“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” — Luke 4:18-19
The Reverend Dr. Marvin Anthony Moss became the 14th pastor of Salem United Methodist Church on July 1, 2014. His mission is Kingdom Building: Growing, Sustaining and Revitalizing – ensuring congregations and leaders move forward in the work and will of God.
Dr. Moss is leading the effort of restoring the historic Salem UMC back to her prominence. In his short tenure, he has worked diligently to return Salem to being a beacon of hope in the village of
Harlem and ensuring its path to returning to its status as a vital congregation. Salem, like many urban churches, had been tremendously impacted by the economy and changing demographics. Worship attendance had declined significantly and financial resources dwindled as well. Since his arrival, Salem’s worship attendance has increased by more than 100 persons and
membership continues to grow. During this Revitalizing phase of Dr. Moss’ ministry, Salem has increased the church’s social media and technology footprint by creating a church website and utilizing Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Salem’s 501C3, Salem Community Services Council, as well as the Children’s Choir have been revived, and a Male Chorus created. Massive renovation projects have been funded to make the beautiful edifice more aesthetically appealing and more easily accessible to the physically challenged.
Previously, during the Sustaining phase of his ministry, Dr. Moss was appointed as the Senior Pastor of Atlanta’s prominent Cascade United Methodist Church (2006-2014). During his service there more than 1,300 members joined and more than 50 ministries performed outreach services to the local, national, and global communities. Prior to Cascade, Dr. Moss served as Senior Pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia (1999-2006). Under this Growth Phase, St. James expanded from fewer than 200 members to more than 1200. Additionally, the congregation purchased 15 acres of land and a new edifice was erected. Prior to St. James, he was Associate Pastor at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia.
Dr. Moss has been a frequent guest of President Barack Obama’s National African American Clergy Leaders Group and has testified on Capitol Hill before a Senate Hearing Committee on the long term effects of unemployment. Seeing the need in the community during the recession, Moss revived the Cascade Community Services Corporation, which served as an incubator for new and small
businesses, revitalized depressed areas and provided economic empowerment opportunities in the Atlanta area. This outreach program was featured by CNN, BBC, TBN, The History Channel, NPR, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution for its ability to serve “the least of these”. It was touted for numerous programs including its clothes closet which featured free clothing and household items, men’s shelter feedings, recidivism programs, and an annual Thanksgiving Basket program which provided the needy with a week’s worth of groceries. In 2011, under the leadership of Dr. Moss, Cascade presented Morris Brown College President Stanley Pritchett with the monetary donation that helped the struggling college settle its debt to the U.S. Department of Education.
A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Dr. Moss graduated from Hampton University and the Naval Chaplains Reserve Officers School. He also holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Gammon
Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew University. Dr. Moss is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 100 Black Men of New York, and Leadership Atlanta Class of 2011. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Gammon Theological Seminary. Dr. Moss is the recipient of the 2003 and 2011 Denman Evangelism Award for Church Growth, the NAACP Emancipation Award, the 2011 Gammon Theological Seminary Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Whitney M Young, Jr. Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America and is an Eagle Scout. He was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers in April of 2009. He serves as a Mentor/Coach and Consultant empowering other pastors and congregations to operate at their fullest God given potential.
Dr. Moss continues to preach with purpose, lead by example, and remain focused on his ultimate mission: Kingdom Building: Growing, Sustaining and Revitalizing. He is excited to share his first
book, NEXT: Surviving a Leadership Transition, and is looking forward to writing more publications whereby he can share practical principles, Christian counsel, and faith-based options for enhancing viability and increasing sustainability of any organization. Dr. Moss is also a contributing writer to Strong for a Moment Like This: The Daily Devotions of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Rev. Dr. Bill Shillady.
