[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9466-S9467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING REV. DR. OTIS MOSS, JR.

 Mr. VOINOVICH. Madam President, I wish to honor and 
congratulate my friend and long-time civil rights activist, the 
Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. The church which he currently pastors 
recently celebrated 75 years of service to the Cleveland community. In 
July 2007, Reverend Moss will celebrate 32 years of pastoral service to 
the Olivet congregation.
  Reverend Moss pastors the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in the 
Fairfax neighborhood of my hometown of Cleveland, OH. Since 1931, 
Olivet has been more than a place of worship and Christian fellowship 
in the African-American community. It has been dedicated to preaching, 
teaching, and practicing the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. And as 
a centerpiece of the community, it has nurtured leaders who have 
championed civil rights and equality for the poor, and it has worked to 
increase awareness about poverty, health care, employment, education, 
and human rights.
  A native of Georgia, Otis Moss, Jr., was born on February 26, 1935, 
to Otis and Magnolia Moss. He earned his bachelor's degree from 
Morehouse College in 1956 and his master of divinity degree from the 
Morehouse School of Religion/Inter-denominational Theological Center in 
1959. He also completed special studies at the Inter-denominational 
Theological Center from 1960 to 1961 and earned his doctorate in 
ministry from the United Theological Seminary in 1990.

[[Page S9467]]

  Reverend Moss's tenure as pastor began in 1954 in LaGrange, GA at 
Mount Olive Baptist Church. While leading Mount Olive, Moss also served 
as pastor of Atlanta's Providence Baptist Church from 1956 to 1959. He 
then headed to Ohio, where he was the pastor for Mount Zion Baptist 
Church in Lockland. In 1971, Reverend Moss served as copastor with the 
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., at Ebenezer Baptist Church in 
Atlanta. Olivet Institutional Baptist Church extended the invitation to 
Reverend Moss to be their pastor in December 1974. He was installed as 
pastor in 1975.
  Reverend Moss has been involved in advocating civil and human rights 
and social justice issues for most of his adult life. Having been a 
staff member for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he formerly served as a 
national board member and trustee for the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Center for Non-Violent Social Change. His work in the international 
community has taken him around the world to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, 
and Israel.
  Moss is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Role Model of 
the Year Award from the National Institute for Responsible Fatherhood 
and Family Development in 1992, the Leadership Award from the Cleveland 
chapter of the American Jewish Committee in 1996, and, most recently, 
he was inducted into the 2007 Class of the International Civil Rights 
Walk of Fame located at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic 
Site in Atlanta. He also holds six honorary degrees from colleges and 
universities in Ohio, Georgia, and Arkansas.
  His political and civic engagement runs deep. Moss has served as 
chairman of the board of trustees at Morehouse College and as a member 
of the board of trustees at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, 
OH. He was an advisor to former President Jimmy Carter at Camp David 
and was the special guest of President Bill Clinton at a peace treaty 
signing between Israel and Jordan in 1994. Former Ohio Governor Richard 
Celeste awarded Moss the 1983 Governor's Award in Civil Rights, and I 
had the honor of presenting Reverend Moss with the 1993 Governor's 
Award in Civil Rights.
  His service to Ohio and the Nation has also been recognized by the 
Ohio House of Representatives, Ebony Magazine, Cleveland Press, the 
Black Professional Association of Cleveland, the American Red Cross of 
Greater Cleveland, Project Love: Remember the Children Foundation, The 
Cleveland Jewish Committee, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. He is 
a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored Peoples, NAACP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Sigma Pi 
Phi, Boule, to name a few.
  University Hospitals Health System honored Reverend Moss with a 
special medical center partnership bearing his name. In 1997, the Otis 
Moss Jr.-University Hospitals Medical Center was established in 
conjunction with the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. The center 
offers a wide range of primary and specialty care medical services and 
features an on-site laboratory.
  Reverend Moss and I share a passion for helping our children reach 
their full potential and lead our Nation and world into the next 
century and beyond. In 2003, I had the privilege of touring and 
visiting with Moss and his staff at the Medical Center to see how a 
program called ``Reach Out and Read'' is administered.
  Reverend Moss enjoyed an abiding friendship with the late Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. In fact, Dr. King visited the pulpit of Olivet 
Institutional Baptist Church on several occasions and performed the 
wedding ceremony for Reverend and Mrs. Moss.
  Perhaps the greatest connection I share with Reverend Moss is the 
love and appreciation we both have for our wives. Reverend Moss is 
married to the former Edwina Hudson Smith, who is accomplished in her 
own right and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. She 
is recognized for her outstanding commitment to service as a member of 
the National Board of the American Red Cross. Their love is a model for 
us all. Sadly, Reverend Moss and I also share in the loss of a young 
child.
  As someone who has had the pleasure of knowing and working with 
Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., I have seen how far his works have reached 
and benefited others. He has made significant contributions to his 
community, the State of Ohio, our Nation, and our world. Reverend Moss 
has shown that he lives in accordance with his strong faith in God. He 
is someone all of us would do well to emulate, and I am pleased and 
proud to salute him, his wife, their children, and grandchildren.
  Thank you, Reverend Moss, for your outstanding commitment and 
exceptional leadership to our community. Our lives are better as a 
result of having been touched by you. Congratulations again to you and 
your Olivet family for your devotion and commitment to the Cleveland 
community.

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