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'''Boise Kimber''' (born February 9, 1959) is an American ] minister and ] activist. He is the pastor of First Calvary Baptist churches in ] and ].
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'''Boise Kimber''' (born 1959) is an ] ] minister of the First Calvary Baptist Churches in ] and ]. He has actively worked to address issues of housing development, police brutality and profiling, workers rights, felon’s rights, and a myriad of social issues affecting African Americans and all oppressed people in the city of New Haven and across the nation.


== Political and community life ==
== Background ==
In Connecticut, Kimber has been described as one of the “powerful players within the black community”.<ref>, Huffington Post</ref>
Kimber started preaching when he was 15 years old in ], ]. He moved to New Haven in 1983 and became pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven In 1986, having served four congregations prior.
⚫ Locally, Kimber is President Emeritus of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association, a consultant to the office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Center at ], a Fire Commissioner for the City of New Haven, a Director for Aids Interfaith Network, Inc., an advisor to local labor unions, and a member of ] fraternity.
<ref>


Nationally, he serves as Director of Rev ]’s ], Inc., the Conference of National Black Churches, and as Executive Director of the Social Justice Initiative.
[http://www.ctbaptist.org/index.php?page=president-s-bio Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention </ref>
Kimber formerly served as the Chairman of the New Haven Fire Commission, where he was embroiled in controversy after the union head accused him making racist comments. After Kimber stepped down from leadership, long-serving New Haven Mayor ], who appointed Kimber, said he was “pleased that he acknowledged that they were inappropriate and demonstrated real leadership by not letting his leadership as head of the commission become an issue."<ref>, ''Hartford Courant'', 13 June 2002</ref>


Kimber is president of the Connecticut Missionary Baptist State Convention, and in 2013 was a candidate for president of the ], the nation’s oldest and largest African-American religious group. While addressing the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention (LMBSC) in November 2013, Kimber said,
== Education ==
<blockquote>“We must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for those who are disenfranchised… we must have a voice… When was the last time you heard this convention talk about anything that was wrong in our world? We said nothing about Trayvon Martin; we said nothing about the (federal government) shutdown. We said nothing about gay and lesbian marriages."<ref>, ''New Orleans Picayune'', November 2013</ref> Kimber was later endorsed by LMBSC President ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.louisianamissionarybaptiststateconvention.com/uploads/President_Gordon_endorses_Dr._Boise_Kimber.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001429/http://www.louisianamissionarybaptiststateconvention.com/uploads/President_Gordon_endorses_Dr._Boise_Kimber.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref></blockquote>
⚫ In 1981, he completed his undergraduate studies at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, his Master of Arts Degree in Religious Life from Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut in 1997, and in May 2001, he completed his Doctorate Degree in Ministry at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His approved dissertation title was “Developing a Social Justice Consciousness in a Local Congregation”. <ref>


In July 2013, Kimber led a coalition of religious and social groups in a "Justice for ]" vigil to press the federal government to investigate civil rights charges against ]. Kimber said, "How many more times do we have to rally around justice for our children? How many more courts will free overzealous vigilantes who gun down unarmed American citizens and cry self-defense? Black and Brown American teens should feel confident that the American justice system also works for them; the Zimmerman acquittal tells them otherwise."<ref>, ''New Haven Register-Citizen''</ref>
[http://old.jcsu.edu/docs/bulletin/JCSmithNewsletterSpring2002.pdf Johnson C. Smith University Newsletter </ref>


After the ], Kimber led a prayer service with ] for the victims and survivors of the mass shootings. “We come here in solidarity with our brother and sister up the street to let you know your pain is our pain and your hurt is our hurt,” said Kimber.<ref>, BET News, 19 December 2012</ref> On Sharpton's national television news show later that evening, Kimber added that, "We come tonight to ask that communities all over this country, let`s come together, stand together, and let`s begin to work with Congress, Senate and let`s make sure that our representatives understand what is happening within our communities."<ref>, NBC News, 19 December 2012</ref>
== Service to the Community ==
Dr. Kimber currently serves as president of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention, an alliance of approximately eighty churches. As president, he launched the Christian Leadership School, an accredited four-year Christian Education degree program. He currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. <ref>


In 2014 Kimber partnered with a local businessman to announce the launch of a $1 million loan program for urban churches.<ref>, ''Hartford Courant'', 20 February 2014</ref> Additionally, he and the same businessman have been conducting job fairs in urban churches throughout Connecticut.<ref>, ''Hartford Courant'', 08 February 2014</ref>
[http://www.nationalbaptist.com/about-us/board-of-directors.html National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Board of Directors </ref> In addition, Dr. Kimber serves as a staff member for the Institute of Church Administration and Management at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia.


In 2001 Kimber participated in a Congressional Lunch of Ministers; participants talked about revitalizing black and urban communities and the role of social institutions such as church and family in meeting that goal.<ref>, C-Span</ref>
⚫ Locally, Dr. Kimber is President Emeritus of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association, a Consultant to the office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Center at Southern Connecticut State University, a former Fire Commissioner for the City of New Haven, a Director for Aids Interfaith Network, Inc., an advisor to local labor unions, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Nationally, he serves as a Director of the National Action Network, Inc., the Conference of National Black Churches, and as Executive Director of the Social Justice Initiative.


