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Rev. Charles Joseph Otto is the 2011 recipient of the Bishop Kortz Award. His dedication to the field of pastoral counseling and his care for a wide population of individuals, particularly those on the fringes of society are for Charlie a true call to vocation, his way of life.
Charlie grew up in the Philadelphia area, where he was an active member of St. James Methodist Church, and was told at a young age that God wanted him to be a prophet. Charlie pursued his education, attending Pennsylvania State University and earning a B.A. in English in 1962. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, married, became a father, and moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he worked in sales for several equipment companies in the area. In the 1980s, he founded his own sales company, Emrex, which had a network of distributors throughout North America. In 1999, Charlie heard God's call to ministry, specifically, prison chaplaincy. He sold his company and attended Moravian Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling.
In 2003, Charlie and a twenty-two member Board of Directors founded the not-for-profit organization, Exodus Prison & Aftercare Ministries (EPAM). EPAM was designed to build a regional network of trained volunteers and churches willing to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to their incarcerated brothers and sisters, and to assist those reentering the community to reestablish roots and live a God-guided life. Today, EPAM has trained volunteers serving in four county correctional facilities in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In 2007, Charlie was ordained a Deacon in full connection in the United Methodist Church and currently serves at First United Methodist Church in West Pittston, PA. He is a member of the American Correctional Chaplains Association (ACCA) and the Pennsylvania Prison Chaplains Association (PPCA).
Charlie is most appreciative of the loving support and hard work of his wife, Peggy Gorman. "Peg's ongoing encouragement to me and service as President of EPAM were and are invaluable—priceless!"
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