaming with Sally, I served as Youth Pastor at St. James from 1974-79. I then became Associate Pastor of Parish Life at St. James, and served with Head Pastor Les Avery from 1979-83. It was a great 9 years, a wonderful way to begin in ministry in this warm and relational congregation.
From Littleton our family (now with 3 small children, Chris, Scott and Linnaea) moved to Willmar, MN in 1983, where I received my first head of staff position, and where we served the Lord until 1987. At that time God called me to a second head of staff position in Windham, NH (38 miles north of Boston), where Sally and I raised our kids and I settled into a long ministry of 26 years.
In August, 2013, we returned to Colorado to live in close proximity with our adult kids and 2 granddaughters. God was so good to provide, first, an Interim Pastor position at first Presbyterian Church in Littleton (for 15 months), and then, wonderfully, a part time Parish Associate position here at St. James beginning in June of 2015. What a joy to have come full circle! I’m loving it!
At age 67 now (!) I remain very active with the wonderful outdoor opportunities in Colorado to hike and bike and cross country ski. I enjoy working out at the YMCA as well, and playing the piano is an enjoyable outlet and change of pace for me (as well as reading at Starbucks!). Send Jim a message
Pastor Michael Thornton
Youth and Young Adults Pastor
I love participating in what God is doing here in the Littleton region to further establish his kingdom in the here and now. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, I later attended King College, a small, Presbyterian liberal arts college located in the beautiful Appalachia town of Bristol, Tennessee. After college I served alongside missionaries in East Africa for six months before moving to Colorado to attend Denver Seminary. During this time of completing the M.Div. degree, I met and married my best friend, Cassie. Cassie is an Occupational Therapist from Boulder, Colorado and we share many passions, most of which revolve around spending quality time together in the outdoors. Our favorite ways to recreate are to hike, camp, fish, and bike – sometimes all in the same weekend! We are also big soccer fans having both played in college. In January of 2018 we welcomed our first child, Amos (pronounced “Famous Amos”), into the world and are having a blast parenting this little man!
Stepping into a role that seeks to make disciples while sharing the best news of all that through Jesus we have peace with God is a dream come true for me. What also sealed the deal is being able to join a GREAT staff and elder team. St. James is an oasis for my wife and me. I sincerely hope that wherever you’re reading this bio (and whatever season of life you find yourself in) you feel the warmest of invitations from us in the St. James family to stop on by and, as the psalmist says, “taste and see that the Lord is good!” If you’re up for it, there’s a community here on the corner of Bellevue and Lowell waiting to welcome you home.
Director of Worship & the Arts
Emily Andrews
Director of Children’s Ministries
Emily is coming soon! Her first day here at St. James is June 16. More information to follow! Send Emily a message
Cindy Smith
Director of St. James Preschool
Cindy Smith is the Director of St. James Preschool and has been in the field of early childhood education for 30 years and is beginning her 6th year at St. James Presbyterian Church. She is passionate about building and supporting a team of leaders who are committed to providing a Christian environment that enables children to fully explore their innate potential. “What happens in the first five years of a child’s life builds the brain and also ultimately impacts our entire community. My faith calls me to ensure that all children, wherever they spend their early years, get the highest quality experiences and care. Children are created in God’s image, “crowned with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5) When we honor them, we honor God.”
The preschool is committed to equip children with tools that will provide a strong foundation, inspiring a lifetime of learning.
Love is the foundation and is something that cannot be measured or described fully. So many of our families believe that there is a feeling of love and caring that can be felt when you enter our preschool. This comes from our belief in Jesus Christ and is lived out by our dedicated staff that is the heart of St. James Preschool. We are a school family.
The following core values form the framework that guides us.
• Rooted in faith
• Grounded in the significance of early childhood development (a unique time)
• Cultivate nurturing relationships
• Provide a caring, supportive environment
• Believe in the power of play
Send Cindy a message
Susan Dodds
Bookkeeper
Since July 2012 I’ve been the bookkeeper at St. James and feel blessed to be a member of such a wonderful staff!
After college I moved from Washington to Colorado and was employed in the accounting end of the oil and gas industry for many years. I met my future husband, Vince – also originally from Washington – while working for him in the early 1980’s. We’ve recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and have two great kids, Monica 27 and Parker 26. During the stay-at-home-mom years in the mid-90s, we moved to El Paso, TX. Vince promised it was just for a couple of years – it ended up being a dozen! When both kids were in middle school I began working part time as the bookkeeper for our church in El Paso and found that I absolutely loved it. With both kids attending colleges in Colorado, Vince and I bid Texas farewell and happily returned to Colorado, settling in Highlands Ranch in 2009.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know many, many of the Saint James folks, and hope that I can serve them and the Lord well. Send Susan a message
Neil Johnson
Technical Manager
Neil’s first education into sound systems was at the age of 8 when he was asked to record Sunday sermons to be put on the local radio station. Neil is our full time volunteer Technical Manager overseeing the daily functions and operations of the Audio/Visual equipment, the church internet and WiFi connectivity, computer network and telephones here at St James.
I am so glad that Cindy brought me to this place because of an experience that she had as a teenager here at St James. It was evident within a very short time that God wanted us to be here. I have enjoyed the time in the choirs and men’s group where we have grown in the Lord as a group of people seeking God’s direction. I am happy to be able to serve as a Deacon, Elder, and Elder Commissioner representing St James in our world, whether in this building, in the Denver Presbytery, on our block, or at the corner café or restaurant. Send Neil a message