In 2012 he hosted Sharpton at a get-out-the-vote rally.<ref></ref>
Recently, Dr. Kimber led a statewide interfaith prayer service for the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre, where the Rev ], civil rights activist and host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation taped his show and served as the guest speaker.
<ref>


Kimber was recently honored at the ]'s national convention for his service to the church and the community. President ] presented the keynote speech that focused on the importance of protecting voting rights.<ref>, National Action Network</ref>
[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50247636/ns/msnbc-politicsnation/t/politicsnation-tuesday-december-th/#.UNzLgKyRZIs MSNBC Tuesday, December 18, 2012. </ref>


On July 6, 2022 Dr. Kimber called for a hate crime charge to be brought against a 48-year-old white man who allegedly pushed an 11-year-old biracial boy off his bike in June of 2022. "Yes, the individual was arrested, but we feel as though this is more a hate crime than it is a risk of injury to a young kid," the Rev. Boise Kimber of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven said. "This case here is a case of harassment," Kimber said at a news conference outside Deep River Town Hall.
⚫ == Personal Life ==

Dr. Kimber is married to the former Shevalle Turner and is the father of Pamela, Danielle, LaShawn, Sherine, Ronald, Shevalle and Savion.
== Early life and education==
Boise Kimber was born in 1959 in ] to parents Milburn and Ruthie Kimber; he was the middle child of three children. He attended local schools and graduated from Central High School. Raised in the Baptist Church, he began preaching at age 15.

⚫ In 1981, Kimber completed his undergraduate studies at ] in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 1997, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Life from ] in Hartford, Connecticut. In May 2001, he completed his ] at ] in ]. His approved dissertation title was ''Developing a Social Justice Consciousness in a Local Congregation''.<ref></ref>

⚫ == Personal life ==
Kimber is married to the former Shevalle Turner.

== US Supreme Court case ''Ricci v. DeStefano'' (2009) ==
As Chairman of the New Haven Fire Commission, in 2004, Kimber lobbied with other members to set aside the results of a firefighter's promotion exam, as no blacks qualified highly enough to have a chance at the available slots. Using the exam results would have promoted whites and a Latino firefighter to the available upper positions. The 20 firefighters who qualified for promotion under this exam filed suit against the city for its action.

In his ] in '']'' (2009), Supreme Court Justice ] singled out Kimber for having political motivations in his decision to set aside the results. This brought Kimber into the center of the controversy and led to mass media attention.<ref>, a United States Supreme Court decision.</ref> Journalist ] of '']'' referred to Kimber as "a convenient example of small-time ] and semi-thuggery."<ref>], , '']'', June 29, 2009.</ref>

==Philanthropy==
In 2016 ] and Rev Kimber launched Grace Church Websites, a non-profit that offers local churches and nonprofit groups in the New Haven area a wide variety of free Web-related services, including domain registration, website maintenance, annual domain renewal, content management system, and hosting. Since February 2016, the company has worked with more than 600 churches and nonprofit organizations to launch free websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhregister.com/social-affairs/20160901/grace-church-websites-launches-free-websites-for-greater-new-haven-churches-nonprofit-organizations|title=Grace Church Websites launches free websites for Greater New Haven churches, nonprofit organization|work=New Haven Register|date=September 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://religionnews.com/2016/11/30/bridging-the-digital-divide-company-gives-churches-free-websites/|title=Bridging the digital divide, company gives churches free websites|work=Religion News Service|date=30 November 2016 }}</ref>


== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist|2}}

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Latest revision as of 21:17, 15 September 2024

Boise Kimber (born February 9, 1959) is an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist. He is the pastor of First Calvary Baptist churches in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut.

Political and community life

In Connecticut, Kimber has been described as one of the “powerful players within the black community”. Locally, Kimber is President Emeritus of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association, a consultant to the office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Center at Southern Connecticut State University, a Fire Commissioner for the City of New Haven, a Director for Aids Interfaith Network, Inc., an advisor to local labor unions, and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Nationally, he serves as Director of Rev Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Inc., the Conference of National Black Churches, and as Executive Director of the Social Justice Initiative.

Kimber formerly served as the Chairman of the New Haven Fire Commission, where he was embroiled in controversy after the union head accused him making racist comments. After Kimber stepped down from leadership, long-serving New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., who appointed Kimber, said he was “pleased that he acknowledged that they were inappropriate and demonstrated real leadership by not letting his leadership as head of the commission become an issue."

Kimber is president of the Connecticut Missionary Baptist State Convention, and in 2013 was a candidate for president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the nation’s oldest and largest African-American religious group. While addressing the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention (LMBSC) in November 2013, Kimber said,

“We must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for those who are disenfranchised… we must have a voice… When was the last time you heard this convention talk about anything that was wrong in our world? We said nothing about Trayvon Martin; we said nothing about the (federal government) shutdown. We said nothing about gay and lesbian marriages." Kimber was later endorsed by LMBSC President C.S. Gordon Jr.

