Board of Ministries

Report from February 27, 2025, Meeting
The ABCORI Board of Ministries met via Zoom on February 27 to receive a proposed budget from the finance committee and attend to other items of business.
The board accepted the proposed budget for FY2026 (April 1, 2025-March 31, 2026) as prepared by the finance committee. The proposed budget now will be presented at ABCORI’s annual business meeting. Notes from the finance committee regarding the proposed budget will be included in the annual meeting materials. The board expressed appreciation to the finance committee members for all their work.
The board received updates from the recruitment committee on its work and from the executive minister on the ongoing efforts to secure property insurance for ABCORI. Brotherhood Mutual has again declined to provide a quote to ABCORI.
The board discussed potential meeting dates for the rescheduled special business meeting and the rescheduled annual business meeting. The board meeting also included an executive session to discuss legal matters.

Report from January 29, 2025, Special Meeting
The Board of Ministries held a special meeting via Zoom on January 29 to review an updated version of the proposed ABCORI by-laws revision from the by-laws task force. The updated version took into consideration feedback offered by the board during its January 13 meeting.
Following discussion, the board voted unanimously to accept the proposed revision from the by-laws task force and present it to the delegates at the 2025 ABCORI annual business meeting. In accordance with ABCORI’s by-laws, the proposed revision will be sent to churches and registered delegates two weeks prior to the meeting date.
The board also received a letter from Chestnut Hill Baptist Church with notice of the church’s decision to disaffiliate from ABCORI. The board wished the church all the best in its continued ministry.

Report from January 13, 2025, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries held a regularly scheduled meeting on January 13. Apart from receiving reports, the agenda was devoted to two major items.
The first was a presentation about proposed revisions to the ABCORI by-laws.
A task force—including Rev. George Barclay, Rev. Dr. Courtny Davis Olds, Rev. Del Demosthenes, Meredith Eckel, Lynne Linden, and Rev. Dr. Cal Lord—has spent six months reviewing the current and previous ABCORI by-laws with a focus on the portion that relates to the structure and composition of ABCORI’s board, officers, committees, and teams.
The task force has proposed revisions that take into account the interim structure approved by delegates to recent ABCORI annual business meetings. That interim measure sought to clarify responsibilities and create a structure that is appropriate to the number of member churches and active individuals within ABCORI.
Board members had an opportunity to ask questions and suggest changes to the by-laws task force, which will send a new version of the proposed revisions for board review on January 29. If approved by the board, the proposed revisions will be presented to delegates to the 2025 ABCORI business meeting.
The second major agenda item was addressed in executive session since it involved a legal matter that has been brought regarding the sale of Canonicus Camp and Conference Center.

Report from October 28, 2024, Meeting
ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met on October 28 via Zoom for a regularly scheduled meeting.
       The board approved a sabbatical policy for executive staff proposed by the ABCORI Personnel Committee.
       Board members also reflected on the recent meeting with Department of Environmental Management (DEM) representatives and voted to continue working with DEM toward conservancy of the Canonicus property.
       Having received letters requesting a special business meeting to discuss the sale of the Canonicus property from 10 ABCORI-member churches, the board chose January 11, 2025, as the meeting date, with a snow date of January 25. Letters detailing the date, time, location, and purpose of the meeting, as well as registration instructions, will be mailed to member churches as soon as possible after the location is confirmed.
       The board’s next meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

Report from October 15, 2024, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries continued their conversation about conservancy options for the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center property during a special meeting on October 15. Joining the board members were staff members of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM).
The ABCORI and DEM representatives discussed possible opportunities for working together to ensure conservancy of the Canonicus property. Conversations between the two organizations are to continue.
The next Board of Ministries meeting is scheduled for October 28.

Report from September 14, 2024, Meeting
ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met on September 14 to continue its consideration of the sale of Canonicus Camp and Conference Center, as well as to conduct other business.
  The board’s Executive Committee, which has been tasked with gathering information about possible options for the sale of Canonicus, shared updates. Conversations have taken place with the towns of Exeter and North Kingstown. A completed title search revealed no liens or encumbrances on any portion of the property.
  The board approved the Executive Committee’s moving ahead with exploring possibilities with a conservancy group that is interested in the Canonicus property and is working to secure necessary funding.
  Board members received summaries from the two public sharing sessions, as well as a sharing session with ABCORI staff members, that were held in relationship to the decision to sell the Canonicus property. Board members agreed to continue reviewing the questions and ideas raised during those sessions as they consider next steps in the process of selling the property.
  The board also reviewed letters from several ABCORI-affiliated churches related to the sale of Canonicus. Three congregations wrote to request a special ABCORI business meeting, and one congregation requested additional information. Board members discussed the possibility of holding a special business meeting, and a majority voted to wait until at least 10 congregations request such a meeting.
  In other business, the board received reports from officers, staff members, and committees/organizations. The By-laws Revision Task Force shared an early report about its work and received input from board members. The Personnel Committee presented a proposed sabbatical policy for ABCORI executive staff; board members are to vote on the policy during their next meeting. The board approved separation packages for ABCORI staff members who will be impacted by the closing of Canonicus’ operations at the end of October and then the eventual sale of the property.
  The Board of Ministries’ next meeting is scheduled for October 28.

