The Rhode Island State Council of Churches

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Our Vision
We envision a Rhode Island where all faith communities come together to build understanding and work for peace and justice.

Welcome to the Rhode Island State Council of Churches web site! We hope that you will find the information contained on the site both educational and useful. The Council continues to play a major role in the greater Rhode Island community. Whether it be assisting with disaster relief, advocating on behalf of our most vulnerable citizens, providing community leadership on issues such as homelessness and affordable energy or deploying chaplains to our colleges, we feel as if we are making a difference in our state.

The mission of the Interfaith Counseling Center is to be a trusted source of affordable, professional couseling for individuals and groups. The Center will also provide specialized training and support on mental health issues for clergy and health care professionals. read more...

COUNCIL NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE MINISTER

The Governing Board of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches has approved the call of the Reverend Dr. Donald C. Anderson as the ninth Executive Minister of the Council according to Kathy Black, Chairperson of the Executive Search Committee and Marie Bouvier-Newman, President of the Council. Dr. Anderson is a minister of the American Baptist Churches/USA and has served as a Vice President of the Council for the past three years. Dr. Anderson received his undergraduate degree from Barrington College and a master’s degree from Providence College. He also earned a doctor of ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary) in Philadelphia.

Dr. Anderson has been in pastoral ministry since 1974. He is presently the pastor of the First Baptist Church in East Greenwich, RI. Prior to this pastorate, he served as Minister of Camping and Conferencing for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island for ten years. While most of his pastoral service has been in Rhode Island, Dr. Anderson has also led congregations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Dr. Anderson is committed to ecumenical dialog and will serve the State of Rhode Island well with his dedication to social service issues as recognized in his pastoral leadership and participation in a variety of venues such as chair of the council’s Community Network, chair of the Standing Committee on Ordained Ministry (American Baptist Churches), chaplain of the East Greenwich Police Department, member of the Attorney General’s Task Force to Improve End of Life Care, member of the Ministers’ Alliance of Rhode Island, secretary of the Rotary Club of East Greenwich, past chair of the East Greenwich Juvenile hearing Board, past chair of the Task Force for Elderly Issues in East Greenwich, and former member of the Permanent Commission on Child Care. A native Rhode Islander, Dr. Anderson believes his knowledge and love for our state will be an asset as he begins his ministry with the council.

Of this call, Dr. Anderson says: "It is a particular honor to be called to the council of churches in the state of Rhode Island, the colony that was established early in the seventeenth century specifically for the purpose of providing an environment of religious freedom. The Rhode State Council of Churches has a long and distinguished history of service to and on behalf of the churches that make up the council. We will continue to build on that tradition of ministry."

Dr. Anderson began his service on June 18. A formal service of installation will be held on Sunday, November 18, 2007, 3:00 p.m. at Central Congregational UCC, 296 Angell Street, Providence RI.