James E. Clanton, Jr.

Reverend James Earl Clanton, Jr. was born in Littleton, North Carolina to the late James E. and Ruth M. Clanton. He is a product of the Halifax County public schools. He matriculated at North Carolina State University and later earned his Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College. He has completed graduate classes towards the Masters of Divinity at Shaw Divinity School. Reverend Clanton retired from UPS on February 28th, 2017 after being employed there for thirty-six years. He is a proud and active member of the Phi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

He responded to the divine call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was licensed to preach the gospel at Christian Faith Baptist Church in Raleigh under the pastor, Reverend Dr. David C. Forbes, Sr., on May 22, 1994. He was ordained on October 7, 2001. He served as the Pastor of First Baptist Church New Hill in New Hill, North Carolina from December 2001 to July 2014. Heeding the direction of God and the desires of the Wake Baptist Grove Church congregation, Reverend Clanton became pastor at Wake Baptist Grove Church in Garner, North Carolina on
August 1, 2014. He was officially installed on September 28, 2014.

Reverend Clanton served as the Vice Moderator of District Three in the New Hope Missionary Baptist Association from 2006 to July 2014. As the Vice Moderator, he led ten churches in following the doctrine of the association and the vision of the association moderator. After two years of pastoral leadership at Wake Baptist Grove Church, on August 20, 2016, he was elected to serve as Vice President of the Union of the Wake Missionary Baptist Association. On August 17, 2019, he was elected and currently serves as the Fourth Vice Moderator of the Wake Missionary Baptist Association.