Bishop Clifford C. Dunlap was born April 10, 1930 to the late William and Jannie Dunlap in Detroit, Michigan. He received his education in the Ferndale Public Schools in Ferndale, Michigan and later entered the United States Army in 1951, during the Korean conflict.

Bishop Dunlap accepted Christ in 1946 at Indiana Avenue Church of God In Christ during a revival conducted by the late Elder Jason Owens. He later worshipped at Greater Love Tabernacle Church of God In Christ, pastored by the late Bishop William Rimson until the early 1960's when the Lord directed him back to Indiana Avenue Church of God In Christ pastored by Elder Ozie A. Evans.

Bishop Dunlap was ordained as a deacon by Elder O.A. Evans in the early 1960's and called to the ministry in 1972. He was ordained an Elder in 1975 by the late Bishop C.L. Anderson, Jr. and served as Assistant Pastor of Indiana Avenue Church of God In Christ. He served in several positions including Coordinator and teacher of the Great Lakes Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Institute Hour for more than 20 years, Founder of the Ministerial Support Committee and Chairman of the Elders Council.

Bishop Dunlap was officially installed Pastor of Greater Love Tabernacle Church of God In Christ on July 24, 1990, by the late Bishop C.L. Anderson, Jr. Under his leadership, the church has outreach ministries that extend to many churches in the Metropolitan Detroit area and as far away as Liberia, West Africa.

Bishop Dunlap was appointed Superintendent of the Deliverance District in 1998 by the late Bishop C.L. Anderson, Jr. In 2000, Bishop Dunlap was appointed Administrative Assistant and later Special Assistant to the Bishop by the late Bishop Walter E. Bogan, Sr.

Following the demise of Bishop Walter E. Bogan, Sr. (January 2006), on Saturday, March 18, 2006, the pastors of Michigan Great Lakes First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, selected (by acclamation) then Administrative Assistant Clifford C. Dunlap to succeed Bishop Bogan as prelate of the Jurisdiction in a meeting presided over by Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson. Bishop Dunlap was officially consecrated to the Bishopric during the 99th Annual Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee on Monday, November 13, 2006 by the Presiding Bishop and General Board.

Married for 54 years to Annis Lucille Neal Dunlap, they are the parents of nine children, twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.