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Jim Hightower is an ordained minister with standing in the United Church of Christ. His degrees are a Bachelor of Arts from  Shorter College, Master of Ministry from Earlham School of Religion and a Doctor of Education in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has served as  pastor of  several churches; a Pastoral Ministries Consultant with the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee; and as Minister of Pastoral Care at First Baptist Church Huntsville, Alabama.  Before becoming Director of the Chaplaincy Services Division with The Institute in 2003, He served as the Director,  Pastoral Counseling Division, The McFarland Institute

Dr. Hightower  is the author of  Voices from the Old Testament, co-author of A Time For Change?  Revisioning Your Call published by the Alban Institute, and Editor of Caring for People From Birth to Death published by The Haworth Press.  He is the compiler of Called to Care: Helping People Through Pastoral Care, Preaching that Heals: Pastoral Preaching for Hurting People and No One Told Me: An Honest Look at Ministry.  In addition he is the author of over 100 journal and magazine articles.

Hightower is an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Orleans in the Counselor Education program and at the Loyola Institute for Ministry in the State of Louisiana. He is a Licensed  Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Other certifications include Diplomate in The American Association of Pastoral Counselors, Approved Supervisor in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist,and he has been a Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains since 1978.