By Jesse Russell, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Dr. Otis Moss Jr., theologian, pastor and civic leader, who was a former staff member of Dr. Martin Luther King Sr., will be speaking during Black History Month at Campbellsville University's weekly chapel service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, Ky.
Moss is one of America's most influential religious leaders and highly sought-after speaker. He has been involved in advocating civil and human rights and social justice issues for more of his adult life.
“We are very honored to be hosting Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. for our Feb. 21 chapel,” Dr. John Chowning, executive assistant to Campbellsville University's president for government, community and constituent relations, said.
“As a contemporary and associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Moss is particularly qualified to speak with moral authority and clarity as we consider the continuing legacy and vision of Dr. King in 2018 — 50 years after Dr. King's assassination.
“Dr. Moss will challenge us to renew our commitment to fulfilling the dream and vision for which Dr. King lived and died.”
Moss formerly served as co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and worked closely with King Sr., who was the senior pastor.
Moss enjoyed a close and personal relationship with King and his continued his work fighting the ills of our society. He serves as a national board member and trustee for the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change.
In 1975, he was called to pastor Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, where he now serves as pastor emeritus.
Moss' work in the international community has taken him to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan as a member of a clergy mission in 1970 and to Israel in 1978. In 1994, he was the special guest of President Bill Clinton at the peace treaty signing between Israel and Jordan, and, in that same year, he led a special mission to South Africa.
Moss is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including: Human Relations Award from Bethune Cookman College in 1976, The Role Model of the Year Award from the National Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Development in 1992, Leadership Award from the Cleveland chapter of the American Jewish Committee in 1996, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from LaGrange College in 2004.
In 2004, he participated in the Oxford Round Table in Oxford, England, and was a guest presenter for the Lyman Beecher Lecture series at Yale University.
A native of Georgia, Moss was born on Feb. 26, 1935, and was raised in the community of LaGrange.
The son of Magnolia Moss and Otis Moss Sr., and the fourth of their five children, he earned his bachelor of arts degree from Morehouse College in 1956 and his masters of divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion/Interdenominational Theological Center in 1959.
He also completed special studies at the Inter-Denominational Theological Center from 1960 to 1961 and earned his doctor of ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary in 1990.
Moss is married to Edwina Hudson Smith Moss. They have three children, Kevin and Otis III and the late Daphne.
Chapel is free and open to the public.
Chapel is designed to provide opportunities for corporate worship and exposure through a variety of informative speakers and presentations. All chapels are open to the public free of charge, are televised live on WLCU (Comcast Cable channel 10 and digital channel 23.0), and are streamed live on the internet at wlcutv.com.
For information about chapel, call the Office of Campus Ministries at (270) 789-5227.