In July 2013, Kimber led a coalition of religious and social groups in a "Justice for Trayvon" vigil to press the federal government to investigate civil rights charges against George Zimmerman. Kimber said, "How many more times do we have to rally around justice for our children? How many more courts will free overzealous vigilantes who gun down unarmed American citizens and cry self-defense? Black and Brown American teens should feel confident that the American justice system also works for them; the Zimmerman acquittal tells them otherwise."

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Kimber led a prayer service with Al Sharpton for the victims and survivors of the mass shootings. “We come here in solidarity with our brother and sister up the street to let you know your pain is our pain and your hurt is our hurt,” said Kimber. On Sharpton's national television news show later that evening, Kimber added that, "We come tonight to ask that communities all over this country, let`s come together, stand together, and let`s begin to work with Congress, Senate and let`s make sure that our representatives understand what is happening within our communities."

In 2014 Kimber partnered with a local businessman to announce the launch of a $1 million loan program for urban churches. Additionally, he and the same businessman have been conducting job fairs in urban churches throughout Connecticut.

In 2001 Kimber participated in a Congressional Lunch of Ministers; participants talked about revitalizing black and urban communities and the role of social institutions such as church and family in meeting that goal.

In 2012 he hosted Sharpton at a get-out-the-vote rally.

Kimber was recently honored at the National Action Network's national convention for his service to the church and the community. President Barack Obama presented the keynote speech that focused on the importance of protecting voting rights.

On July 6, 2022 Dr. Kimber called for a hate crime charge to be brought against a 48-year-old white man who allegedly pushed an 11-year-old biracial boy off his bike in June of 2022. "Yes, the individual was arrested, but we feel as though this is more a hate crime than it is a risk of injury to a young kid," the Rev. Boise Kimber of First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven said. "This case here is a case of harassment," Kimber said at a news conference outside Deep River Town Hall.

Early life and education

Boise Kimber was born in 1959 in Phenix City, Alabama to parents Milburn and Ruthie Kimber; he was the middle child of three children. He attended local schools and graduated from Central High School. Raised in the Baptist Church, he began preaching at age 15.

In 1981, Kimber completed his undergraduate studies at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 1997, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Life from Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. In May 2001, he completed his Doctorate Degree in Ministry at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His approved dissertation title was Developing a Social Justice Consciousness in a Local Congregation.

Personal life

Kimber is married to the former Shevalle Turner.

US Supreme Court case Ricci v. DeStefano (2009)

As Chairman of the New Haven Fire Commission, in 2004, Kimber lobbied with other members to set aside the results of a firefighter's promotion exam, as no blacks qualified highly enough to have a chance at the available slots. Using the exam results would have promoted whites and a Latino firefighter to the available upper positions. The 20 firefighters who qualified for promotion under this exam filed suit against the city for its action.

In his concurring opinion in Ricci v. DeStefano (2009), Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito singled out Kimber for having political motivations in his decision to set aside the results. This brought Kimber into the center of the controversy and led to mass media attention. Journalist Emily Bazelon of Slate referred to Kimber as "a convenient example of small-time race baiting and semi-thuggery."

Philanthropy

In 2016 Don Vaccaro and Rev Kimber launched Grace Church Websites, a non-profit that offers local churches and nonprofit groups in the New Haven area a wide variety of free Web-related services, including domain registration, website maintenance, annual domain renewal, content management system, and hosting. Since February 2016, the company has worked with more than 600 churches and nonprofit organizations to launch free websites.

References

  1. Josef Goodman, "Master of the City: How Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. Ruled New Haven", Huffington Post
  2. "New Haven Fire Panel Chairman Steps Down", Hartford Courant, 13 June 2002
  3. National Baptist Convention presidential candidates tout platforms for 2014 election in New Orleans, New Orleans Picayune, November 2013
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Justice for Trayvon rally set for Saturday in New Haven", New Haven Register-Citizen
  6. "Sharpton: We must limit access to high-powered weapons", BET News, 19 December 2012
  7. , NBC News, 19 December 2012
  8. "Loan Agency Chief And Local Announce New Urban Church Construction Loan Program", Hartford Courant, 20 February 2014
  9. "Fast-Growing, Ticketing-Software Company Provides Opportunity To Job Seekers", Hartford Courant, 08 February 2014
  10. , C-Span
  11. "Sharpton urges black voters to exercise their votes"
  12. "Boise Kimber receives national award", National Action Network
  13. "Bio: Boise Kimber", Connecticut Baptist Convention
  14. Ricci v. DeStefano, a United States Supreme Court decision.
  15. Emily Bazelon, "Ricci's Competing Story Lines", Slate magazine, June 29, 2009.
  16. "Grace Church Websites launches free websites for Greater New Haven churches, nonprofit organization". New Haven Register. September 2016.
  17. "Bridging the digital divide, company gives churches free websites". Religion News Service. 30 November 2016.
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