Rev. James Harper

Rev. Harper grew up in a segregated South and was shaped by that racially unjust society. A keen student of Jungian thought who models deep commitment to human growth and development, he continually recognizes and embraces his own shadow material.  Dr. Harper considers himself a recovering racist.     

Rev. Harper is a master teacher and learned listener.  With a deep commitment to kindness, he is a strong advocate for continuing education and assists those striving to become more than what they imagined they could be.  African American, 

An African American female pastor, former student, and colleague now serving as Palliative Care Chaplain at University Health writes: “In the years that I have known Dr. Harper, he has been an advocate for minority and marginalized people. He has made sure that volunteers are recognized and celebrated annually for their service. He has made sure that there were summer programs to provide youth with meaningful opportunities to serve the community while receiving credit for volunteer hours of service needed for college applications. “ Rev. Harper’s impact is consistently felt as he encourages and supports the minority and marginalized community within the walls and outside the walls of Research Medical Center (RMC), one of Kansas City’s premier hospitals serving the urban core, where he chose to serve most of his career.  

Rev. Dr. Jim Harper was certified in 1980 as a full CPE supervisor by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).  Since then, he has served at three CPE centers:  Athens, GA.; Charlotte, NC.; and in Kansas City, MO.  With a professional chaplaincy career spanning forty-two years, Dr. Harper has served the ACPE at the regional and national level for most of the last 30 years. He was appointed to a select task force to help write the Spiritual Care Collaborative Common Standards, systemically integrating the standards of various chaplaincy cognate groups throughout North America.  

Rev. Harper’s community involvement has included service on the Board of Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care; on the Professional Advisory Committee of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program (based at Jewish Family Services); on ACPE Accreditation, Standards, Ethics committees.  Rev. Harper has been a stalwart advocate for the Racial Ethnic Multicultural Network of the ACPE (REM).  After Hurricane Katrina, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans to help rebuild homes. Dr. Harper has served as adjunct Faculty at three local seminaries (all of different denominations). 

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