The Bishop's Biography

Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr.

The 125th Elected and Consecrated Bishop

Like the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament, the Rt. Rev. Samuel L. Green Sr. was very young when he first realized his calling into the ministry. No supernatural acts of God were necessary to compel him to serve.

"There was no light or anything like that," Bishop Green said. "It was just an assurance that I had that this was what God wanted for me to do with my life."

By the time he was 17, he was already preaching and touching the lives of others, but Bishop Green faced challenges in his early walk. Living in a way that pleased the Lord was a challenge for him as a teenager. He felt pressure to join his friends in activities that he knew would undermine his spirituality. He also faced doubt and criticism because of his youth, inexperience and desire to revolutionize the structure of the church.

One of Bishop Green's early mentors and a fellow reverend, John Bryant, now senior bishop of the church, inspired him to take daring new approaches, including more open worship and a ministry specialized for individual needs. Under Bishop Green's direction, St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Orlando, Fla., added a daycare facility and preparatory school.

He served the church from 1988 to 2004, and in honor of his dedication to furthering the kingdom of God, the church renamed the Family Life Center to the Samuel L. Green Sr. Family Life Center during his final year there. He has also held pastorates at two other Florida churches: Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Green Cove Springs and Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in St. Petersburg.

Over three decades after accepting his calling, the same passion to lead others to a closer relationship with Jesus exists within Bishop Green's soul. He is one of the 130 elected bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and head of the 12th district, which encompasses Arkansas and Oklahoma. He views the church as a proponent of change. In his opinion, meeting the needs of the community is a priority, from housing to job training.

Bishop Green has a special interest in reaching out to the youth in a way that allows them to express themselves and offers them a refuge within the church from negative influences, such as gangs. One of his current projects is the rejuvenation of the young adult and prison ministries.

He also wants to rebuild the credibility of the church's junior college, Shorter College, which is currently unaccredited. Education is highly valued by the bishop, who holds an Associate of Science degree from St. Petersburg College; a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida; a Master of Divinity degree from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.

One of the greatest honors of his life has been fathering three sons: Samuel Jr., Adam, and Stephen. Bishop Green strives to meet his family's spiritual needs but feels it is important to be more of a father than a pastor in his home. He appreciates the closeness they all share and never hesitates in expressing his love or pride in their accomplishments.

"I'm excited about each one of their individual growth, development and unique personalities," he said.

In 1991, Bishop Green lost both his own parents within a few months of each other. It was during this time that the comforting words he so often spoke to others became much more real in his own life.

"The absence of my physical, biological parents left a major void in my life," he said, "but it was through that period of meditation and seeking God that I felt a true essence of God as both father and mother."

No matter how successful, Bishop Green continues to keep his focus on the Lord and keeps his favorite biblical verse in mind at all times: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33 KJV).