The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Organization: Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III serves as Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL.

Prior to joining the pastoral staff at Trinity United Church of Christ, Rev. Moss served as pastor of the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. After his arrival, Tabernacle was blessed, through Christ, to go from 125 members to over 2100 disciples.

He served as host of the "Day1 Diner" segments produced by Faith & Values Media for the Hallmark Channel.

Rev. Moss received his BA in Religion and Philosophy from Morehouse College where he served as Student Government President. During his matriculation at "the House," he was inducted as a Ford Foundation Scholar, named by the NCAA as an All-American Track and Field athlete and graduated with honors.

He continued graduate work at Yale University and was awarded the FTE Benjamin Elijah Mays Scholarship in Religion and the Yale University Magee Fellowship. Rev. Moss is recorded as one of the few African-Americans to ever receive this award in the schools' 300-year history. Rev. Moss graduated from Yale with a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Ethics and Theology.

After finishing seminary, Rev. Moss journeyed to Denver, Colorado to pursue a Ph.D. in Religion and Social Change at the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology, under the tutelage of African-American historian and theologian, Dr. Vincent Harding. While not completing the program due to his call to serve the Tabernacle Baptist Church he maintains a high level academic commitment to research and teaching. He has been Adjunct Professor of Voorhees College, Guest Lecturer for the Interdenominational Theological Center, Emory University, Presbyterian College, Paine College, Dillard University, Howard University, Yale, Harvard University and Morehouse College. While in Denver, he continued his ministry to youth and young adults as the assistant to the pastor and Minister of Youth Programs at New Hope Baptist Church. Pastor James D. Peters, D.Min became a mentor to Rev. Moss and inspired in him a love for African-American homiletics and church history.

Rev. Moss has done extensive research in the areas of African-American culture, theology and youth development. Four-G published his first book, Redemption in a Red Light District, in December of 1999. His essays, articles and poetry have appeared in The African American Pulpit Journal, Sojourners Magazine, and the Urban Spectrum. The African American Pulpit Journal recently named Reverend Moss one of the "20 to watch" ministers who will shape the future of the African American church. Belief.Net named Rev. Moss as one of the future religious leaders who will impact the African-American Church. As a result of his commitment to intergenerational ministry and prophetic preaching Rev. Moss has had the honor of speaking at the Hampton University Ministers and Musicians Conference on three occasions. This is largest African American ecumenical conference in the nation. In addition he holds the distinction of being the youngest lecturer ever to present to this body.

His passion for youth and intergenerational ministry led him to create the Issachar Movement, a consulting group designed to bridge the generation gap within churches and train a new generation of prophetic church leadership.

His love for God and young people has led him to speak and preach in churches, seminaries and colleges across the globe; Including places such as South Africa, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Egypt. Newsweek magazine cited Rev. Moss as one of "God's foot Soldiers' committed to transforming the lives of youth. 

He is the husband of Monica Brown Moss a graduate of Spelman College and Columbia University and the son of Dr. Otis (Edwina) Moss, Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio. They have one son, Elijah Wynton Taylor Moss and one daughter, Makayla Elon Moss.