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Our Board

The Faith in Place Action Fund is governed by leaders who are committed to advocating for clean air, uncontaminated water, healthy ecosystems, and flourishing communities for all.

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Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III,

Board Chair

With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality.  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College who earned a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. Dr. Moss is an ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ.

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Rev. Brian Sauder,

Board President

Rev. Brian Sauder is President and Executive Director of Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund. His passion for environmental justice motivates his work fundraising to grow the vision of Faith in Place. Rev. Sauder received his B.S. from the University of Illinois in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, M.A. in Religion from Urbana Theological Seminary, and M.B.A. from the University of Illinois. Rev. Sauder is ordained by the Mennonite Church U.S.A. and worships with Chicago Community Mennonite Church in East Garfield Park.

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Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III,

Board Chair

With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality.  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moss is an honors graduate of Morehouse College who earned a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. Dr. Moss is an ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ.

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Rev. Melody L. Seaton

Rev. Seaton received her primary education in the Chicago Public School system and went on to graduate from the University of Illinois Circle Campus receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. From there she matriculated to Governor State University to obtain a Master of Arts Degree in Administration and Supervision. A few years later, she answered the call to ministry and completed a Master of Divinity Degree at McCormick Theological Seminary followed by ordination in the United Church of Christ in 2006.

Rev. Seaton began her professional career as an elementary school teacher and retired after 38 years, spending about half that time as a school principal. She is the founding pastor of Grace United Church of Christ in Sauk Village, IL., also the home of It Takes a Village Community Farm, Grace Food Pantry and Amandla Community Resource Hub.

Rev. Seaton is the proud mother of two adult children and grandmother to six of the most beautiful children God has created!

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Rev. Brian Sauder,

Board President

Rev. Brian Sauder is President and Executive Director of Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund. His passion for environmental justice motivates his work fundraising to grow the vision of Faith in Place. Rev. Sauder received his B.S. from the University of Illinois in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, M.A. in Religion from Urbana Theological Seminary, and M.B.A. from the University of Illinois. Rev. Sauder is ordained by the Mennonite Church U.S.A. and worships with Chicago Community Mennonite Church in East Garfield Park.

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