An independent investigation into Eastview Christian Church in Normal last summer revealed a toxic workplace culture and abuse of power. Senior pastor Mike Baker had resigned from the mega-church months earlier as allegations that he covered up sexual misconduct involving his adult son spilled into public view.
Since then, Baker began building a new congregation in Bloomington-Normal, moving his Song and Sword Church into a downtown Bloomington sanctuary this week.
Eastview, whose membership peaked under Baker at about 5,500 congregants, has undergone months of transparent restorative justice, restructuring church leadership and admitting harm caused, particularly to women. Mike Baker's son Caleb was another pastor at Eastview and quietly resigned in 2016. He was later dismissed from his new post at a church in Arizona in the wake of further allegations of sexual misconduct with a parishioner.
“I do not think it was as much harm as was indicated by some people that might have complained about it. There’s no doubt about it that pastors, especially of mega-churches, have targets on their back. When accusations begin to fly, it becomes very natural for that to happen."Mike Baker
In an open letter to Eastview parishioners published online in April 2023, Mike Baker said he launched a new church almost immediately because he was concerned for his financial future and still felt called to preach.
“Our preference would have been to move somewhere and preach at another church,” Baker said in an interview with WGLT. “We got, really early on, a distinct calling that God said, 'I’m not done with you here in Bloomington.'”
Baker and his wife Sara have lived in Bloomington-Normal for nearly 30 years; he first worked at Normal's largest congregation, Eastview Christian Church, beginning in 2007.
At age 59, Baker had anticipated retiring at Eastview. Now, he’s leading a fast-growing congregation of about 300 parishioners. Song and Sword Church expanded to in-person services at the Chateau in Bloomington. And on Oct. 6, Song and Sword will hold its first services in its new home — a downtown Bloomington church previously occupied by City of Refuge Ministries.
Following Baker’s departure, Eastview’s congregation shrank dramatically. A spokesperson reported attendance at about 3,750 members in February, when a new lead pastor, Brandon Grant, was hired. WGLT has not received a response to a request for updated attendance.
Baker said some of Song and Sword’s congregation are former Eastview members who did not intend to return there and “were really just going nowhere.”
Given they now have a 30,000-square-foot 1888 church in downtown Bloomington, Baker said key priorities are to serve people in need and expand their children’s ministry.
“We’re stepping into a space where you can sense the spirituality,” he said. “It honestly suits me really well.”
“I know what I did and didn’t do”
Baker maintains he is “largely innocent” of allegations that he abused power by minimizing Caleb Baker’s use of God and the church to allegedly manipulate congregants and coworkers into intimate relationships with him. Mike Baker characterizes his son’s behavior as infidelity.
The past 19 months, Baker said, were revealing.
“I don’t take it for granted as much,” said Baker. “I appreciate it more. It’s a privilege. I really believe now that there’s a reality that says, hey, you don’t get this forever. So, take care of what you have now.”
But in establishing a new church, Baker also said his approach will be essentially the same.
“Sara and I have always been a family-oriented church,” he said. “That doesn’t always fit in a big congregation like we came from. Really, nothing has changed in terms of our thoughts, and our heart for what we do and for people. It’s just the setting is different.”
One observation the Eastview investigation made was an accountability gap that allowed Baker to act without oversight. It recommended the church strengthen its human resources department and reinforce policies and procedures around workplace conduct.
Baker said Song and Sword has some accountability baked in, with an executive team, pastoral leadership team and a few paid part-time employees who assist with ministry. But he stopped short of saying there was harm caused to those affected by his and his son's actions at Eastview.
“I do not think it was as much harm as was indicated by some people that might have complained about it,” said Baker. “There’s no doubt about it that pastors, especially of mega-churches, have targets on their back. When accusations begin to fly, it becomes very natural for that to happen.”
The report said investigators “do not assert that [they] absolutely know what happened, and we do not have any personal knowledge of the underlying facts.” Further, they concluded Baker “more likely than not misused his leadership position" and impeded the Church leadership’s ability to intervene and uphold existing policies and procedures. They did not find cause for dismissal or a need to involve law enforcement.
“You can’t really control what people think about you and what people say about you,” Baker said. “Criticism is not new for me. I know who I am before God. I know God loves me. And I know what I did and didn’t do.”
WGLT reached out for comment from Eastview on Thursday, and was told our request was sent to senior pastor Brandon Grant, who has not responded.
