Calagnar Ironfist's page

You will have enough HP to take a few hits. I don't recommend wasting points on trying to get something that will not be effective past level 5.

Just a suggestion.
Str 8
Dex 10
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 14
Cha 18

This character has a buffed AC of 32 at level 8. And I still have a good chance of getting hit.

It's not worth given up the caster level progression.

I have played 3 different clerics with fighter level dip. Every time later I regretted the choice. As a battle cleric you still need spells that are your level to heal effectively in combat should the need arise. Plus delayed access to heal(The spell) is never a good idea. Unless you have a plan for what your character will gain/lose. I don't recommend multiclassing.

With that I am cleric that has a dip. Cleric(Divine Strategist)6 Monk(Sensei)2. This was something I planed when I made the character. Yes this character can not channel. This character was not made to fill the healing role. I made it as a divine offensive caster.
So now he has.
Initiative +11 Divine Strategist3 Improved Initiative4 Reactionary2 Dex2
Wis Mod = Will save, AC, To Hit(Unarmed Strike), Spell DC, Stunning Fist DC.
unbuffed AC 20 Buffed AC 34
Unarmed Strike to hit +12 (Damage is a joke) Stunning Fist DC20 + Touch spell discharge.(normally bestow curse)

As a casting cleric. I can tell you the low levels hurt really bad. There are a few choice spells to look at.
1st level
Command, Murderous Command (One of the best spells ever!)
2nd level
Burst of Radiance, Hold Person, Sound Burst, Spear of Purity, Spiritual Weapon

I will suggest spending gold on a few items.
1: Rod of Lesser Metamagic Extend : Spiritual Weapon, or Murderous Command + Extend= Happy Cleric.
2: Pearls of Power : Recalling extra Murderous Commands per adventuring day is very nice. The proper amount you should have one or two Murderous commands per fight.

Far fights are for amateurs. Real fighters take every advantage they can get. Death is counter productive to your health.

[Edit]
For actions. Get use to delaying, or moving your self to the right place. Playing a full caster is not about casting spells every round. It is about casting the right spells each time. You can play a more effective caster if you cast one, or two of the right spells each encounter. Over just casting spells because you want something to do.

You will need to make him at min level 12 or CR 10 to have a low level encounter for that group. If you want him to challenge the group you will need to make him at least level 15 or CR 13.

At level 7 I have a buffed AC of 31. With the higher levels I will be looking at a mid 30s to low 40s AC. This is with a 20 point buy so I will lose one point of AC and Save DC with 15 point buy.