Rhode Island is a state built on religious freedom. After all, it was famously founded by Roger Williams, a clergyman, theologian, and outspoken advocate for the separation between church and state. After being exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to his religious views, Williams settled here, calling it Providence Plantations and declaring it a place of religious freedom. Rhode Island soon became a safe haven for religious outsiders and others who valued freedom of religion.
Today, Rhode Island’s rich heritage and commitment to individual liberty lives on. Head to Providence, the state capital, and you’ll see the Independent Man, a bronze statute that serves as a symbol of Rhode Island’s belief in political and personal liberties. It’s also home to the First Baptist Church of Providence, which stands as the oldest Baptist church in America.
According to the Pew Research Center, 75% of the adults in Rhode Island identify as Christian. Of those, 30% are Protestant and 42% are Catholic.
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You’re inspired to preach, teach, and spread the Word of God. Regardless of where this path will take you, you’ll be right at home in Rhode Island. But before you can begin serving others and spreading the Good News, you’ll need to make sure you have the necessary educational and experiential underpinnings to make your journey as successful and rewarding as you’ve imagined.
Here are the steps you’ll want to take to learn how to become a pastor in Rhode Island and answer your calling to the Lord:
Steps to Become a Pastor in Rhode Island
Step 1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministry, Pastoral Studies or Other Similar Major in Rhode Island
Whether your interests lie in missionary work, church leadership, or becoming a pastor, there's no better way to kickstart your career in the church than by earning an undergraduate degree in an area like Christian leadership, Christian studies, pastoral ministries, or religious studies.
Christian-focused undergraduate degrees are designed to prepare students to serve as leaders, trailblazers, and changemakers in the church, whether as pastors, deacons, youth pastors, or theologians. They also serve as an excellent foundation and preparation for graduate study through a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or similar advanced degree.
Through an undergraduate degree, you'll study the history of Christianity and the Scripture while also studying courses like psychology, communications, and science, all of which will prepare you to become a competent and knowledgeable minister and missionary.
Through a undergraduate degree in Christian studies or a similar degree, you'll be prepared to serve Rhode Island's devout population and continue the state's rich religious heritage.
Step 2. Look for Ministry Jobs and Gain Experience Serving the People and Churches of Rhode Island
Your bachelor's degree is sure to be put to good use in Rhode Island. Everywhere you look, there are opportunities to spread the Word of God and help your neighbors in Rhode Island. From ministering to youth to providing vital services to those in need to performing life-changing missionary work, there are abundant ways to get involved and gain experience.
For example, Providence Rescue Mission has been serving the homeless and needy since 1999. Their mission involves preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ while providing physical, emotional, educational, and rehabilitative services to those in need.
You'll also find many churches in Rhode Island that provide expansive outreach services, such as Godspeed Church in East Providence and In His Image Outreach Ministries in Providence.
Explore Ministry Jobs with One of Rhode Island's Many Churches
Your commitment and dedication to service, your Christian faith, and your educational foundation through a bachelor's degree in an area like Christian studies or religious studies will prepare you to assume exciting leadership roles in churches throughout Rhode Island.
From deacon to youth pastor to church administrator, there's no shortage of opportunities when it comes time to take on an important church role. Just some of the larger churches operating in Rhode Island where you'll find plentiful ministry and church jobs include:
- Awakening Church, Smithfield
- Calvary Baptist Church, Providence
- Calvary Worship Center, Woonsocket
- Carolina Free Baptist Church, Charlestown
- Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly, Providence
- Christian Hill Community Church, West Warwick
- Community Church of Providence
- Evangelical Friends Church of Newport, Middletown
- Faith Chapel, Cranston
- Hope Community Baptist Church, Providence
- James Evangelical Lutheran Church, Barrington
- Lighthouse Christian Church, North Smithfield
- Maple Root Baptist Church, Coventry
- New Covenant Church International, Providence
- Riverpoint Advent Christian Church, West Warwick
Step 3. Earn a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Similar Graduate Degree in Rhode Island and Establish Your Role in Christian Leadership
Interested in taking your education to the next level? The Master of Divinity (MDiv) or similar degree such as a Master of Theology or MA in Ministry is typically viewed as the highest degree in Christian education and is often required for ordained pastoral ministry positions.
Through an MDiv, you’ll achieve a strong, Biblical-theological foundation while also learning the practical skills that you’ll need to learn how to become a pastor and confidently assume a church leadership role. Many of these programs offer specialization options in areas like Pentecostal Studies, Youth Ministry, or Pastoral Counseling.
Many MDiv and similar master’s programs today are offered through a partially or fully online. Online Master of Divinity programs feature distance-based courses that allow students to continue their work in the church while earning their advanced degree.
Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Rhode Island
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, church directors in charge of religious activities and education earned an average salary of $50,200 in Rhode Island as of May 2020, while the top earners in this area (top 10%) earned about $86,840.
Rhode Island’s pastors and other members of clergy earned an average salary of $58,400, while those at the top of the pay scale (top 10%) earned about $96,890 during this time.
Step 4. Consider Forming a Christian Ministry of Your Own in Rhode Island
If your pastoral calling includes aspirations of planting your own church, an MDiv and experience in senior-level roles in the church provide an excellent foundation for this type of exciting endeavor.
Part of establishing your own church includes ensuring you follow all state and federal laws. In Rhode Island, this means registering your church as a nonprofit organization through the RI Department of State. You’ll also need to ensure you maintain your nonprofit organization by filing an annual report with the Department of State, maintaining a valid registered agent (the person who receives all official and legal documents on behalf of your nonprofit) and office with the Department of State, and paying all applicable taxes to the RI Division of Taxation.
You’ll also need to register your church at the federal level as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service. You’ll need to do this to obtain a Federal Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS, which you’ll use to open bank accounts, receive donations, and apply for a tax-exempt status.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job market trends for Religious Workers, Church Directors, and Clergy based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2022.
