St. James continued its growth, and once again outgrew a sanctuary’s capacity for worship. After much prayer and planning the course was made clear, a new sanctuary was needed. On November 3, 2001, the St. James congregation moved into a new sanctuary expansion which allowed us a worship setting for over 1,000 persons. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District in 2005. Rev. Cleaver announced his intention to retire in June 2008. In July 2008, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III was appointed co-pastor.
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-acre 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.