• St. James Church organized on October 7, 1956, with the tentative name "The Five Points Area Methodist Church." 
• On November 25, 1956, St. James Methodist Church was approved as the official name of the church. 
• Less than a month later, the church secured property at the corner of West Lake Drive and S. Lumpkin Street.
• The first service in the newly constructed church was held on April 2, 1961.
• In 1968, the church's name changed to St. James United Methodist Church with the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church.
• St. James rebranded in April 2021 by introducing a new logo, using St. James Church as the common name, and emphasizing our mission statement as a way to increase our identity in the Athens area.
• In August 2023, St. James voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.
• The North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church ratified St. James' disaffiliation on November 18, 2023.
• On December 17, 2023, St. James affirmed the Leadership Council's recommendation to join the Global Methodist Church.
• On December 19, 2023, all properties held in trust by the United Methodist Church were transferred over to St. James Church, Inc. effectively ending the disaffiliation process from the United Methodist Church.

To see an unmistakable move of God transforming our communities through

redemption, restoration, reconciliation, and revival.

To Engage our community with the good news of Jesus Christ

and Equip believers to become devoted followers of Christ.

St. James is a church that loves all, invites all, welcomes all, and declares to all the good news of the redeeming love of Jesus. Additionally, we desire to assist all in living sanctified lives that reflect the character and mission of Christ.

Jesus: While each Person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is God, and are one in essence, majesty, glory, and will, the Bible testifies, and we believe, it is Jesus who is the perfect sacrifice for sin. Reconciliation with Father God is possible only by placing our faith in Jesus. Therefore, it is Jesus we preach, teach, and offer to those that have not yet come to know Him as Savior and Lord. (John 3:16, Acts 4:11-12)

God’s Word: Jesus said that people cannot live by food alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We believe that the Bible contains the sacred, unchangeable, undeniable words of God that are to be the foundation of everything we do. (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Prayer: God desires intimate relationship with those created in His image and, by His grace, has provided access to Himself through prayer. We will seek the Lord and His will in all that we purpose, committing our way to Him, and trusting that He will act on our behalf. We believe in the power of God to transform lives as we pray for others. (Jeremiah 29:13. Psalm 37:5)

Discipleship: A primary commission given by Christ to His Church is to make disciples. Ultimately, the character of a disciple of Jesus is one who has wholeheartedly submitted his/her will under Christ. As the church and as believers, ours is the responsibility to teach, train, and equip others to know the Word and be bold in proclaiming the Word. We also teach and train so that others' lives are more and more conformed to the image of the Son of God. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Community: Communities can be geographical (towns, neighborhoods, areas where people live or work) or they can be relational (entities of people having a common interest). As a church, our calling is to both. First, we seek to proclaim the good news to the geographical communities in which we live or interact. Second, recognizing that we live out our faith best in fellowship with one another, we seek to form, promote, and support relational communities that at their core are Christ-centered and offer a place of belonging, caring, learning, worship, and accountability. (John 20:21, Hebrews 10:24-25).