BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Asked to relate the quality the late Sr. Pastor C. Hopeton Clennon of Central Moravian Church possessed that she would remember most, Rev. Janel Rice didn't hesitate.
"He had an extraordinary way of inspiring everyone to be a better person," said Rice, a pastor at Central Moravian. "He was a pastor, but also had the vision and foresight to be able to be an administrator and leader, as well."
Clennon, 63, died on Sunday at St. Luke's surrounded by family after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Clennon was installed as senior pastor of Central Moravian in January 2013.
A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the church.
"The best experience of him is how he would tune into people in times of crisis."Pastor Janel Rice, Central Moravian Church, on the passing of Sr. Pastor C. Hopeton Clennon
After serving eight years at Calvary Moravian Church in Allentown, Rice returned to Central Moravian Church in September to serve with Clennon, with whom she previously served 10 years.
"We knew how seriously ill he was," Rice said. "When I saw him last week, he asked how our daughter was doing rather than talking about how he was doing.
"I use the line from poet Emily Dickinson to describe him: Hope inspires the good to reveal itself. He had the ability to have people look inside themselves to find their own gifts. The best experience of him is how he would tune into people in times of crisis."
“Surrounded by his family, they shared that he was at peace as he passed. Our hearts are grieving for a pastor, a bishop, a friend and a person bigger than any words can describe him," said a statement shared by the Central Moravian Church with the congregation.
Born in Jamaica, Clennon was a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the United Theological College of the West Indies. He was ordained in 1983 and served the Jamaica Province of the Moravian Church before moving to the United States in 1989.
Clennon previously served as pastor of Faith Moravian Church in Washington, DC., Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA, and the Moravian Church of Downey, near Los Angeles, CA.
In 1998, he was made the 320th bishop of the worldwide Moravian Unity.
Prior to joining the staff at Central Moravian Church, Clennon also served as Chaplain of Moravian University (previously Moravian College) and Moravian Theological Seminary.
Jim Makovetz is vice chair of the Schoeneck Moravian Church Board of Elders. A church member since 1988, he served on the board when Clennon was hired as pastor in 1994, a position he held until 2000.
“It was interesting, his time here,” Makovetz said on Monday. “He came from Faith Moravian Church in Washington, D.C; someone coming from a large congregation to a smaller one like Schoeneck was a bit concerning.”
Those concerns quickly dissipated, Makovetz said, upon spending time with Clennon.
“But once you met him, all of that went away,” he said. “He was dynamic. He was infectious. He was a joy to be with. He could also be demanding.
“But by the same token, you could always talk to him. He always had an ear for you. If anything was going on in your life, he would listen.
“Our boys would play together and were in Sunday school together. They got along fabulously. And he and his wife were just a pleasure to be with.”
Makovetz said he last spoke with Clennon about three or four months ago, ironically at the funeral of another Moravian pastor who died from pancreatic cancer.
“We had heard he was not feeling well, but had no idea to what extent he had cancer.” Makovetz said.
Early Monday, Clennon was remembered by the Moravian Church of Lebanon.
“If you never met Hopeton, you missed knowing one of the remarkable Moravian leaders of our day, a Facebook post read.
It was among the many remembrances posted to social media as word of Clennon’s passing spread.
"Bishop Hopeton was a wonderful brother, and was a glorious beacon of Christ's light in this world. Please be in prayer for his wife, Shelia, who is equally as wonderful and loved, as she navigates this difficult, sudden loss, as well as the Unity as a whole," Bethania Moravian Church posted.
