In his storied 50 years of service, Caviness instituted building drives and property purchases and has kept the church in the forefront of major social and community issues.
Staff Reporter
Renowned pastor and civic leader the Reverend Emmitt Theophilus Caviness celebrated 50 years as pastor of the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church located on the east side of Cleveland.
The celebration was kicked off with a special unveiling of a street named in his honor. His church now sits on the corner of East 105th and the Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness Way.
The 50th anniversary just happen to fall on the same weekend as the dedication of the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C. Caviness worked with King in the fight for civil rights in the 60s.
Many political dignitaries came in to help Caviness celebrate including Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Judges Angela Stokes, Pauline Tarver, retired judges Sara Harper and George Trumbo, and the City of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson who presented Caviness with a key to the city.
A special tribute to Caviness came from Deacon Donald and Sherry Oliver who talked about the many years their pastor has been preaching and teaching while at Greater Abyssinia.
“But to us Rev. Caviness, especially during these hard times, your teaching… your preaching… and knowing God’s love for us makes this world bearable,” said the Olivers.
Rev. Gerald Kisner gave the morning message while many of the members stayed for dinner before the afternoon program that started with an interview Caviness did a few years ago about his journey from Texas to Cleveland.
Since 1961, he has served as pastor of the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio’s Glenville Community. Caviness has a long history of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. He currently serves as the president of the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and serves as the board chair of the National Action Network Local Chapter.
“I am humbled at this great out pouring of love for me and my family,” said Caviness.
In his storied 50 years of service, Caviness instituted building drives and property purchases and has kept the church in the forefront of major social and community issues.
He is a former member of the board of directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). In addition to his work in the religious community, he has served on the Executive Board of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Cleveland, the Planning Board of the Glenville Area Council, the Sewer Board of Cleveland.
He also worked as the executive assistant to George V. Voinovich, former mayor of Cleveland and served two terms as chairman of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission under then Governor, George V. Voinovich.
Caviness was born on May 23, 1928 in Marshall, Texas. His parents were Lula Page and Will “Spon” Caviness. Caviness earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. He also holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Grove, Missouri, an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Virginia Seminary and College as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Central State University in Ohio.
Caviness was married for forty-one years to concert recording artist, educator and minister of music, James “Jimmie” Pitts Caviness.
He has a son, the Rev. Theophilus James Caviness who co-pastors at Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church along side of his father. He also has a daughter Theodosia Jacqueline Caviness-Tucker and five grandchildren, Roderic Frilot Caviness, Theophilus James Caviness, Jr., Stephen Alexander Caviness, Chelsea Tucker, and Theana Caviness.
