John T. Coats, II: A Life in Leadership and Service
President, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Columbus and Vicinity
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, John T. Coats, II is a distinguished Elder in the Church of God In Christ. He leads as the Senior Pastor at the Metropolitan Church and oversees the Ohio West Capital District as Superintendent. For nearly a decade and a half, he has also held the position of Executive Secretary of the Ohio West Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ.
In 2016, Pastor Coats was elected President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Columbus and Vicinity (IMA Columbus), the oldest and most enduring ministerial alliance in Central Ohio. He also holds the position of Vice President within the Ohio IMA.
In 2016, Pastor Coats took on the role of President for the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Columbus and Vicinity (IMA Columbus), the oldest and most enduring ministerial alliance in Central Ohio. He also holds the position of Vice President within the Ohio IMA.
As Chairman of the Black Caucus of Central Ohio, Pastor Coats spearheads initiatives focused on civic education and advocacy for the Black community. His leadership in the Ohio Coalition of Concerned Black Citizens (OCCBC) for 18 years further highlights his commitment to systemic change through political avenues.
Deeply committed to the pro-life movement, Pastor Coats made history as the first African American Executive Director for Ohio Right To Life, the state’s foremost pro-life organization.
With over 20 years in professional media, Pastor Coats has excelled as a marketing specialist with Columbus Radio Group and as an independent media consultant specializing in retail and political advertising. He has served on multiple boards and councils, including the Ohio Governor’s Evangelical Advisory Council and the Columbus Association of Black Journalists. Additionally, he was the immediate past 2nd Vice President and Executive Committee member of the Columbus Branch NAACP.
A frequent guest on television and radio, Pastor Coats lectures on community empowerment and hosts The John Coats Show on Talktainment Radio. He also appears weekly on Urban One TV’s “Khari Free At Last.”
Pastor Coats holds degrees from Capital University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, both in Bexley, Ohio. He is married to Ramona R. Reyes, an elected member of the Columbus Board of Education, and takes great pride in being the father of Carrington M. Coats, a junior at Ohio State University.
The 9th annual OhioMBE Awards will be held on Oct. 26 at Huntington Park. Tickets are available at https://buytickets.at/the912group
