News Services' Press Releases June 8, 1999		Oberlin Black Alliance for Progress to Host Lecture by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli email: betty.gabrielli@oberlin.edu phone: (440) 775-8474
			OBERLIN, OHIO--The Oberlin Black Alliance for Progress (OBAP) will present a lecture by the Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.-- "One of America's 15 greatest black preachers (Ebony)" Wednesday, June 30 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Lorain. "The Agenda for the Church in the Black Community" is the title of the talk to be presented by Rev. Moss, pastor of Cleveland's Olivet Institutional Baptist Church and founder of the Otis Moss, Jr.-University Hospitals Medical Center. The talk is the second in a series of public forums, "The Black Church and Social Engagement," sponsored by OBAP. "The purpose of the series is to bring to the county nationally known religious leaders who are experts in community organization to discuss the historic roles of religious institutions and strategies for social change," says Forum Coordinator A. G. Miller, associate professor of religion at Oberlin College. A founding board member of the Greater Cleveland Round-table, Rev. Moss has been involved in the civil rights movement as a spiritual leader and community activist on the national and international levels for over 35 years. Most recently he was a special guest of President Clinton at the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. He has served as leader of special missions to Africa, was a consultant to President Carter, and received the Governor's Award in Civil Rights from Ohio Governors Voinovich and Celeste. He also received the 1996 leadership award from the Cleveland chapter of the American Jewish Committee and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Miller says OBAP "is a group of concerned people of African descent dedicated to mobilizing the Oberlin Black community to improve its spiritual, moral, social, political, educational and economic life. The members will discuss, consult and build alliances with other groups and/or individuals as needed to effectively carry out this mission. "We hope they will stimulate dialogue among the diverse African-American religious institutions and other groups in the area and inspire them to forge a coalition that will encourage Black empowerment countywide. Our goal is specific social programs to improve the life of African Americans in Lorain County." According to Miller, the group aims: to organize around educational concerns relating to Blacks, particularly our youth; to maximize employment opportunities for the Oberlin Black community; to increase the political participation of the Black community in the public school system and city, county, state and federal governments; to increase the spiritual, cultural, social and recreational opportunities for the Black community; and to strengthen and secure the Black family.