Welcome to the website of American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. We are an association of 67 autonomous American Baptist congregations that have joined together to engage in God’s mission within our communities, our state, and beyond.
ABCORI has 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. Our churches value a call to ministry that is unique to their own communities, as well as the shared fellowship and encouragement that is available in their association together.
Reviving the Baptist Fund of Rhode Island
The Baptist Fund of Rhode Island was established by the Rhode Island Baptist State Convention (the precursor organization to ABCORI) in 1963 “to provide systemic and added support for shared services among Rhode Island Baptists.” Over the years, the types of services supported by the fund—which is made up of donations from individuals and ABCORI congregations, along with investment income—shifted according to ABCORI’s ministry priorities and the needs of its congregations and their pastors.
Like so much else, the Baptist Fund took a pause in 2020. ABCORI’s finance committee made it a priority this year to review the fund and consider how it best could be used in keeping with its original intent and within the context of ministry today. Thanks to the finance committee’s work, the Baptist Fund will be revived in 2024 with a focus on two areas that churches often have difficulty including in their budgets: new ministry initiatives and pastors’ continuing education.
A total of $23,000 in grants in these areas will be available in 2024 through the Baptist Fund of Rhode Island. Of this total, $5,000 will be designated for continuing education grants for pastors of ABCORI churches, and $18,000 will be allocated toward grants to ABCORI churches for new ministry initiatives.
Maximum individual grant amounts will be $500 for pastors’ continuing education and $2,500 for churches’ new ministry initiatives. In addition to these grants, the Baptist Fund will provide ABCORI with a $10,000 grant for programs and services that resource churches, equip congregational leaders, and promote shared ministry.
Grant guidelines and applications will be available in early January 2024. Applications will be due in early February, with grant funds to be disbursed in April. Watch for an announcement in Connections, on the ABCORI website, and in an email to pastors and churches.
I am grateful to all who have supported the Baptist Fund of Rhode Island over the years, and I look forward to the positive impact the fund will continue to have on the ministries of ABCORI, its congregations, and their pastors.
Courtny Davis Olds, Executive Minister
The Baptist Fund of Rhode Island was established by the Rhode Island Baptist State Convention (the precursor organization to ABCORI) in 1963 “to provide systemic and added support for shared services among Rhode Island Baptists.” Over the years, the types of services supported by the fund—which is made up of donations from individuals and ABCORI congregations, along with investment income—shifted according to ABCORI’s ministry priorities and the needs of its congregations and their pastors.
Like so much else, the Baptist Fund took a pause in 2020. ABCORI’s finance committee made it a priority this year to review the fund and consider how it best could be used in keeping with its original intent and within the context of ministry today. Thanks to the finance committee’s work, the Baptist Fund will be revived in 2024 with a focus on two areas that churches often have difficulty including in their budgets: new ministry initiatives and pastors’ continuing education.
A total of $23,000 in grants in these areas will be available in 2024 through the Baptist Fund of Rhode Island. Of this total, $5,000 will be designated for continuing education grants for pastors of ABCORI churches, and $18,000 will be allocated toward grants to ABCORI churches for new ministry initiatives.
Maximum individual grant amounts will be $500 for pastors’ continuing education and $2,500 for churches’ new ministry initiatives. In addition to these grants, the Baptist Fund will provide ABCORI with a $10,000 grant for programs and services that resource churches, equip congregational leaders, and promote shared ministry.
Grant guidelines and applications will be available in early January 2024. Applications will be due in early February, with grant funds to be disbursed in April. Watch for an announcement in Connections, on the ABCORI website, and in an email to pastors and churches.
I am grateful to all who have supported the Baptist Fund of Rhode Island over the years, and I look forward to the positive impact the fund will continue to have on the ministries of ABCORI, its congregations, and their pastors.
Courtny Davis Olds, Executive Minister
American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
54 Exeter Road
Exeter, RI 02822
(401) 294-6318
info@abcori.org
54 Exeter Road
Exeter, RI 02822
(401) 294-6318
info@abcori.org
