Leadership

Licensed Lay Ministers
The Bishop will license a lay person at the request of the priest in charge. In order to be considered ...
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Church Information Form
The Church Information Form lets the bishop and diocesan leaders know who to communicate with about important events, forms and resources ...
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Clergy Position, Salary & Life Changes
Clergy are required to file a variety of forms with the CPG whenever a change occurs that impacts your pension ...
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Audit information for congregations
Each congregation’s annual audit must be submitted to the diocesan Finance Office each year by SEPTEMBER 1. Here are the ...
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Learn and Lead – Spring 2023
Come and See our Keynote speaker Emily Keniston, Director of Faith Formation for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, talk to ...
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Appointment/Volunteer Form
Click here for nomination form for Appointments and Volunteer positions on Diocesan Committees or Commissions ...
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Nomination form for elected positions
Click here for nomination form for elected positions for Diocesan Convention ...
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Safe Church
Safe Church, Safe Communities The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Rhode Island recognize the potential for harm when a priest, ...
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TENS -The Episcopal Network for Stewardship
When Jesus tells the parable of the unproductive fig tree, it is told as a conversation between a man, perhaps ...
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Diocesan Trust Fund (DIT)
The Diocesan Investment Trust (the 'DIT') is an investment trust fund that is managed by US Trust and overseen by a ...
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Lay Worship Leaders
Diocesan Guidelines for Licensed Worship Leaders According to Title III, Canon 4 of The Constitution and Canons of the General ...
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Parochial Reports
Each year our churches are required to file their annual Parochial Report forms with both the national church and with the Diocesan ...
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Certificate of Delegates 2023 to Diocesan Conventi...
Download the CERTIFICATE OF DELEGATES 2023 Delegates and Alternates certifies that delegates and alternates for Diocesan Convention have been ...
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Anchor of Hope 2022
The Anchor of Hope award is presented to a person who exemplifies walking with Jesus. This person brings the word ...
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Diocesan Constitution and Canons
The diocesan constitution as approved in Diocesan Convention in November 2016, and Canons and Rules of Order revised in November ...
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Convention Address 2022
At our Diocesan Convention on November 5, the Bishop spoke about the need to identify and uplift younger leadership. Watch ...
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Holy Eucharist of Convention
The Holy Eucharist of Convention was held on Friday, November 4 at 7 pm, at St Luke's Church in East ...
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Diocesan Convention Journals
What to know what went on during last year’s convention -- or one several years ago? Read what has happened ...
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Clergy Compensation and Benefits
Each fall the Diocesan Council approves the Clergy Salary and Benefits Minimum Requirements for the coming year. Congregations are required ...
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License to Officiate
Canon III. 7. a: No Priest shall preach, minister the Sacraments, or hold any public service, within the limits of any ...
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Convention 2021
The Diocese of Rhode Island’s 230th Diocesan Convention will be held November 6, 2021 via Zoom. Anyone who would like ...
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Bexley-Seabury Offerings
Bexley Seabury Seminary Preaching Sermon Camp Registration Now is the time for lay leaders who are called to serve as ...
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Mustard Seed and Vinyard Grants
The following projects have all been aided by grants from the Congregational Development Commission. Food Pantry Outreach Project at St ...
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Responding to Coronavirus and other emergencies
Statements Our Covid-19 Reopening plan, Journeying by Stages. Updated 3-19-21 May 26, 2020 - A joint statement from RI Faith ...
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Journeying by Stages – A plan to reopen our ...
UPDATED - Journeying by Stages is our guidance for re-opening our church buildings. In this plan you will find our ...
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Substitute/Supply Organists
If you need an organist the Rhode Island American Guild of Organists website maintains a list of musicians you can ...
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Changes – A message from the Bishop
There have been some changes in the diocesan staff and in the staff of the Center for Reconciliation (CFR). We ...
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Special Convention 2020
SPECIAL CONVENTION IN LIEU OF THE 2020 ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE DIOCESE OF RHODE ISLAND Our Special Convention was convened ...
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Susan Beaumont Webinar
How do we lead when we don't know where we're going? How do you lead an organization stuck between an ...
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Getting your service Online
Paraphrasing from a webinar: Online is not the backdoor to worship anymore. It is the front door for many newcomers, ...
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ECC Community Spotlight
Dr. Robert Power Newport School Committee 2013 - 2015 “My time at ECC certainly impacted my work in schools and ...
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Congregational Renewal Resources
Congregational Renewal Resources Tuesdays at 2 (EST) conversations are offered to support lay and ordained leaders as they reengage their ...
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Ordination as a Priest
Derived from the Greek presbyteros, "elder, or "old man, " the term is used as a synonym for presbyter. Presbyters constituted ...
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Reporting Misconduct
Reporting an Incident of Misconduct To report an incident of misconduct by a lay volunteer or church employee in a parish, in ...
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Employee Assistance Program
The Church Pension Group provides an Employee Assistance Program to clergy and other church employees. Can it be of help ...
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Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs
The format and design of this manual should assist you in fulfilling the responsibilities for the financial oversight of a ...
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Emergency Management
Is your congregation prepared in the event of an emergency? If a devastating storm hits, or there is an outbreak ...
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Document retention guidelines for parish records
Here are two sources for information on what records your congregation needs to keep and for how long. The Manual ...
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Province I Coordinator
Province I of The Episcopal Church, comprised of the Episcopal dioceses in New England –Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Western ...
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Province 1 School for Deacons
The bishops of Province One are excited to announce the call of the Rev Dr. Lynda Tyson to be the ...
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Warning: Email and text message scams targeting ch...
If you receive an email that appears to be from the Bishop, or your clergy person, asking you to take ...
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Church Membership & Transfers
Membership Membership in the Episcopal Church is simply through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. If you have not been Baptized, ...
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Committees and Commissions
Click here for descriptions of committees and commissions of this Diocese of Rhode Island ...
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Fiduciary Responsibility Checklist
This checklist itemizes the practices that the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee of a church are responsible for overseeing to ensure ...
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Workshop materials from Leadership Institute on Ma...
A 'Parish Legacy Society' as Planned Giving How to create and nurture a Legacy Society, honoring those who name your ...
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How2charist videos and discussion guide
An instructed Eucharist in digital format, available 24/7. All of the How2charist videos for viewing on our diocesan video portal ...
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Bishop’s Address to Diocesan Convention 2018
Bishop W. Nicholas Knisely's address to the 228th Convention of the Diocese of Rhode Island. The Bishop's Address ...
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How do we publicize our parish’s events to a...
The best way to publicize your parish’s events is in your local community. Develop relationships with the community-news editors of ...
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Faith and Leadership
Faith & Leadership is a website that provides a host of resources designed to "create lasting change by strengthening the ...
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Permission for Remarriage
The bishop must give permission for remarriage when either or both parties have been married or in a civil union that ...
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Ordination as a Deacon
Deacons are members of one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry (with bishops and presbyters). In the Episcopal Church ...
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Lay Employee Pension Plan
All lay employees of the diocese or any congregation that work more than 1000 hours in a year receive pension ...
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Planning for Retirement
The Church Pension Fund provides ample resources to help you plan for your retirement. Begin by visiting their website: www.cpg.org ...
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Workers’ Compensation & Employer’...
Why Most Churches Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance • In most states, Workers’ Compensation is compulsory for all employees. • A priest ...
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Leadership Institute
The Leadership Institute is an annual, one-day event for congregational leaders offered each spring. It seeks to equip wardens, treasurers, bishop's committee/vestry ...
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