In 1982, James Ayong earned his diploma in Theology from Newton College, in Papua New Guinea. He would earn a Bachelor of Theology from Martin Luther Seminary, in Lae. Martin Luther Seminary is a joint clergy-training venture of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea and the Gutnius Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea.
He earned his Master of Arts degree from Chichester Theological College, in England, in 1994.
At the time of his birth Australian New Guinea (the northern half of eastern New Guinea and the New Guinea Islands) was under occupation by the forces of Japan during World World War II and Japanese forces and Papuan tribesman sympathetic to the Japanese cause had recently executed the New Guinea Martyrs. Local Government Officer Purchasing Officer and Radio Operator for the Anglican Diocesan Office in Lae, 1976–1980 Ordination training at Newton College, 1980–1982 Assistant priest, Lae, 1982–1987 Lecturer in Old Testament Studies and Theology, Newton College, 1987–1989 Principal, Newton College, 1989–1993 Chichester Theological College, England, 1993–1994 Parish Priest of Gerehu, 1994–1995 Bishop of Aipo Rongo, 1995 to date Archbishop of Papua New Guinea 1996 to 2009.
