Otis Moss III facts for kids

Otis Moss III was born on September 16, 1970. He is a well-known pastor who leads the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He believes in and teaches about black theology. This is a way of understanding faith that focuses on the experiences and struggles of Black people. He also works to connect with and help young Black people in cities.

Growing Up and Learning

Otis Moss III comes from a family of important leaders. His father, Otis Moss Jr., worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. They were part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His father even served as a co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church with Martin Luther King Sr.

School Days and Sports

Otis Moss III grew up in a town called Shaker Heights, Ohio. After finishing Shaker Heights High School, he went to Morehouse College in Georgia. At first, he studied political science and film. He even thought about becoming a filmmaker!

He was also a talented runner. The NCAA recognized him as an All-American Track and Field athlete. While practicing track, he felt a strong calling to become a minister. Because of this, he changed his studies to religion and philosophy. He graduated with honors in 1992.

Higher Education and Faith

After Morehouse, he went to Yale University in Connecticut. In 1995, he earned a Master of Divinity degree. This degree focused on ethics and theology. At Yale, he became very interested in the ideas of black theology from a thinker named James H. Cone. In 1995, his father officially ordained him as a Baptist minister.

Moss then moved to Denver to continue his studies. He planned to get a Ph.D. in religion and social change. However, he decided to start working full-time in ministry before finishing his degree. In Denver, he became the minister for youth programs at the New Hope Baptist Church. A recording of one of his sermons from a youth event was shared. This led to him being invited to lead the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia.

His Work as a Pastor

Leading Tabernacle Baptist Church

In 1997, Moss became the pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. This church was founded in 1885. During the Civil Rights Movement, it was an important local center for change.

When Moss first arrived, the church had 125 members. By the time he left in 2006, it had grown to 2,100 members! Many of these new members were young people who had not been part of a church before. While he was there, the church also did a big project to fix up their old building.

He also sometimes exchanged pulpits with the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Augusta. This was a way for different churches to connect.

In 2002, he received a special award for his great community service, preaching, and sharing his faith. The award came with $25,000. He was nominated by a historian who thought he was one of the best speakers they had heard. Three Presbyterian groups give out this award.

During this time, Moss was involved with many religious and community groups. He was a member of the NAACP. This is a group that works for the rights of Black people. He also served on the boards of the local United Way and Augusta's Black history museum.

Leading Trinity United Church of Christ

Moss received two important job offers. One was to take over from his father as pastor at the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The other was to move to Chicago's Trinity United Church. This church is part of the United Church of Christ (UCC). It was led by Jeremiah Wright and had about 8,500 members. It was a very large church.

Moss said that after much prayer and thinking, he felt God wanted him to go to Chicago. So, in 2006, he moved there. He first worked as Wright's assistant. On March 9, 2008, Moss began to lead the regular church services at Trinity. He officially became the senior pastor in May 2009.

In early 2007, Moss helped write a book called The Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation. This book was about how to share faith with young people who enjoy hip hop music.

As of March 2008, Moss is also a board member for The Christian Century, which is a magazine about religion.

Family Life

Otis Moss III is married and has two children.