The Rev. James F. Dowd was pastor of the Church of the Covenant from September, 1989 through June, 2003. He was attracted by Covenant's remarkable opportunities for urban and campus ministries as a multiracial congregation with a faithful history of community outreach.

A native of nearby Massillon, Ohio, Jim Dowd earned degrees at Cornell University and the Yale Divinity School and did sabbatical study at the Harvard Divinity School and Eden Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Betty, a Cornell classmate, have three married children and seven grandchildren.

Two earlier pastorates in Columbus, Ohio and Urbana, Illinois also combined urban and campus ministries. Throughout his ministry Jim Dowd gave first place to preaching, believing that God continues to speak to us through the witness of Scripture, sermon and sacrament. His sermons addressed the Biblical witness to our contemporary needs for purpose, meaning, comfort, and challenge.

In addition to serving as pastor and head of staff at Covenant, Jim Dowd provided leadership to InterAct Cleveland (formerly ESIM), United Protestant Campus Ministries (UPCaM), and the Presbytery of the Western Reserve.

In his retirement, he is spoiling both his grandchildren and his golf game and he thoroughly enjoys music, theater, and sports.

 
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