Remembering Dr. James Butare
Dr. Yalin Xin
At the end of 2025 we lost an esteemed member of our adjunct faculty, James Butare. Our deepest condolences to Dr. James Butare’s family: James’s wife, Julie, and James’s children, Edgar, Elizabeth, Frances, and Daniel
As the Dean of Doctoral Studies at William Carey International University, I have known Dr. James Butare for 15 years through our friendship and working relationship in the PhD program at WCIU.
James was a professor and member of the PhD Committee at WCIU. His contribution to the PhD program was invaluable. His books are still in the curriculum: International Development from a Kingdom Perspective (2010) and International Development from an Integrative Perspective (2011). I have those fond memories of our time together when James and his family still lived in Pasadena, literally across the street from me. I always enjoyed hearing his life experiences and perspectives on international development and appreciated how he engaged the biblical, historical, and cultural lenses in the conversations. James was exceptionally insightful.
In addition to his broad international experience and academic expertise, James was passionate about empowering scholar-practitioners through his mentorship and academic advising. He journeyed with the doctoral students with unwavering support and love, often through challenging terrain and walking extra miles. He left us with examples of how faith was lived out in academia.
Here are some words from a few of Dr. Butare’s former colleagues at WCIU:
“I respected so much James' love and commitment for his students, and his scholarship revealed his devotion to the gospel. James encapsulated WCIU's special brand of "international development" in his writings, shaped our curriculum for a decade, and kept us anchored to a biblical vision of shalom” (Dr. Grace May)
“I always enjoyed working with James. He was a man with a broad cultural experience of both African and Western culture. He applied his deep biblical and theological knowledge to culture—his commitment to mentor emerging leaders and doctoral students as they advance the global work of the Kingdom of God. James was a humble, gracious, patient, father, husband, friend, and man of God. He is our loss but Heaven’s gain” (Dr. Bill Bjoraker).
“While many of us at the WCIU community did not get to know James well, we are grateful to God for his invaluable contribution to the life of our students. We are deeply saddened at the suddenness of his homegoing and extend our condolences to both the family and all those who knew him intimately. His legacy will live on in the lives of the many he touched” (WCIU Board and Community).
Rest in peace, James. You have played your part well in the Kingdom Project at WCIU, and your legacy will live on with us and in the lives you touched, as we continue this mission to empower scholar-practitioners in developing transformational solutions to the root causes of human problems around the world.
