Rev. Dr. Irvin W. Green
The congregation of Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to call Rev. Dr. Irvin W. Green as its settled Pastor on Februray 8, 2004.
Dr. Green began Pastoral duties at Memorial Christian Church in April, 2004.
Dr. Irvin W. Green has grown up and lived much of his professional life in the Chicago area. He was born into a family that was steeped in the life of the church. Baptized at Olivet Baptist Church at the age of six, his family joined Park Manor Christian Church two years later. He notes the church had a remarkable youth program, which fostered progressive opportunities for involvement and leadership. He was led to be open to and aware of the possibility of being called to the ministry. He was an active lay leader there, serving as a youth advisor and teaching Sunday School for more than 20 years and also filling roles of elder and deacon and board chair.
Dr. Green holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Behavioral Science from National-Lewis University, Evanston, IL. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN, in 1994, and he earned his doctorate in ministry at Chicago Theological Seminary in 1998. As a follow-up to the mentoring and encouragement that he received as a youth, he has fostered the calling of others in their ministries. From 1996 until 2001, he served as the Supervising Pastor (with adjunct faculty designation) for six student ministers from three Chicago-area seminaries.
After holding assistant and associate pastorates for five years, Dr. Green became pastor of First Christian Church of Maywood, IL, which he served from 1994-2001. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Apples of Gold Congregational Ministries, having begun this work following service as the Director of Field Education for Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Green provides supply preaching for various congregations, including East Second Street Christian Church (DOC) in Lexington, where he serves as a member of the ministry team.
A Vietnam veteran, Dr. Green draws on the varied experiences from his diverse employment history, in addition to his academic preparation. He has worked as an AT&T communications technician for 18 years, and he sold real estate for five years. He has been a mental health worker and an adoption recruiter, and he briefly filled the role of porter in a pillow factory.
Dr. Green serves on the Reconciliation Committee of the Christian Church (DOC). He has been a regular presenter at the National Convocation and the Black Ministers’ Retreat. He was a part of the planning team for the retreats in 2003 and 2004. His regional service to the Christian Church Illinois Wisconsin has included the Commission on Ministry and the Regional Anti-Racism Team. He has also served as Pastor/Counselor to the Men’s Ministry Committee and has participated in several search committees and event planning teams.
Dr. Green has been married for more than 30 years to the Rev. Betty Miller Green. They are the parents of Jason Green and the grandparents of Jawann and Nyemah Green, all of Columbus, Ohio.