The Community
Serving our community is now, and always has been, a key part of Beneficent Church’s story. In fact, our understanding of service goes beyond the traditional notion of church.
In addition to helping a member who’s having a tough time or collecting food for a local food pantry, we also respond to bigger community needs. Did you know:
- The Providence chapter of the NAACP was founded from Beneficent Church? In fact, its office was on our campus for many years.
- Rhode Island’s Interfaith Counseling Center – a faith-based mental health provider – started from an initiative in our space?
- Beneficent was one of the downtown churches that founded Better Lives Rhode Island, a social service agency offering support, empowerment, and basic needs to thousands of our neighbors each year?
While our Justice & Witness Ministries Committee and our Community Ministry Team are the groups leading most of our service-related work, everyone at Beneficent plays a role. The common elements underlying all of our service work are our mission and the desire to make a difference.
How Has Beneficent Reached Beyond Our Walls?
Speak Peace Symposium
This annual community event includes a day of presentations and activities focused on creating inner peace and mindfulness, believing that internal peace will encourage practicing peace in our communities. Including speakers, artists, and hands-on workshops, the event is led by the Justice and Witness Ministries Committee and sponsored by Beneficent Church.
Community Meals with Youth Pride RI
Members of the Justice and Witness Ministries Committee have sponsored and served meals at a weekly dinner at Youth Pride RI. All LGBTQ+ youth are welcome to this regular gathering, where they share food and fun in an open and accepting community.
Advocacy at the Rhode Island State House
Senior Minister Elizabeth Chandler Felts joined other faith leaders from around the state as part of the Rhode Island Religious Coalition for Reproductive Freedom. Representing the diversity of Rhode Island’s faith traditions, their persistent action and collective witness supported passage of the Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA) S0152A and the Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA) H5125A in 2019.
Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the Rhode Island State House
Each year, Beneficent members and clergy stand together at the Fighting Poverty with Faith Vigil organized by the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition. This annual event reminds elected officials of their responsibility to those living in poverty, providing inspiration and encouragement to officials so that together we can improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders and reduce poverty in our state.
Ever since we started attending, Beneficent aided our family through the toughest times we never saw coming. When I was praying to God for discernment about whether to keep the lights on, or tell my children we could only afford tap water in the house for the month with no more milk or juice, Beneficent stepped in to help, without me having to ask. Prayers go up and blessings come down. Beneficent is a blessing.
Amy Santiago
I find Beneficent to be a place filled with people who want to live out what I love about being a part of the UCC, with a commitment to figuring out what it means to be multiracial and anti-racist and just peace, open and affirming and welcoming to all.
Valerie Tutson
I love Beneficent because it is a big part of my life. Here I went on my first spiritual mission and enjoy gathering with neighbors and friends after worship. To give back, I’ve served as a Deacon and with the Beneficent Society as well as the Investment and Nominating committees; I also have been both Vice Moderator and Moderator. Currently, I serve on the Personnel Committee and as the Chair of Finance Committee and hold other roles. Beneficent is my family, and I support it however I can.
Jay Frails