It’s rare to have the same gig for sixty years. It’s even rarer when the job is one that is regularly, even consistently in the spotlight. And it is rarest of all when the man on the job and in the spotlight for those sixty years shows nary a sign of slowing down or even the slightest dip in energy and enthusiasm as the Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness.

Chances are you may know someone named Theophilus other than the Reverend or his son [see Luke 1:3 or Acts 1:1], but it is as certain as death and taxes that you have never encountered anyone with his unique amalgam of longevity, indefatigability, and grandiloquence.

Dr. E. T. was honored October 31, 2021 on the occasion of his 60th anniversary as leader and pastor of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church with a festive banquet at the Mediterranean Event Center in Bedford Heights.

The honoree arrived in grand style in a tuxedo and full grey mink coat, escorted by his grandchildren. Guests from as far away as California were in attendance to celebrate their connections to Rev. Caviness. They were joined by a bevy of local elected officials.

In lieu of a keynote, many of the estimated 150 guests were invited to share two-minute vignettes of their relationship with the honoree. Some managed to honor the time limit. One of them was Shontel Brown, graciously but somewhat prematurely introduced by master of ceremonies Terry Butler (her former principal at John Adams HS) as our “newest member of Congress from the 11th Congressional District”. Brown presented a resolution from Cuyahoga County Council honoring Caviness for his life’s work.

Highlights of Caviness’ career outside his Glenville-area pulpit include his service on Cleveland City Council and as director of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. He currently leads the local chapters of both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Action Network.

In 2019, he was featured with a special exhibit, “Rev. E. Theophilus Caviness: Church, Community, Cleveland”, at the Cleveland History Center. The native of Marshall, Texas is also the subject of an extensive profile at The History Makers, a digital repository of the black experience in America.

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