Tabernacle Baptist Church of Fiskeville

PASTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

JANUARY 2007

I have become a servant according to the gift of od’s grace that was given me. Ephesians 3:7

It is with the gift of God’s grace that I enter my twelfth year as your pastor. It is my prayer that as a servant of God I will be faithful in carrying out the responsibilities of my ministry in your midst.

For the past two years we have been giving attention to the “Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches” as part of our participation in the Natural Church Development program. Survey results indicate that we have shown nominal growth in the areas of Empowering Leadership, Passionate Spirituality, Functional Structures, and Need-Oriented Evangelism. We have shown significant growth in Loving Relationships, our identified minimum factor area. This growth is evidenced in many ways within our faith family.

Other focus areas include Holistic Small Groups and Inspiring Worship Service. Recognizing that as a family size church we are a small group, our concentration is on developing a more meaningful, Spirit filled worship service. Together we seek to become more centered in Christ through active lay participation and Biblical preaching within our intergenerational context. We are richly blessed to have many in our church family share their gifts through active participation in worship. This year we welcomed new members Carrie and Lori Pimentel. We rejoiced with the family of Katarina Comeau who was dedicated on June 11 and we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of our Pastor Emeritus David Picciano on June 4.

As a recognized 2010 church, we have placed an emphasis on Caring Ministries. At our annual meeting last year the church adopted a policy on Pastoral Counseling. Pastoral Care is a primary component of this policy. This report reflects some of the areas addressed during this past year.

Pastoral Care

The pastor will maintain regular contact with those in the church family and will meet with parishioners for this purpose or by specific request of parishioners. The pastor will exercise good judgment in determining the location and circumstances of such visits.

Contacts including emails, phone calls, personal notes, and home visits have been made with most of the church constituency. Specific requests are followed up in a timely manner.

The pastor will place special emphasis on visiting with those who are newly bereaved, hospitalized, home bound, or in long term care facilities.

Visits have been made at Kent Hospital, South Bay Manor, Haven Health Center, Shady Acres and Riverview Nursing Homes as well as home visits following hospitalization and rehab services. Personal contact is also maintained with those who have recently lost loved ones.

The pastor will serve as a resource for those addressing end-of-life issues. At the time of death the pastor will provide support, assistance with final arrangements, and the conducting of a memorial service and/or interment as agreed upon by the family of the deceased.

Attendance at a conference on End of Life Issues cosponsored by the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and the Office of the Attorney General of Rhode Island provided your pastor with additional resources in this area. Arrangements for memorial services and pastoral care have been provided to family members at the times of the deaths of Ella Baker, David Picciano and Betsy Scorpio-Dembishack.

The pastor will be available in times of crisis to provide immediate assistance and spiritual support.

The pastor continues to be available to provide assistance and spiritual support in times of crises.

Marriage Preparation

The pastor will meet with the couple preparing for marriage for four or more sessions.  These sessions will be designed to address the couple’s specific needs and concerns regarding their marriage.

Following preparation sessions, the pastor officiated at the marriage of Suzanne Soprano and Warren Hill in the church sanctuary on May 24, 2006

Personal Discipleship

• Spiritual Nurture – Regular sessions with my Spiritual Director, sharing in a Clergy Covenant Group, and occasional retreats help me to keep my own life Centered in Christ.

• Professional Enrichment – Participation in a Clergy Bible Study group, our regional Ministers Council meetings, and occasional professional development conferences supplement my regular reading of church leadership materials. I also serve on ABCORI’s Standing Committee on Ordained Ministry and as In-Care pastor for Andover Newton Seminarian Toni DiPina. These opportunities keep me abreast of issues and concerns in our faith communities.

• Community Outreach – I continue to serve on the Board of Directors of the Andover Newton Alum Association. In addition, I serve on the Board of Directors of the Westerly area homeless shelter and was recently elected to the Governing Board of the RI State Council of Churches. These opportunities keep me in touch with what is happening in the wider community.

I ask that you continue to keep me aware of situations in which I can be of pastoral assistance. It is with joy that I serve as your pastor in our shared ministry at Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Joyce B. Duerr, Pastor

  I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me.  

Ephesians 3:7