Pastor Emanuel Cleaver III

Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III is the oldest of four children born to Dianne and Reverend Emanuel Cleaver II. The accomplished graduate of Philander Smith College received his B.A. in political science; accepted his calling into the ministry in 1995; and is now an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. After completing the Master of Divinity degree at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in May of 1999, Cleaver served as pastor of Longview for three years and was then appointed to St. Andrew, both United Methodist Churches in Kansas City. In 2004 Dr. Cleaver became the proud pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church. During his tenure at this prestigious congregation, he received his doctorate of ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology. Under his leadership this great church, located in the historic 18^th & Vine Jazz District of Kansas City, Missouri, made renovations to its facility, including the installation of an elevator and started a weekly Saturday evening hip hop worship celebration. On July 1, 2008 Dr. Cleaver joined his father as the co-pastor of the 2,600 member St. James UMC in Kansas City and now serves as the senior pastor.

The dynamic clergyman is involved in several organizations and has served on numerous boards including the Concerned Clergy Coalition and the Methodist Minister’s Fellowship where he currently serves as president. Furthermore, Dr. Cleaver is a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church and he serves on the board of trustees for Philander Smith College. Cleaver has taught at Saint Paul School of Theology and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to frequent preaching, teaching, and lecturing engagements he has also had several works published in Unity and Circuit Rider Magazines as well as the Wesley Study Bible.

Dr. Cleaver is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of two boys and one girl, Emanuel IV, Isaac and Alayna. He is dedicated to spreading the “Good News” of love, hope, and justice found in the liberating power of Jesus Christ.

Education

Lewis Fellows, Wesley Theological Seminary (2009)
Doctor of Ministry, Saint Paul School of Theology (2007)
Master of Divinity, Methodist Theological School in Ohio (1999)
Bachelor of Arts, Philander Smith College (1993)

Denomination

United Methodist Church (UMC), Ordained Elder

Pastoral Experience

Pastor, St. James UMC, Kansas City, Missouri (2008-Present)
Pastor, Centennial UMC, Kansas City, Missouri (2004-2008)
Pastor, St. Andrew UMC, Kansas City, Missouri (2002-2004)
Pastor, Longview UMC, Kansas City, Missouri (1999-2002)
Associate Pastor, Epworth UMC, Columbus, Ohio (1998-1999)
Youth Pastor, St. James UMC, Kansas City, Missouri (1995-1997)

Publications

Where I’m From” (Poem) Unity Magazine October, 2000 Vol. 180 no. 10.
“Reaching the Hip-Hop Generation” Circuit Rider Magazine January/February 2007.
“True Greatness,” “Friendship,” “Thanksgiving,” & “Disappointment” Wesley Study Bible 2009.

Professional Membership and Boards

Concerned Clergy Coalition of Greater Kansas City (Vice President)
Methodist Minister’s Fellowship of Greater Kansas City (President, 2009-Present)
Black Methodists for Church Renewal
Philander Smith College Board of Trustees (2009-Present)

Denominational Leadership

Heartland Central District Committee on Ordained Ministry (2004-2008)
Missouri Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (2004-Present)
South Central Jurisdictional delegate (2008)

Prominent Invitations

Guest Lecturer for the 2005 Northwestern Missouri Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Preacher/bible study leader for the 2007 Missouri Area Minister’s School of the UMC.
Workshop Leader/preacher “Reaching Young Adults” for the 2007 South Central Jurisdictional Bishop’s Week.
Preacher for the 2008 South Central Jurisdictional Black Methodist for Church Renewal Conference.

Teaching Experience

Course of Study faculty, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MO (Summer 2007-Summer 2008)
Adjunct Professor, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Shawnee, KS (Fall 2008-Present)