S T Kimbrough Jr.

S T Kimbrough Jr. (born 1936 in Athens, Alabama) is an American United Methodist clergyman, biblical scholar, hymnographer, editor, author, and professional baritone. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1958 and Duke Divinity School in 1962, then completed a Ph.D. in Old Testament and Semitic languages at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1966. An ordained elder in the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, he has served congregations in the United States and Germany and has taught at theological and university faculties in North America and Europe.

Kimbrough has also had a substantial musical career under the professional name Steven Kimbrough. He performed leading baritone roles with the Bonn Opera Company and appeared in opera, concert, and recital settings internationally. His one-person musical drama Sweet Singer, centered on Charles Wesley, premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1985 and has been performed widely.

His scholarly and editorial work ranges across biblical studies, Wesleyan theology, hymnology, ecumenism, and global Christian song. He served as Associate General Secretary for Mission Evangelism of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and founded its Global Praise program. His books include A Heart to Praise My God, Charles Wesley: Poet and Theologian, Methodism in Russia and the Baltic States, and Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality. He also helped edit Global Praise collections and other international song resources. In 2018 The Hymn Society named him a Fellow for his work as scholar, musician, church-music practitioner, and advocate for global hymnody.