Rev. Calvin Butts III Biography Favorites Color Brown Food Pork Chops Time of Year Autumn Vacation Spot Brazil

Reverend Calvin Otis Butts III was born on July 19, 1949 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His mother worked as an administrative assistant and his father was a chef and butler. During his early childhood, the family moved to New York City, where Butts received his primary education. In 1967, he earned his high school diploma from Flushing High School, where he was a member of the track team and president of the senior class.

In 1972, Butts received his B.A. degree from Morehouse College. While a student, Butts pledged Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and was active in civil rights. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Butts and several other Morehouse students took to the streets in anger. After graduation, he returned to New York and earned his master of divinity degree in church history in 1975 from Union Theological Seminary and later his doctorate of ministry in church and public policy from Drew University. While still in graduate school, Butts was hired to work at Abyssinian Baptist Church. He began as an office assistant and worked his way up to assistant pastor, eventually being named head pastor in 1989.

As pastor of one of Harlem's largest churches, Butts has been committed to the church's goal of creating a viable and dynamic community in central Harlem. In 1989, he establish the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a non-profit community-based housing and commercial development organization. Through the corporation, $2.8 million was raised for the purchase and renovation of twenty-six apartment units for the homeless across the street from the church. A $9 million 100-unit senior citizens apartment complex has also been constructed and a number of moderate income condominiums have been renovated in conjunction with the Partnership for New York City program.

Butts hosts a weekly radio show. He also serves as president of the Council of Churches of New York, vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way, and in 1999, he was appointed president of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury. Additionally, he serves as chairman of the National Affiliate Development Initiative of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.

Butts was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on February 1, 2005.