Staff

Executive Minister, Rev Dr Donald C Anderson, Executive Minister

Raised in Cranston, Rhode Island, Dr. Anderson enjoys the many wonderful facets of living in the Ocean State. Fishing, kayaking, cheering for both the Patriots and Red Sox and eating in an incredible variety of restaurants are just of few of the aspects of Rhode Island life that make this a special place to live. Together, he and his wife Debra have four adult children. They reside in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Dr. Anderson is the Executive Minister for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches which is comprised of churches from 13 Protestant denominations; seven affiliated church organizations; and eight Orthodox denominations and congregations. Dr. Anderson began his career teaching in a program that was part of Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and continues to speak to issues that address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. Currently he is working to strengthen Rhode Island’s human trafficking laws and is serving on an interfaith steering committee that is seeking to reduce poverty in Rhode Island by 50% in the next ten years. He has pastured churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as Rhode Island. In addition, Dr. Anderson has served in administrative positions in religious organizations of higher education, publishing and denominational ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Barrington College, a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Providence College and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist (now Palmer) Theological Seminary.

Active in a number of civic organizations, he has served as the president of the Rotary Club of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, as a member of the Governor’s Panel on Immigration Issues and participates in a number of statewide community and faith based organizations. In the recent past in the Town of East Greenwich, he has chaired a Task Force on Elderly Affairs and the Juvenile Hearing Board as well as served as Police Chaplain. Currently he is a member of the Rhode Island Minister’s Alliance, a member of the board of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and a member of the board of the Scandinavian Home. In June 2009, Dr. Anderson received the Luke Mowbray Award from the American Baptist Churches USA. This award “is the highest ecumenical award given by the American Baptist denomination to an individual who has distinguished him or herself in the area of ecumenical ministry.”

One of the great loves of his life is sharing the scriptures in a way the makes sense in everyday life. A storyteller at heart, Dr. Anderson seeks bring the scriptures to life helping listeners to find them interesting, informative and inspiring.