Green resigns as pastor, remains as president
REPUBLIC—Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) President Mike Green, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Republic, resigned May 3 as senior pastor of the church he served for 25 years. Green said he will continue to serve as president.
Green, 51, has seen Calvary Baptist through an extended time of tremendous growth. Sunday School attendance has grown from about 65 to approximately 550, and the church has mushroomed from about 60 in worship to the current level of 650-700.
“As the Lord has led him he has led that church through great successes, including membership of over 1,300 today from around 200 when he took it,” said MBC Interim Executive Director David Tolliver. “They completely relocated the facility, renovated a grocery store, and it now has one of the greatest facilities in the state of Missouri. I view him as someone who has been following the leadership of the Lord as he pastored and now he’s following the leadership of the Lord as he steps away from that pastorate.”
MBC First Vice President Bruce McCoy said he has come to know Green as a man of honor.
“I’ve had many private conversations with him on rather sensitive subject matter, and he has shown himself to be a very fair, godly man,” said McCoy, who is pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in St. Louis. “In a season of suspicion, I believe that he is a man who can be trusted. I admire him greatly for his faithfulness to one church family.”
Green is a fifth-generation Missouri Baptist and a native of DeSoto who has been very active within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and MBC. He was baptized at First Baptist Church, DeSoto, and served on staff at three Missouri Baptist churches, including a time as pastor of Iona Baptist Church before coming to Republic. Known in the community as a longtime pastor in what has grown to be a regional church, he was asked to run for the Republic School District Board and served a total of six years.
Jay Scribner, who served 28 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Branson, nominated Green for MBC president last October at the MBC annual meeting in Cape Girardeau. Scribner commented at the time that Green’s extended service at Calvary was a good indicator of his fitness to be elected president. Messengers agreed, electing him unanimously.
“You don’t stay at some place (for 20+ years) without having good integrity, being able to handle confidentiality, and just a love relationship between the pastor and the people,” Scribner told The Pathway.
Green’s resignation was announced to the church May 6. Chairman of the Deacons William Bareis said he still has the highest regard for Green and wishes him well in his next ministry assignment.
Green has led the congregation to be on mission over the years. Trips on the horizon include New Orleans, Houston (Texas), Nicaragua and Romania.