The issue, as I see it, is you want something 1.) Relatively uncomplicated so you can focus more on getting used to 4e and 2.) You don't want a TPK repeat. A Pacifist Cleric, properly built, is basically the anti-death of a party. Your party simply can't die if you're conscious. In addition to that you really need a second front liner because your party is mostly squishy, but being a front liner means you need solid defenses. The good armored options are Valor Bard (decent defenses, tons of surges to make up for the only decent part), Melee Cleric (or Warpriest), and Warlord. Warlord would be my first choice for a melee leader, but...
So here:
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Warpriest you will absolutely not regret.
Or this Inspiring Warlord I whipped up. Enjoy.
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 11
Dragonborn, Warlord, Battlelord of Kord
Build: Inspiring Warlord
Warlord: Battlefront Leader
Commanding Presence: Inspiring Presence
Dragonborn Racial Power: Dragonfear
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 12, Dex 14, Int 11, Wis 9, Cha 21.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 11, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16.
AC: 29 Fort: 26 Reflex: 24 Will: 26
HP: 74 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 19
TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate +17, Heal +9, Athletics +13, Endurance +9
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +5, Arcana +5, Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Dungeoneering +4, History +7, Insight +4, Nature +4, Perception +4, Religion +5, Stealth +5, Streetwise +10, Thievery +5
FEATS
Level 1: Armored Warlord
Level 2: Improved Inspiring Word
Level 4: Heavy Blade Expertise
Level 6: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Improved Defenses
Level 10: Weapon Proficiency (Bastard sword)
Level 11: Fight On
POWERS
Warlord at-will 1: Intuitive Strike
Warlord at-will 1: Rousing Assault
Warlord encounter 1: Vengeance is Mine
Warlord daily 1: Lamb to the Slaughter
Warlord utility 2: Inspired Belligerence
Warlord encounter 3: Warlord's Strike
Warlord daily 5: Stand the Fallen
Warlord utility 6: Rousing Words
Warlord encounter 7: Fierce Reply
Warlord daily 9: Warlord's Recovery
Warlord utility 10: Reactive Surge
ITEMS
Drakescale Armor, Heavy Shield, Magic Wyvernscale Armor +3, Magic Bastard sword +3, Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier), Amulet of Protection +3
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