St James AME Church, Elgin, Illinois

A native of Chicago, Clinton was raised in the United Methodist Church (UMC) where he attended Sunday School, was a part of the Boy Scouts of America, and Troop 534. He graduated from Lindblom Technical High School (LTHS) and matriculated through Tuskegee Institute/University taking advantage of engineering scholarships graduating in May, 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), and got married to the love of his life, Darlene Annette Dyson, June 1986.

Clinton immediately began working in Corporate America at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and after 4 years, in 1990 began working as a consultant for the next 25 years; that same year Clinton and Darlene’s only child, Marquita Renee Ward was born. During his time as a consultant and after running for years, Clinton finally answered the call to preach in 2000 under our former Presiding Elder, my father in ministry, the Reverend J. Leon Thorn. While at St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), Clinton served as the Tuesday Night Bible Study Teacher, an Intermediates Sunday School Teacher, an Usher; worked with the Homeless Ministry; sang with the Voices of Levi; led the Married Couples Ministry, served on the Steward Board, and was the Pastor’s Steward.

Clinton began seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (G-ETS) in 2002, was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 2004, graduated with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in May, 2006, was ordained an Itinerant Elder and received his first pastoral appointment in September 2006, all while working full-time.

Clinton began his pastorate at Celia Gregg Memorial AMEC, Calumet City, IL where he pastored for 2 years; was appointed to Wayman Memorial AMEC, Chicago, IL where he pastored for 11 years; was appointed to Davis Memorial AMEC where he served for 2 years; on October 1, 2021, at the 139^th Session of the Chicago Annual Conference, Clinton was appointed to St. James AMEC. Clinton brings all of his gifts into his ministry.

Pastor Ward and his beloved wife, Darlene have been married for 35 years and are parents of one child, and two granddaughters.