Report from July 9, 2024, Meeting
Making a difficult decision that will have significant impact is never to be taken lightly nor approached casually. That is why the ABCORI Board of Ministries devoted several years to serious discussion, prayerful reflection, and careful review of extensive financial data, two special task force reports, related information from a variety of other sources, and ABCORI’s challenging insurance situation before making a decision about the future of ABCORI’s property.
On July 9, the Board of Ministries voted unanimously to begin the process of selling ABCORI’s Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in its entirety.
The sale of the property will generate funds to expand the ministries and programs ABCORI provides for its member churches and their pastors, as well as to develop new ministry opportunities.
The details of the sale are yet to be determined. Possibilities include seeking a buyer(s) who would develop all or portions of the property for new uses and/or selling some or all of the property for conservation.
The board’s Executive Committee is to gather specific information about those possibilities. The full board then will discuss and vote on the specifics of the sale once that information is available.
Sharing Sessions
Recognizing that people within ABCORI churches will have questions about the board’s decision and the impact it may have on future ABCORI ministries and programs, the Board of Ministries has planned two sessions during which background information leading to the board's decision will be shared and ideas solicited for ways to move forward.
These sharing sessions are scheduled for:

Saturday, August 24, 10-11:30 a.m. at Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church in Cranston (several steps are required to enter the building).
Tuesday, August 27, 7-8:30 p.m. at Wakefield Baptist Church in Wakefield (a ramp is available to enter the building).

Individuals affiliated with an ABCORI church may register for a sharing session here electronically. Registration also may be made by sending the following information to [email protected]: name, ABCORI church affiliation, telephone number, and email address. To register via telephone, please call (401) 294-6318 and provide that same information. The deadline for all registrations is August 21.
Background Information
While information will be shared during the two sharing sessions, the attached background information may provide a helpful context for understanding the ABCORI Board of Ministries’ decision. (Click here for the background information.)

Report from June 17, 2024, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met on June 17 at Community Church of Providence.
A major agenda item was the receipt of a report from the Property Task Force, which was formed in 2023 to explore financially responsible options for stewardship of the Canonicus property. Board members agreed to hold a special meeting in July to discuss the report and consider next steps. They also plan to schedule sharing sessions with members of ABCORI churches later in the summer.
The board discussed the ongoing financial challenges that ABCORI faces. Due to ABCORI’s share of the sale of the property formerly occupied by Quidnick Baptist Church, the organization’s budget deficit is less than it would have been otherwise.
Board members received reports concerning the increased engagement ABCORI’s clergy staff is having with member churches. That engagement ranges from year-long discernment processes with two congregations to preaching and participation in worship services and other celebrations to new programming for members of ABCORI churches.
The Board of Ministries’ next meeting is scheduled for July 9.

Report from April 30, 2024, Meeting
  Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met via Zoom on April 30 to prepare for the upcoming year of work.
  ABCORI President Cal Lord provided an overview of the board’s roles and responsibilities, including setting priorities, providing direction, establishing policies, monitoring finances, and decision-making for ABCORI.
  Members reviewed the Board of Ministries covenant, which establishes their commitments as board members and ABCORI’s commitments to them.
  ABCORI Treasurer David Dolce provided an overview of ABCORI’s financial situation, including the fiscal year that just ended and the budget for April 2024-March 2025.
  President Lord highlighted major areas of work for the board, including a focus on financial stability and action on anticipated reports from the Property Task Force and By-laws Review Task Force.
  The board’s next meeting is scheduled for June 17.

Report from February 12, 2024, Meeting
During a Zoom meeting on February 12, members of the Board of Ministries addressed two items in advance of ABCORI’s annual business meeting.
      The board approved a proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. That budget will be presented during the March 9 business meeting.
      The board also affirmed the presidential appointment of a by-laws review/revision task force. The task force members, who will be announced during the business meeting, will begin their work this spring.

Report from January 20, 2024, Meeting
      Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries used their January 20 meeting to focus on priorities for the upcoming year.
      Those priorities will provide guidance for the ABCORI staff, preparation of the 2024-2025 budget, and future board decisions.
      After a process of small- and large-group discussions, the board identified three top priorities in keeping with its mission statement: “With a commitment to proclaiming good news and transforming lives, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island (ABCORI) resources member churches; equips congregational leaders; promotes shared ministry; and serves as a prophetic voice to and on behalf of its congregations.”
      The priorities are:

Provide resources of all kinds to support churches and pastors in their ministries.
Focus on how best to stabilize ABCORI finances and assist its member churches in doing the same.
Help churches let go of what once worked and look to a different future, recognizing that this will involve imagination, as well as grief.

