Elder Eric Clayton is the second of five children. He spent his formative years in Marrero, LA where he was reared in the home of Supt. and Mrs. Larry Clayton. It was in his parents’ home that he received the foundational teaching of holiness and was taught the value of having a God-centered life.
After graduating from L.W. Higgins High School, Elder Clayton matriculated through the Southern University system at New Orleans. At the age of 21, he received Christ as his Lord and Savior under the leadership of his late grandfather, Supt. Arthur D. Clayton, Jr., at Mosley Temple COGIC in Metairie, LA. It was there where he began his spiritual development. After the demise of Supt. A. Clayton, Jr., Elder Clayton continued to serve with his father, Supt. Larry Clayton.
In January 2003, after marrying the love of his life, Mrs. Lakeytha Guillory Clayton, he relocated to Baton Rouge, LA where he began to serve under the leadership of the late Bishop James E. Gordon. Later that year, Elder Clayton accepted his call to the ministry and preached his first message, “Keep the Faith”, on October 19, 2003. The opportunity to serve under such iconic leadership produced a sincere hunger in him to “inform and inspire” God’s people.
As a result, Bishop J.E. Gordon recognized Elder Clayton’s commitment, loyalty, and love for his leader and recommended he be licensed as an ordained Elder. In July 2007, Elder Clayton was licensed as an ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ.
After the demise of Bishop J. E. Gordon in April 2014, Elder Clayton continued to serve faithfully at Gordon Feltus Lazard Cathedral COGIC under the leadership of his “big brother”, Pastor Kenneth G. McKnight. He served as Assistant Pastor at GFL Cathedral COGIC until his reassignment by Bishop Alphonso Denson, Sr. to St. John Elizabeth Temple COGIC in December 2015. Elder Clayton served the St. John Elizabeth Temple COGIC faithfully alongside Pastor Bobby R. Brown until his appointment to St. Luke COGIC on January 15, 2017 by Bishop Alphonso Denson, Sr.
Elder Clayton has been blessed and privileged to serve in various ministerial capacities. He was appointed to serve as an Episcopal Adjutant to the Office of the Bishop and President of the Youth Department in Louisiana East First Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop J. E. Gordon. Today, Elder Clayton continues to serve in those capacities under the leadership of Bishop Alphonso Denson, Sr. In April 2016, he was also appointed Coordinator of the Young Preachers Network for the Southern Region in the Church of God in Christ by the Southern Regional President, Pastor Larry Lewis, Sr.
In addition to enjoying a wonderful relationship with his wife and serving in ministry, Elder Clayton also enjoys one of his greatest accomplishments of being a father to Eryka Chanelle and Caleb Joshua Eric Clayton.
Elder Clayton is extremely grateful to everyone who has poured into his life and to those who have paved the way for his generation. He believes in serving in love, with humility, and walking in the anointing that God has placed upon his life.
