Green to be nominated for second term in Tampa

TAMPA (FBW)—Tom Biles has told Florida Baptist Witness that he intends to nominate John Thomas "Tommy" Green III for a second term as president of the Florida Baptist State Convention during its 142nd annual meeting in Tampa, Nov. 10-11.

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Should Green be re-elected he will be the first president to serve a second, one-year term after the FBSC revised its constitution last year permitting two consecutive terms. Green is pastor of First Baptist Church, Brandon.

Biles, the director of missions of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, said he believes Green’s service as president in 2003 has been good preparation for an additional term.

"I think [a second term] holds many advantages. The president spends the first year just seeing what needs to be done, meeting with the various committees, meeting with the State Board of Missions, getting acquainted with state convention staff, seeing more of the churches in Florida," Biles told Florida Baptist Witness.

"I think that Tommy has done a wonderful job in his first year as president, has served us well, has traveled across Florida. ... He knows our leadership. For that reason I think he is extremely qualified to serve a second, consecutive year as our president and will continue to give us good leadership."

Biles praised Green’s "strong leadership in evangelism and missions" and called him a "model pastor" who has "done a wonderful job at First Baptist Church, Brandon."

First Baptist Church has grown from 2,700 to almost 5,000 members since 1996 under Green’s leadership, according to church officials. The average Sunday school attendance has increased by nearly 600 and the worship attendance has increased to 2,300. In the last year, 153 persons were baptized and since 1996 about 1,300 have been baptized. The church currently gives 10 percent in undesignated receipts to the SBC Cooperative Program.

Green currently serves as a trustee of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was a member of the 2002 SBC Credentials Committee. He has pastored churches in Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Green holds degrees from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, including the doctor of theology.

In an interview with the Witness, Green said that he is "very humbled" by the prospect of being re-nominated. "It has been a great blessing to serve in this capacity. If the Convention would desire for me to serve again, I would be honored to do so."

In his first term as president, Green said that he has "appreciated the opportunities to be in the churches and associational meetings" in the Sunshine State. "The most enriching opportunity has been to build relationships with Florida Baptists across the state—to be an ambassador for Baptist work across our state."

The Witness has not been informed of the possible nomination of other candidates.