The board also received reports from:

The Property Task Force, which continues to gather information about possible ways for ABCORI to use the assets of its Canonicus property. The task force is working with an appraiser to determine the property’s worth; town officials to understand local regulations; and groups about alternative uses of the property.
The Finance Committee about budget preparations for 2024-2025. Committee members shared information about the budget process and potential scenarios given the realities and challenges of ABCORI’s financial situation.
The board’s Executive Committee, which recommended a process for decision-making in light of ABCORI’s bylaws. The board discussed its role in making ABCORI-related decisions; the decisions that are to be made by delegates to annual ABCORI business meetings; and opportunities to exchange information with members of ABCORI-related congregations.
The planning team for the ABCORI annual gathering.

Report from November 6, 2023, Meeting
      ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met on November 6 via Zoom to conduct its items of business.
      The board approved the Personnel Committee’s proposed revision of the ABCORI employee manual. It was agreed that the manual should be reviewed at least every two years.
      Board members discussed items that will need to be finalized in preparation for ABCORI’s annual business meeting on March 9, 2024. The items included budget planning and recruitment for 2024-2025.
      The board’s next meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2024.

Report from October 14, 2023, Retreat
As part of its commitment to board development, ABCORI's Board of Ministries gathered for a retreat on October 14.
Leading the retreat was Rev. Dan Hotchkiss, author of the book Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership and a consultant with extensive experience in helping ministry organizations streamline their structures and become more mission-focused and effective.

Report from September 9, 2023, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries gathered for an extended meeting on September 9 to focus on ABCORI-related financial trends and reports from two board-appointed task forces.
Executive Minister Courtny Davis Olds shared a presentation on ABCORI income and expense trends for the previous decade, including regional ministry operations and operation of the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center. The trends show that ABCORI has operated with significant deficits for those ten years, particularly from Canonicus operations. Compensation for those deficits has been made by drawing from ABCORI’s available endowment funds.
The board-appointed Purpose Task Force presented an update on its work. Chair George Barclay explained that a mission statement supplements an organization’s other documents, such as bylaws, and provides a focus for the board and staff for two or three years.
The task force proposed the following mission statement for ABCORI:
With a commitment to proclaiming good news and transforming lives, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island (ABCORI) resources member churches; equips congregational leaders; promotes shared ministry; and serves as a prophetic voice to and on behalf of its congregations.
Following a discussion about mission statements, in general, and the proposed mission statement, in particular, the board voted to approve the statement proposed by the task force.
The board then received a report from the Property Task Force it appointed to explore “financially responsible options for stewardship of the Canonicus property” and report back with up to three feasible options. Task force chair David Coon reminded the board that the Canonicus property has generated the largest share of the budget deficits for many years and presented the board with the status of the task force’s work to date. Because the task force wants to provide as much specificity about potential costs and financial benefits as possible when it presents options for the board’s consideration, it will need more time to complete its work.
The Board of Ministries’ next meeting is a day-long retreat scheduled for October 14. Dan Hotchkiss, a long-time senior consultant for the Alban Institute who now works independently with congregations and other organizations on such issues as board governance, will facilitate the retreat. The next regular business meeting will be held on November 6.

Report from June 12, 2023, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries met on June 12. Highlights of the meeting included:

An initial presentation by the board-appointed task force on developing a new purpose statement. After a productive discussion, the board asked the task force to consider a slight change to the purpose statement and then bring the revision back to the next board meeting.
A set of experiences to help board members gain a better understanding of the various organizations, committees, programs, and resources related to American Baptists in Rhode Island. (Click here to test your knowledge with one of the games from the board meeting.)
Brainstorming about possible ways to expand the format for ABCORI’s annual gathering in 2024.

As part of a commitment to board development, the members voted to enter a three-month contract with consultant Dan Hotchkiss. Author of the best-selling book Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership, Dan has consulted with a wide spectrum of churches, denominational bodies, and other organizations spanning 33 denominational families. His focus is on helping organizations discern what their mission calls for at a given time and empowering leaders to act boldly and creatively.

Report from April 24, 2023, Meeting
Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries gathered on April 24 to consider their role in helping ABCORI move into the future.
Executive Minister Courtny Davis Olds shared some of her hopes for ABCORI’s future:

ABCORI will earn a reputation as a go-to organization for resources, expertise, assistance, and support.
This will require ABCORI to develop new programs and resources through a process of discerning, experimenting, and evaluating—and trying again and again.
It also will require maintaining a qualified staff.
ABCORI will equip congregations and their leaders in new and expanding ways so that they may be engaged in vibrant and relevant ministries where they are.
- This will require ABCORI to continue establishing relationships—with congregations and with other ministry organizations.
- It also will require ABCORI to provide ministry opportunities that allow possibilities beyond what an individual congregation might be able to do.
The ultimate goal will be proclaiming the gospel and transforming lives.

