Editorial Staff sits down with one of America's most respected pastoral voices.

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You've been in ministry for 30 years. What has surprised you most about the journey?

Bishop Clarke: I think what surprises me most is how much I'm still learning. I entered ministry thinking I would be the one teaching — and I have been — but the congregation teaches me constantly. The Holy Spirit works through the most unexpected people.

How has pastoral leadership changed over those three decades?

The expectation of the pastor has expanded dramatically. When I started, a pastor preached, visited the sick, and counseled. Today, you're expected to be a CEO, a therapist, a social media personality, a community activist, and still a shepherd. The weight is real.

What's your advice for pastors in their first decade?

Three things: stay in the Word for yourself, not just for your sermons. Build genuine relationships outside your congregation — you need peers who aren't your members. And find a mentor who will tell you the truth.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

I want people to say that Bishop Clarke loved the Church even when it was hard. That he built leaders, not followers. And that under his watch, people genuinely encountered God.