Rev. Laurice A. Valentine
Reverend Valentine joined the staff of St. James U.M.C. in August 2006. She is a native
of Kansas City, MO. She graduated number 10 in the class of 1973 from Central High School.
She was awarded an academic scholarship to attend Grinnell College, in Grinnell, IA, where
she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1976. In 1979 she completed
studies at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI, graduating with honors with a
Master of Arts degree, with an emphasis in Business Management & Supervision. In 1991,
she graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, KS, having earned a
Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis in Religious Education and Pastoral Counseling.
In August 2006, Rev. Valentine enrolled at Faith Bible College in Independence, MO, where
she is pursing a doctorate degree in Christian Counseling.
Rev. Valentine was ordained to the Christian ministry in October 1991, through the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Central Christian Church in Kansas City,
MO, where she remains a member and serves as an Elder.
Currently she serves as the Minister of Counseling at St. James. Utilizing the power
of God to achieve the purposes of God she is responsible for providing and ensuring
the delivery of Christian counseling for individuals/couples/families/groups with
diverse cultural, socio-economic backgrounds, and life stages, including but not
limited to pre-marital, marital/couple, parenting, relationship issues, addictions
or compulsions, stress, anger, anxiety, depression, bereavement, and infidelity.
Also, since January 2006, Rev. Valentine has served with Children's Connection, a
program of 40 Acres and A Mule, Inc. In August 2006, Rev. Valentine became the
Director of Children's Connection, an afterschool mentoring and leadership development
program that serves children with an incarcerated parent. Primary duties include
outcome measurement, fundraising, program development, and volunteer recruitment
and management.
Rev. Valentine has an extensive background in the areas of youth and community
development having served for over 25 years with several national and local
nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Children's Connection, she served as
Director of Program Services with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City,
and American Humanics, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to
educate and certify undergraduate students for careers in the nonprofit sector.
Rev. Valentine was blessed to serve with the YMCA of Greater Kansas from January
of 1995 until May 2000. She served as the first director of Blue Hills Together
AmeriCorps, which worked with residents of the Blue Hills Neighborhood Association
in the area of public safety. Blue Hills Together achieved local and national
recognition as a model AmeriCorps program. Then, in 1996, she assumed additional
responsibility by becoming the director of the Forest Avenue YMCA center. In April
of 1997, she was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President of the
Community Development Division. Her responsibility expanded to include operational
oversight of Forest Avenue and Linwood YMCA, and youth development & community
development operations for the Blue Hills Neighborhood and Longview YMCA. In
December of 1998, she became the Division Director of Community Based Operations
for the Community Development Division. Her responsibilities expanded to include
operations of youth and community development opportunities throughout the Association
and in the city of Kansas City, KS. Laurice earned the prestigious certification
of Senior Director Status with the YMCA, having completed the requirements in November
of 1976.
Other past areas of employment for her include service as a police officer in
Kansas City, MO; as a program director with Camp Fire Boys and Girls; a
counselor/monitor with the Full Employment Council; and as the founder and
president of a family owned janitorial & lawn care business. Rev. Valentine is a
licensed multi-line insurance agent, having been appointed as a registered agent
[Series 6 & 63] with The Horace Mann Companies, a multi-line insurance and
securities firm, based in Springfield, IL, and several other insurance companies.
Rev. Valentine's belief that "to whom much is given, much is required" has compelled
her to be actively involved in several faith-based, civic and social organizations.
Currently, she serves as a member of the board of the Major Taylor Foundation of
Greater Kansas City. She has served on the board of directors of the D.R.E.A.M.
Center and as a regional representative with the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Kansas City, MO. In 2004, Laurice served as the campaign manager for a
candidate seeking election to the Missouri House of Representatives. In 1998, she
was honored as a professional caregiver through receipt of the prestigious
Symbols of Caregiver's Award, having been nominated be one of her staff members.
Additionally, she was inducted into the Greater Kansas City's Women's Foundation
in 1998. She served in June of 2002 as the Chaplain for the City Council, City
of Kansas City, MO. She has also served as a hospice volunteer. Additionally,
she is a member of the Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated.
For pleasure and relaxation, Reverend Valentine enjoys traveling, listening to
and singing gospel music, and spending time with family and friends. She is a
world traveler, having journeyed to Africa, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, as well
as to 42 of the 50 United States, most notably Alaska and Hawaii. Cruising and
riding the train are her preferred means of travel, but looks forward to the day
when she can traverse the United States in a "luxury" motor home playing her theme
song, "On the road again".
Reverend Valentine has many favorite scriptures, however, the nearest and
dearest is found in Isaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall
run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
