About PPC

Our world needs inclusive Christian communities where belonging and shared focus on the Gospel can unite diverse and sometimes divided neighbors. We feel called to create such a community in our own church through vibrant, inclusive, multicultural worship services, a hopeful spirit grounded in Christ’s love, communal prayer, welcoming hospitality, attentiveness to the needs of people of all ages and walks of life, and a variety of activities that provide opportunities to build relationships with Christ, with each other, and with our broader community. 

We also feel called to respond to the needs of our marginalized neighbors. Our approach has not been to identify a target area of intense focus, rather, we use the connections and callings within our congregation to respond to a variety of needs as they arise. Examples include outreach to refugee families, a support group for new mothers, solidarity with stigmatized groups, work with a food pantry in our church’s immediate neighborhood, self-education about systemic racism, and opening our church building for local support groups to meet. Each of these activities has broadened our relationships with our neighbors and brought new people into our church community.    

LEADERSHIP

T. J. DeMarco
Pastor

Pastor T. J. began serving PPC in January of 2023. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He previously served congregations in Worcester, MA, Warwick, RI, and as a healthcare chaplain. He has an undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies (Zion Bible College, now Northpoint Bible College) and a Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2006 with a focus on urban ministry. After seminary, he served as a pastoral care resident at the Chaplaincy Center and Miriam Hospital in Providence. There he learned how to be an active listener, non-anxious, and non-judgmental presence to accompany people from diverse backgrounds in their individual spiritual development. He grew up and was educated in the evangelical tradition. But after several years of study, reflection, practicing ministry and conversations with friends, has adopted a more progressive view of the Bible and faith. His sermons combine a critical approach to the Bible with storytelling, which he hopes helps to foster an awareness of God as well as makes space for creative and playful spiritual exploration. He grew up in Scituate, RI and now lives in Pawtucket with his wife Molly and three children.

Elena Kishkovich
Musician & Chancel Choir Director

Elana came from Moscow, Russia bringing very little with her besides her Masters in Music. Since moving to RI she has played concerts in the MIT Chapel, King’s Chapel in MA, and in various venues in Providence and Newport. She has been teaching music for over a decade at the Wheeler school, as well as offering private lessons. Elana has a passion for the history of Christianity, and philosophy. Additionally, she finds joy in exploring fine arts, world literature, and gardening.

Dan Blackford
Admin

DEACONS

Suzanne Affigne

Caroline Crocker

Jill Moles

Esther Sowah

Monica Vander Baan

SESSION MEMBERS

Gina Bae

Lori Girard

Matt Harrison

Milton Liu

Lee Vander Baan

Julia Vaca

ABOUT PRESBYTERIANS

  • Presbyterians are “reformed and always reforming.” This means that we trace our roots to the Reformed Movement (starting with John Calvin in the 17th Century) but are always open to reforming as we learning as we receive new information. We’ve answered a few common questions below. But you can also click here (link: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/what-we-believe/)

  • Yes, we affirm the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament to be the Word of God. But we do not believe that it is perfect or “inerrant”. We believe that only God is perfect. To claim that the Bible is perfect would be to make it a god. Instead, Presbyterians believe that the Bible bears witness to God.

  • Yes.

  • Not all Presbyterians are accepting. But we, as part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) welcome, affirm, ordain to any role in the church, and marry people of all sexual orientations and genders. This is something that has changed over the years because we are always reforming. If you’d like to talk more about this, feel free to reach out to Pastor T. J. at theodoredemarco@icloud.com.

  • We believe that salvation is communion with God in this life and the next. We believe that all people have rebelled against God and that the Holy Spirit calls us back to God.

If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to our pastor at theodoredemarco@icloud.com or fill out a contact form.