Welcome to the website of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. We are an association of 70 autonomous American Baptist congregations that have joined together to engage in God’s mission within our communities, our state, and beyond. As a Region of American Baptist Churches we join with 33 other American Baptist Regions as the American Baptist Churches-USA.
The American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island have a long history of shared ministry and association. Some of our churches trace their cooperative ministries all the way back to the Warren Association which was established in 1767. The American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island value the call to ministry that is unique to their own community as well as the shared fellowship and encouragement that is available in their free and faithful association together.
Our work and ministry as the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island is focused by our mission statement: Based upon our commitment to Jesus, the Christ, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, exist to resource our people and to engage in Christ-centered ministries by promoting and building healthy pastors and healthy churches to bring the whole gospel to the whole world.
Some of those shared ministries designed to build healthy pastors and healthy churches include:
The American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island have a long history of shared ministry and association. Some of our churches trace their cooperative ministries all the way back to the Warren Association which was established in 1767. The American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island value the call to ministry that is unique to their own community as well as the shared fellowship and encouragement that is available in their free and faithful association together.
Our work and ministry as the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island is focused by our mission statement: Based upon our commitment to Jesus, the Christ, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, exist to resource our people and to engage in Christ-centered ministries by promoting and building healthy pastors and healthy churches to bring the whole gospel to the whole world.
Some of those shared ministries designed to build healthy pastors and healthy churches include:
- Pastoral training and continuing education
- Assistance with pastoral search and call for local congregations
- Leadership training for Christian education and missional ministry
- Shared events for children and teenagers
- Social Justice education, involvement and advocacy opportunities
- Management of pooled financial investments for the benefit of specified ministries
- Annual all-church worship and mission events
- Summer camping ministries
- Conferencing facilities
- Pastoral retreat facilities
- Pulpit supply
- Granted funded programs
- Elder-care ministry resources and support
- Missional initiative resources for local congregation such as: Missional Church Learning Experiences and Joining God in the Neighborhood
- Establishing and maintaining processes and standards for recognition of ordained ministers
- Collaboration with other American Baptist ministry partners in Rhode Island such as: the Baptist Home Board of Rhode Island, the Baptist Fund, Rhode Island Baptist Education Society, the Baptist Heritage Center of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Baptist Theological Circle
- Connections to global mission and ministry through American Baptist Churches-USA, International Ministries, American Baptist Home Missions Societies, and the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board
