ABCORI & DEM Take First Step Toward Conserving Canonicus Property
Since the decision to sell the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center property was made in July, the ABCORI Board of Ministries and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have been working together to explore a conservation outcome for the 300-acre property.
While the decision to sell the property was necessitated by financial realities, including the inability to secure property insurance, the ABCORI board was clear in its desire to balance its financial responsibility for ABCORI with stewardship for the land. DEM has recognized the public benefit in conserving the Canonicus property for Rhode Island and the threat to the forest if the property were to be purchased by a private party. These shared concerns have provided a strong foundation for a good-faith partnership between ABCORI and DEM.
At this time, both parties are actively working toward the goal of conserving the Canonicus property through DEM acquisition. DEM has applied for federal funding assistance from the U.S. Forest Service through the Forest Legacy Program. This program provides funding assistance to state agencies for the purpose of conserving environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. If funded, the Forest Legacy Program would provide more than half of the funding needed for DEM to purchase the property at fair market value.
If acquired by DEM, the property would become state-owned land and would be open to the public. Some of the structures on the property would need to be removed, but DEM anticipates a subset of structures and the outdoor chapel would remain.
ABCORI and DEM are faithfully working together toward a positive outcome for ABCORI, the people of Rhode Island, and, most importantly, the Canonicus property.
Since the decision to sell the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center property was made in July, the ABCORI Board of Ministries and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have been working together to explore a conservation outcome for the 300-acre property.
While the decision to sell the property was necessitated by financial realities, including the inability to secure property insurance, the ABCORI board was clear in its desire to balance its financial responsibility for ABCORI with stewardship for the land. DEM has recognized the public benefit in conserving the Canonicus property for Rhode Island and the threat to the forest if the property were to be purchased by a private party. These shared concerns have provided a strong foundation for a good-faith partnership between ABCORI and DEM.
At this time, both parties are actively working toward the goal of conserving the Canonicus property through DEM acquisition. DEM has applied for federal funding assistance from the U.S. Forest Service through the Forest Legacy Program. This program provides funding assistance to state agencies for the purpose of conserving environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. If funded, the Forest Legacy Program would provide more than half of the funding needed for DEM to purchase the property at fair market value.
If acquired by DEM, the property would become state-owned land and would be open to the public. Some of the structures on the property would need to be removed, but DEM anticipates a subset of structures and the outdoor chapel would remain.
ABCORI and DEM are faithfully working together toward a positive outcome for ABCORI, the people of Rhode Island, and, most importantly, the Canonicus property.
Brush Fire & Vandalism at Canonicus Camp & Conference Center
Two significant and concerning events have taken place at ABCORI’s Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in recent weeks.
Late on Saturday, November 15, the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department located a brush fire at Canonicus after responding to multiple reports of smoke in the area. Over the course of four hours, personnel from the Exeter, North Kingstown, West Kingston, and Richmond-Carolina fire departments worked to extinguish the blaze.
The fire burned six acres of brush and undergrowth in the area around “The Pinnacle” and the old waterslide. Very few trees sustained damage, and no buildings were impacted. Thankfully, no firefighters were seriously injured as they worked in the dark over unfamiliar, uneven terrain.
ABCORI is grateful to the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department for their quick response, to the neighboring fire departments that provided mutual aid, and to facilities manager Matt Black for work in assisting the fire personnel.
During the weekend of November 22-24, three buildings at Canonicus were broken into and vandalized. Several personal items belonging to a staff member were stolen. The incident was reported to the Rhode Island State Police, who responded to document the damage and collect evidence, including trail camera photos of unauthorized individuals on the Canonicus property during the timeframe of the incident.
Please remember that Canonicus Camp and Conference Center is closed to all visitors, including members of ABCORI churches, for safety and security reasons.
Two significant and concerning events have taken place at ABCORI’s Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in recent weeks.
Late on Saturday, November 15, the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department located a brush fire at Canonicus after responding to multiple reports of smoke in the area. Over the course of four hours, personnel from the Exeter, North Kingstown, West Kingston, and Richmond-Carolina fire departments worked to extinguish the blaze.
The fire burned six acres of brush and undergrowth in the area around “The Pinnacle” and the old waterslide. Very few trees sustained damage, and no buildings were impacted. Thankfully, no firefighters were seriously injured as they worked in the dark over unfamiliar, uneven terrain.
ABCORI is grateful to the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department for their quick response, to the neighboring fire departments that provided mutual aid, and to facilities manager Matt Black for work in assisting the fire personnel.
During the weekend of November 22-24, three buildings at Canonicus were broken into and vandalized. Several personal items belonging to a staff member were stolen. The incident was reported to the Rhode Island State Police, who responded to document the damage and collect evidence, including trail camera photos of unauthorized individuals on the Canonicus property during the timeframe of the incident.
Please remember that Canonicus Camp and Conference Center is closed to all visitors, including members of ABCORI churches, for safety and security reasons.
Request Process in Place for Items Related to Canonicus Memorial Projects
Churches or families who have funded a memorial project at Canonicus Camp and Conference Center may request to retrieve the marker or other item related to that project at a date to be established prior to the sale of the property.
Please use this form to submit such requests.
Churches or families who have funded a memorial project at Canonicus Camp and Conference Center may request to retrieve the marker or other item related to that project at a date to be established prior to the sale of the property.
Please use this form to submit such requests.
'So What Does ABCORI Actually Do?'
Recently someone asked, “So what does ABCORI actually do?” Rather than being critical, the questioner seemed genuinely curious about what ABCORI does. Perhaps implicit was a second question: “And what difference does it make to my church and me?”
Some churches or individuals may think of ABCORI as a resource only in times of transition or crisis—pastoral searches or congregational conflict, for example. A key component of ABCORI’s ministry is to serve as a resource for its member churches and their leaders in such times, but ABCORI’s work is much broader than that.
A major part of ABCORI’s mission is to be an ongoing resource for its churches and their leaders and members. Here are some of the ways the organization is fulfilling that mission:
ABCORI has the goal of continuing to expand its offerings for member churches. It also will work to encourage more churches to avail themselves of the programs and resources it has to offer.
Recently someone asked, “So what does ABCORI actually do?” Rather than being critical, the questioner seemed genuinely curious about what ABCORI does. Perhaps implicit was a second question: “And what difference does it make to my church and me?”
Some churches or individuals may think of ABCORI as a resource only in times of transition or crisis—pastoral searches or congregational conflict, for example. A key component of ABCORI’s ministry is to serve as a resource for its member churches and their leaders in such times, but ABCORI’s work is much broader than that.
A major part of ABCORI’s mission is to be an ongoing resource for its churches and their leaders and members. Here are some of the ways the organization is fulfilling that mission:
- ABCORI offers original programs, such as the weekly Elder Care Ministries coffee chat series and the upcoming Gathering by Still Waters events for pastors.
- ABCORI staff create and facilitate congregational workshops on specific topics of interest or concern, such as loss, congregational care, and envisioning the future.
- ABCORI hosts fellowship opportunities, such as the recent summer gathering.
- ABCORI staff regularly field questions from church leaders on topics ranging from church sales-tax exemption to ordination criteria to personnel policies to education resources to concluding a church’s ministry.
- ABCORI maintains a list of available pulpit supply preachers, and its staff preach in a number of churches.
- And ABCORI is available as a guide through pastoral searches, congregational conflict, or other times of transition or crisis.
ABCORI has the goal of continuing to expand its offerings for member churches. It also will work to encourage more churches to avail themselves of the programs and resources it has to offer.
