Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, pastor of the St. James United Methodist Church, will be reducing his role as the acting pastor. Cleaver has done an incredible job in leading this group of congregants for better than 35 years. To me, his efforts as a minister are just as important, if not more, than his civic and political accomplishments.
Ministry is hard work. There are plenty of highs and lows that one will have as they lead a group of people in a church setting. The challenge is that you are with the people every week. There is no “running away” as the pastor. You have to take the good with the bad. The fact that he has served with dignity over these past few decades, speak to the kind of man that he is.
Cleaver, along with his wife, raised their family in Kansas City, and primarily, at St. James. For Rev. Cleaver to make the decision to move into a reduced role, while his preacher son takes on a more visible position in the ministry, takes great foresight. Many ministers today are of the belief that they need to hold on to the reins for as long as they have breath in their bodies. We all have to check out of here at some point.
The members deserve a full-time pastor. That is what Cleaver mentioned to the people today. The transition will occur over time. The gradual move will help the people deal with the change. It is far better to do it this way, versus just staying in the position and then dying one day and there is no plan of succession in motion.
I have only been to Cleaver’s church once. It had to be around 10-12 years ago, from what I remember. I was there to support a friend of mine who had to play an instrument at one of their services. I noticed that it was a very beautiful church. It is always good to note that progress isn’t an overnight phenomenon. They say that when he started pastoring that church, that they had around 25 members.
They have obviously grown over the years. We hope that his son will be able to step into the shoes that he’s due to wear and will take the opportunity to grow with the church as they embark upon the next phase of servanthood.
Job well done, Mr. Pastor. Thanks for all of your efforts down through the years.