Rev. Dr. Davis Olds noted that ABCORI will need to be financially stable and well governed if those hopes are to be fulfilled. The board will be responsible for providing leadership in those areas.
Board members spent time in small groups reflecting on the assets that ABCORI already has that would help the organization reach this new sense of vision. The groups identified assets such as a strong staff; ABCORI’s property; existing relationships with and among congregations; and God’s leadership.
Working in small groups, board members also considered the resources, information, and training they need in order to do their work. They identified such things as learning more about how to understand the organization’s finances; working with an outside consultant on developing more productive board practices; and gaining a better sense of current and future cultural trends.
Board members also reviewed action steps they identified during a board retreat in January and considered possible actions steps to add to that list. They also began a discussion of how to evaluate their work as a board, including progress made on the identified action steps.
The meeting concluded with reports from representatives from ABCORI committees and other organizations and staff members.

Report from March 27, 2023, Meeting
Members of the Board of Ministries met on March 27 for the first time since their election during ABCORI’s annual business meeting. (Click here for a list of board members.)
The meeting’s primary focus was an orientation for new members and a refresher for members continuing their service on the board. Members received binders with documents such as ABCORI’s bylaws, the recently approved interim board structure, and the fiscal year 2024 budget. They also heard brief summaries of the work of ABCORI committees and related organizations represented on the board.
Members approved a new Board of Ministries covenant, which outlines the responsibilities of board members and ABCORI to one another. This covenant grew out of the board’s work during its January retreat. (Click here to view the covenant.)
The board received brief updates about the two task forces it approved in January:

The first task force is to present a proposal for the content of a revised ABCORI purpose statement to the board during its June meeting. Members of this task force are George Barclay (chair), Judy Butzier, and Courtny Davis Olds.
The second task force is to explore financially responsible options for stewardship of the Canonicus property asset and report back to the board in September with up to three feasible options and suggestions for next steps. Members of this task force are David Coon (chair), Cal Lord, Bobby Nelson, Chris Wright, and Courtny Davis Olds.

Members reaffirmed their commitment to communicating about the board’s work. Reports about board meetings will continue to be included in Connections and on the ABCORI website, and minutes of board meetings will continue to be posted on the ABCORI website.
The board scheduled future meetings for April 24, June 12, September 9, November 6, January 20, and February 12.

Report from February 27, 2023, Special Business Meeting
ABCORI’s Board of Ministries held a special business meeting via Zoom on February 27 for the purpose of receiving the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 from the Operations Team. (FY 2024 runs from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.)
The Budget Committee and ABCORI staff began work in January and sought to create a budget that clearly captures ABCORI’s expected income and operating expenses. The Operations Team received the proposed budget from the Budget Committee and then presented it to the Board of Ministries for consideration.
The board voted unanimously to present the proposed budget for FY 2024 at the ABCORI Annual Meeting on March 6.

Report from January 2023
The new year brings a new practice for ABCORI’s Board of Ministries. A brief report following each board meeting will be included in Connections. Copies of the board’s approved minutes also will be posted on the ABCORI website. It is the board’s hope that this practice will provide greater transparency concerning its work.
Board Retreat
The Board of Ministries gathered on January 21 for a working retreat focused on the theme Where Do We Go from Here?
The retreat began with a discussion of ABCORI as a faith-based, non-profit organization and ways to define the organization’s purpose. Board members offered suggestions for that purpose that ranged from connections to resources to transitions.
Following a presentation about external realities and trends that impact ABCORI, board members identified internal realities and challenges that affect the organization. They also discussed the board’s role in helping ABCORI fulfill its purpose given the current context and challenges.
During the afternoon, retreat participants turned to identifying the board’s priorities for 2023 and beyond. Suggested priorities included ABCORI’s purpose; financial situation; property usage; and structure and bylaws.
Members wrapped up the retreat by proposing action steps for the board.
Board Meeting
The board met via Zoom on January 30.
Members discussed taking action on several of the top priorities identified during the board retreat. They approved the formation of a task force that is to present a proposal for the content of a revised ABCORI purpose statement to the board in May or June. They also approved the formation of a task force to explore financially responsible options for stewardship of the Canonicus property asset and report back to the board in June or July with up to three feasible options and suggestions for next steps.
The board also discussed the priority concerning ABCORI’s structure and bylaws. Members agreed to present a proposed temporary bylaw revision to delegates at ABCORI’s annual meeting. If approved, the revision will implement an interim leadership structure to be in place until the 2024 annual meeting.