The president of the largest Black denomination in the country said he wants to have a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.

The Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, said it’s time to put a divisive election behind the nation and unite to move the country forward.

“I want to meet with President Trump to share some of the issues which we have in our denomination,” Kimber said. “We have 7.2 million people. There needs to be a conversation between he and I and some of our leaders to talk about how we move forward, and how we help our poor communities.”

The National Baptist Convention USA installed Kimber as president in a service Jan. 13 at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. The denomination is having mid-winter board meetings through Thursday at the BJCC.

Even at Kimber’s installation, which featured more than a dozen guest preachers speaking, there were anti-Trump remarks. But Kimber said he’s ready to move past opposing Trump and work with him.

“He’s president,” Kimber said. “It’s all over. The country, whether it’s good or bad, has got to circle and give the support to the present president that’s coming in.”

Kimber had plenty of critics and opposition in a controversial Sept. 4 election in Baltimore. He’s hoping the denomination is fully behind him now.

“The thing about the National Baptist Convention, whoever becomes president, that’s who they line up behind,” Kimber said. “The election is over. I won by 69 percent of the vote. It is almost like President Trump, running for president.”

While many National Baptist leaders have questioned the future of civil rights in America under Trump, Kimber said the nation’s civil rights legacy is strong enough to endure.

“People ask that about every Republican president: Is civil rights in danger?” Kimber said. “I think we must ask the question: How can civil rights continue to help America? America needs to understand civil rights. We’re at the cradle of civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. It has had its ups and downs. In reality, civil rights will be here when you and I are gone.”

In an interview at 16th Street Baptist Church, where four girls were killed in a KKK bombing in 1963, Kimber said he wants to encourage unity and working together.

“Let’s not forget about what happened here at this church,” Kimber said. “Let’s not forget our fathers and mothers who marched in the streets of Birmingham and who were hosed with water hoses and (attacked by) dogs. We will never forget that. We will keep striving. Things will get better each day.”