The Reverend James C. Simmons is the senior pastor of Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church and chairman of Rise Up Rochester, Incorporated. Born in Waynesboro, PA, Reverend Simmons received his Bachelor of Science in public administration and policy from Howard University, Washington, DC, and his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary at American University, Washington, DC.
Reverend Simmons was called to preach at age nine and received his first pastoral appointment to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Schenectady, New York at age 23. Under his leadership at Bethel the church membership quintupled, the music department expanded, the first person in the history of the church was called to preach, and the church was on the forefront of social justice issues.
On June 10, 2010, Reverend Simmons was appointed to the pastorate of Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church in Rochester, New York. His 14-year pastoral tenure – Baber’s longest – is credited with Baber’s financial and administrative resurrection: four mortgages have been paid off and the church is now 100% debt free. The church has created several ministries such as the Garden District Development Corporation and completed numerous capital projects.
Prior to his appointment to the senior pastorate, Reverend Simmons served as the Minister to Youth and Young Adults at Ward Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington, DC, under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Conrad K. Pridgen, and he served as a chaplain intern at the Petersburg Federal Correctional Center.
Reverend Simmons is the treasurer of the Western New York Annual Conference, Chairman of the Western New York Conference Board of Examiners, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and is the former Dean of the Ministerial Institute. He is the former secretary of the First District Self Help, Incorporated Board of Directors.
In Rochester, he is the chairman of Rise Up Rochester, Incorporated (RUR), a nonprofit that provides wraparound services, housing services, support groups for families of homicide victims, and intercommunal violence mediation and resolution services to victims of violence. Under his chairmanship, Rise Up Rochester, Inc. expanded from one of the ministries of the church to a separate 501(c)(3) with a full and part time staff of 14. Reverend Simmons is also an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College and a member of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation Board of Directors. He is one of the founders and former political action committee chairman of the Faith Leaders Roundtable, and former chairman of the Faith Leaders Caucus of Roc/ACTS (Alliance of Communities Transforming Society)
Reverend Simmons has received numerous awards such as the key to the city of Rochester, the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Great Lakes Region, Social Justice Award and the Community Service Award from Haggai Chapter #41, Royal Arch Masons. In high school, he served as president of the largest student vocational organization in the state of Pennsylvania – the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America – with a membership in excess of 12,000.
Each day Reverend Simmons strives to live out his favorite scripture: “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”