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Jim Forest became interested in writing and publications at an early age as he involved himself in newspaper printing and distribution. He became interested in Christianity at the age of twelve and was baptized at an Episcopal parish in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

It wasn't until he had joined the U. S. Navy that he began to see his life in religious terms. In 1960, he joined the Roman Catholic Church while working in a Navy component of the U. S. Weather Service in Washington, D. C. Soon, he asked for an early discharge from the Navy as a conscientious objector, After his discharge in 1961, he joined the Catholic Worker community in New York City and became managing editor of the The Catholic Worker.

His interest continued in media work, including working for the Religious News Service. At the same time he developed an interest in peace advocacy. In 1965, he founded the Catholic Peace Fellowship that made known the option of conscientious objection during the Vietnam War. Forest was imprisoned during a thirteen month period in 1969 and 1970 due to his involvement with the "Milwaukee Fourteen".

In 1973, he was editor of Fellowship the magazine of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Then, in 1977, he headed the staff of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and was General Secretary of the IFOR for twelve years.

During the 1979s, he taught at the New York Theological Seminary and the College of New Rochelle. In 1985, he taught at the Ecumenical Institute at Tantur, near Jerusalem. Forest has led retreats in the United States and England as well as lectured extensively at parishes, theological schools, colleges, and universities.

During the 1980s, he traveled widely throughout the Soviet Union, witnessing the final days of the USSR. His experiences in the Soviet Union influenced his views greatly resulting in his becoming an Orthodox Christian in 1988, after which he took the position of international secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship.

In 1989, he received the Peacemaker Award from Notre Dame University's Institute for International Peace Studies. He is also the recipient of the St. Marcellus Award presented annually by the Catholic Peace Fellowship.

After several years of being treated by kidney illness, in October 2007 Jim received a transplanted kidney donated by his wife, Nancy. He is the father of six children and grandfather of five. Since 1977 his home has been in Alkmaar, Holland, a city northwest of Amsterdam.