About Us

Staff

Rev. Valeria Schmidt

Intentional Interim Minister

(she/her)
rev.schmidt[at]beneficentchurch.org 

Raised on three different continents by a German diplomat family, Valeria came to the U.S. in 2009 to serve two rural UCC churches in Pennsylvania, then an American Baptist and UCC congregation in central Massachusetts. She left congregational ministry in 2022 to pursue a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and work as an interfaith chaplain at the University of Massachusetts Boston and then as a hospice chaplain in Rhode Island, which brought her to Providence.

A few years after venturing out into the “real world,” Valeria felt called back into the church, and especially to support churches going through transition. She has a passion for peace, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, which led her to Beneficent Church.

Valeria loves people, music, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Also, sleep.
In her free time, she can be found exploring the city on her bike, her feet, a scooter, or a RIPTA bus, sitting in coffee shops or restaurants (often with her spouse Allyn), running, reading, watching “Friends,” or – a newly discovered and quite addictive hobby – crocheting.

Valeria believes in the power of God’s love and is excited to be with the good people of Beneficent Church for the next couple of years to discern where God is calling them.

Frances-Elayne Johnson

Minister of Music

(she/her)
music (AT) beneficentchurch.org

Beginning piano lessons at age 7, Frances has strived to share and expand her music career. While still in high school, she joined The Good News Kids, an ecumenical singing group that toured the country spreading the gospel. During those same years, Frances started studying piano at the University of Rhode Island. After graduating high school, she enrolled at Roger Williams University majoring in music and theatre. Frances was accepted into their extended-course program in London, England, where she spent a year in advanced studies.

To “support” her career in music, Frances started working as an insurance field examiner in Boston. She continued for the next fifteen years working as an examiner by day, and working cabarets, supper clubs and theaters at night in Boston, MA and Chicago, IL.

In 2007, Frances returned “home” to church. She became the Music Director at Community Baptist Church in Newport, RI in 2007. In 2011, she took the position of Worship Leader at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD. 2013 brought Frances to Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Newport, RI as their Director of Music Ministry. She also is the Artistic Director of RPM Voices of Rhode Island.

Stasia Kranz

Director of Christian Education

(she/her)
education[at]beneficentchurch.org 

Stasia* Kranz (she/her) is an experienced religious educator and lover of all things theology related. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees from Wheaton College, MA in Religion and Public Health, and a Master of Education in Higher Education from Merrimack College. She has worked in several different kinds of nonprofits, working on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. However, Stasia loves the church world for the opportunity to make strong connections, and thus meaningful impact, in a smaller sized community. Stasia has experience with children of all ages and considers them her greatest teachers. After two years in religious education and youth ministry at a Unitarian Universalist church, Stasia is excited to return to her Christian roots where she finds spiritual home. Stasia is a certified Our Whole Lives facilitator and is passionate about comprehensive sexuality education — one of the most powerful ministries we can give to our children. She looks forward to building relationships in the Beneficent community and beyond.

In her free time, Stasia can be found exploring the Rhode Island restaurant scene or scavenging an antique mall. She is a fiber artist and a writer.

*Pronunciation note: “Stasia” is pronounced like the continent of Asia with ST at the start. 

Unique Charon

Nursery Attendant

(she/her)

Unique joined the Beneficent team in 2026. Unique, born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island has been working in early childhood education since 2019. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential bringing both knowledge and hands-on experience to her work with young children.

Unique is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and loving environment where children can learn, grow, and feel cared for. She believes that every child deserves patience, encouragement, and a strong foundation of love during their early years. Through her work in the church nursery, she hopes to help families feel comfortable and supported while their little ones are cared for with kindness and compassion.

Unique is grateful for the opportunity to serve in the nursery ministry and be part of a church community that supports children and families.

Katie Bermudez

Nursery Attendant

(she/her)

Katie joined the Beneficent team in 2026. With a passion for caring for and supporting children, Katie has been working in the social services field since 2019. As a church nursery worker , she strives to create a safe nurturing environment where every child feels valued and cared for. Katie prioritizes the safety and well being of any child in her care and believes in the importance of providing compassionate, attentive and dependable support to children and their families.  

Will Cooley

A/V Technician

(he/him)
av (AT) beneficentchurch.org

Will Cooley, born and raised in the city of Orlando, FL., was immersed from a young age in the world of music that fueled his fascination with audio and technology. As a teenager, he spent countless hours experimenting with recording equipment, learning the fundamentals of sound engineering, and honing his technical skills. This early exposure laid a solid foundation for shaping his dual interests in both performing and producing music.

After high school, Will spent the next five years performing across the southeast, playing both intimate gigs and larger venues. Drawing on his experiences from Orlando, New York, and every stop in between, Will currently spends his time in Rhode Island blending his technical and creative capabilities to produce high-quality audio and video content.

Along with ongoing regular performances, Will tutors aspiring musicians, drawing immense satisfaction from sharing his knowledge with others. In addition to such a fulfilling and dynamic professional life, Will enjoys balancing his work by spending time with his family. He looks to his future with excitement, eager to embrace whatever new challenges and opportunities wait for him on this journey.

Bob Ryder

Facilities and Maintenance

(he/him)

Bob joined the Beneficent team in 2024 and has been busy ever since making improvements around the church. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his new home and cooking for his family. 

Charlie P.

Office and Communications Manager

(he/they)

Charlie joined the Beneficent team in 2024. They enjoy pizza, writing code, and asking Bob to fix things for them. 

Cory Bouchard

Parking Attendant

(he/him)

Cory joined the Beneficent team in 2024.

The Beneficent Church community exemplifies and lives out the
affirmation, “All are welcome” —something churches often profess but fail to honor. In Beneficent Church, we have been embraced as we are and have found our long-sought-after spiritual home.

Leslie and John F.

I am proud to be a lifelong member of Beneficent! I grew up in our
Sunday School, married another Beneficent member who sang in the choir, and raised our family in our Sunday School.

Irene H.

Beneficent was a Godsend to me when I was grieving the loss of my parents. I found it to be a comforting and completely accepting place for me personally.

Valerie T.