Centenary's pastor leaving for new assignment

When Centenary United Methodist Church senior pastor Clayton Smith came to Cape Girardeau eight years ago, he never expected to attend his own funeral.

Church member Christy Howard said Smith had his 50th birthday shortly after he became Centenary's pastor, so several members of the congregation decided to give him a surprise. To mark Smith's milestone birthday, the group borrowed a casket from a local funeral home, carried candles and walked by his house pretending to cry and wail.

"I'm sure it was interesting, not having been here a very long time and having his congregation welcome him in that way," Howard said.

This time, however, Howard said much of the congregation truly is sad -- sad to see him leave. Smith will finish his ministry at Centenary on Aug. 31 to begin work as the executive pastor of stewardship development at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan.

"It is a new position, and for that reason it is a wonderful opportunity for me to use my 34 years of experience in churches in Missouri," Smith said.

He was appointed to the 13,000-member church by the United Methodist Church's Missouri bishop.

In Smith's time at Centenary, he has seen many changes, including the creation of separate contemporary and traditional worship services, major building renovations, and a greater emphasis on mission outreach to Nicaragua and other countries.

"The last year has been the best of my ministry," Smith said.

Originally from Chillicothe, Mo., Smith said he felt called to the ministry at a young age. He attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo., before going to seminary at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He received his doctorate in 1995 from McCormick Seminary in Chicago.

Outside of formal ministry, Smith also has served as a member of the Southeast Chapter of the Red Cross board of directors and as a past president of the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance. He has worked with Project Hope, the Downtown Council of Churches and is the past president of the Downtown Rotary Club. Currently, he is the chair of the Downtown Rotary Club's Centennial Committee.

Downtown Rotary Club president Rick Hetzel said as the Centennial Committee chairman, Smith has organized the development of a brochure about several historical plaques around Cape Girardeau and has helped to replace two of those plaques.

"He is one of those rare individuals that can always be counted on," Hetzel said.

Smith takes with him his wife, Lori, who works as the administrative assistant for the Southeast Missouri district of the United Methodist Church, and their two children, Lindsey and Blaine.

wmcferron@semissourian.com