Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III was appointed Senior Pastor of St. James in July 2009. A dynamic teacher and preacher, Dr. Cleaver leads by word and example. He is devoted to advancing God’s Kingdom by teaching and living a life of love.His leadership has led to many changes and new programs. These include:
- Retirement of 40 Acres and a Mule Campus debt.
- Renovation of the church kitchen.
- Adoption of the Simplified Structure of the church Leadership Board.
- Quarterly State of the Church gatherings to share ministry and financial updates with the congregation.
- Pray Woke, a weekly conference call for prayer and meditation.
- Construction of the Emanuel Cleaver II Senior Living Center, a 52-unit retirement community at the 40 Acres Campus.
- Allies for Racial Justice, a partnership with Resurrection, A United Methodist Church.
- Embarking on a capital campaign to eliminate the $1.8 million mortgage.
- Loads of Love, a partnership with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church to provide free laundry service to the Blue Hills Community.
- Dropping Knowledge, weekly social media posts of frequently asked questions.