Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III is pastor of St. James United Methodist Church.

Emanuel 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, St. Andrew, both 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 18th & Vine Jazz District of Kansas City, Missouri, made renovations to its facility, 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 serves on the board of trustees for Philander Smith College. Cleaver has taught at Saint Paul School of Theology and Central Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is frequently invited for preaching, teaching, and lecture 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.