Reverend Dr. Kilen K. Gray is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated with honors from George Washington Carver High School in Memphis. He is a graduate of Kentucky State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science. In May 2002, he received the Masters of Divinity degree from the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Louisville, Kentucky. Reverend Gray is the pastor of the New Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Shelbyville, Kentucky and during his 25-year tenure the church’s membership has increased. The church has become recognized for its presence in the Shelbyville community through viable community ministries such as its tutoring/mentoring, women, brotherhood and youth ministries.
He is currently leading the church in a capital stewardship campaign, “Upon this Rock”, that will lead to the erection of a new sanctuary and community ministry center. Recently he has been appointed Dean of Students for the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His primary responsibility is to provide pastoral care to students and their families. Previously, he served as Human Resources & Community Coordinator for the Shelby County Public School district. In this capacity, he was responsible for all personnel functions for over 300 classified school employees, all district-wide public relations functions and served as the district’s affirmative action officer. Prior to this, he was a systems engineer for Humana Inc. in its Contracts Administration Department for seven years.
As an active Shelbyville citizen, Gray is co-founder of and program director for Creative Spirits Counseling Center, a state-licensed, outpatient mental health facility, in Shelbyville, and co-founder and board president of GGT, Inc., a community development corporation of his church that seeks to reduce violence and provide support to families within high crime and high violence communities. He is certified as a domestic violence offender treatment provider, and serves as president of the Greater Shelby County Ministerial Alliance, an interdenominational fellowship of the African American ministers in that county.
Pastor Gray is an active citizen of Shelbyville, Kentucky. His past and current involvement includes the following:
- Co-founder and board president of GGT, Inc., a non-profit organization that seeks to reduce violence and provide support to families within communities with a high propensity for crime and violence.
- Program Administrator, Creative Spirits Counseling Center, a drug/alcohol outpatient treatment facility in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
- Member, Shelby-Henry-Oldham & Neighboring Counties Ministers & Deacons Union
- President, Greater Shelby County Ministerial Alliance, an interdenominational fellowship of African American ministers of Shelby County, Kentucky
- Member, Shelbyville/Shelby County Branch – NAACP
- Commissioner, Kentucky African American Heritage Commission
- Commissioner, Kentucky War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission
- Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Pastor Gray has received many honors and awards. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, an Outstanding Young Men Award recipient and he has been honored by the West Chestnut Street Y.M.C.A. Black Achievers organization as an adult Black Achiever. Pastor Gray resides in Shelbyville, Kentucky with his wife, Minister Cassandra Harris-Gray and their two daughters, Lashondra and Raechele.