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.
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.
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.
William Emmanuel Hall serves as the Senior Pastor of St. James Church in Chicago, IL. Early in life, William made a commitment to serve, uplift, and advocate for the poor. No matter if it was organizing food baskets at Holy Angels Church or marching for justice in the streets, William lives and loves out loud.
William’s passion for equality and his heart to serve has been noticed both locally and nationally. Recently, William was selected as an Impact Fellow with the Chicago Urban League in partnership with the University of Chicago where he completed a leadership development and business fellowship. In 2017, William was inducted in the 32nd Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. In 2016, Ariel Investment named William One of Chicago’s 40 Most Influential Leaders. In 2014, Ebony Magazine recognized him as One of the Nation’s 100 Most Influential Leaders for his work in communities across the United States.
Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson,
Board Member
Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson currently serves as Senior Advisor to Rev. Jesse L Jackson Sr. and National Executive Director of PUSH For Excellence. She has worked with PUSH as a volunteer and/or staff member since she graduated from law school in 1980. Additionally, Dr. Wilson serves as Senior Pastor of Maple Park United Methodist church.
Her employment record is as diverse as her educational background. Dr. Wilson has taught at every grade level, served as an environmental chemist, a pump engineer, trial lawyer (for 15 years), hosts a weekly cable television broadcast (for 25 years), administered a union based medical center (for 8 years) and has been engaged in the struggle for civil and human rights all of her life.
Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson currently resides with her husband, Rodney Howard in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Wilson is a member of several civic and religious organizations including: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., various Legal Associations including American Bar Association, National Bar Association and Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Inc.
Rev. David Bernard Thornton,
Board Member
The Reverend Dr. David B. Thornton has served as the pastor of the Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church of Chicago since November 1, 2014. He currently serves as the chair of the of the Committee on Nominations. He received his B.A. degree in English from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga, 1980. He later completed his Masters of Divinity degree at The Divinity School, Duke University in 1991 and his Doctorate in Ministry degree in May 2005 from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where his focus was faith-based congregational organizing in an urban ministry.
He is married to the former Annie Rush. They are parents to David, II and Kelvin Rush, who lives in South Carolina with his wife, Ruthie, and their two sons, Adriel and Jaedon.
Rev. Titus Lee
Bio Coming Soon
Rev. William Emmanuel Hall,
Board Member