Rev. Dr. William Saxe Epps, the distinguished theologian, scholar, and longtime senior pastor of Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 80. Born June 3, 1945, Epps passed away January 12, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped faith leadership in Los Angeles and influenced Black religious thought nationwide.
For nearly 38 years, Epps led one of the city’s most historic Black congregations with an approach rooted equally in rigorous theology, social justice, and pastoral authenticity. His ministry insisted that faith must speak to real life—economic inequality, political power, moral responsibility, and human dignity. Whether preaching from the pulpit, teaching in academic settings, or engaging civic leaders, Epps maintained that the church must remain a prophetic voice, not a silent witness.
Epps’ academic grounding distinguished him as a “thinking pastor.” He earned degrees from Bishop College and Columbia University and completed his Doctor of Ministry at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, with additional studies at Andover-Newton Theological Seminary and Boston University. That scholarly foundation shaped a preaching style that was deeply biblical, intellectually rigorous, and widely accessible—earning him national respect even as it initially challenged local expectations when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1987 to succeed the revered Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr.
Under his leadership, Second Baptist underwent a sweeping $6 million renovation that modernized its aging infrastructure and preserved its future. The effort required a difficult capital campaign that tested the congregation, but Epps remained steadfast, believing stewardship was both spiritual and practical. The church later achieved national recognition when it was designated a historic site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation—the only African American church on the West Coast to receive the honor.
Epps’ tenure was also marked by expansive community outreach. At one point, Second Baptist operated multiple shelters for unhoused women and served more than 30,000 meals annually. He viewed this work not as charity, but as justice in action—an extension of the gospel into the streets. Even during personal hardship, including a serious injury in 2019 and the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Epps postponed retirement to guide the church through crisis, including newly discovered structural damage to the building.
Epps’ ministry was shaped early by formative years at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where he worked closely with the legendary Adam Clayton Powell Jr. during the final chapter of Powell’s storied career. The experience, Epps often reflected, taught him that authenticity—not perfection—was essential to ministry.
“What I learned from Adam is that you can be real, you can be human, you can have faults, you can fail and still be a good minister,” Epps said. “That’s the most important lesson that I learned.”
It was a lesson he says he carried throughout his ministry.
Beyond the local church, Epps was deeply engaged in major Baptist circles and ecumenical organizations, helping shape national conversations on theology, ethics, and the evolving role of the Black church in public life. His devotional journals, sermons, and teachings guided congregants far beyond Sunday worship, reflecting his belief that spiritual formation is a lifelong journey. A consistent thread running through every sermon and every aspect of his ministry, he often said, was simple and profound: “It’s all about God’s presence in our lives and the difference that it makes.”
He is survived by his wife, Agretta Denise Holloway Epps; their daughters, Jaqueline Jeannelle and Andrea Nichole; and grandchildren. With his passing, Los Angeles has lost a giant of faith and intellect, the nation has lost a moral compass, and generations have lost a teacher whose influence will continue to shape the church, the city, and the conscience of those he served.