Pastors of Tabernacle Baptist
1874-1897 Rev. Benjamin B. Cottrell
1898-1902 Rev. Walter B. Greene
1902-1903 Mr. Charles Dayhoff
1903-1906 Rev. Burton Minard
1907-1910 Rev. George M. Caldwell
1910-1912 Mr. Herbert K. Dennis
1912-1913 Rev. Frank J. Follansbee
1913-1916 Rev. William H. Lane
1916-1922 Rev. Clarke J. Brown
1922-1924 Rev. Jarvis C. Worden
1924-1930 Rev. Henry K. Vye
1930-1942 Rev. Harry W. McIntire
1942-1950 Rev. Walter F. Parmelee
1950-1954 Rev. Frank J. Coleman
1954-1955 Rev. Russell Allen
1955-1957 Rev. Dr. Merrick Streeter
1957-1959 Mr. Donald Cunningham
1959-1966 Rev. Harry R. Collins
1967-1970 Rev. John H. Brooks
1970-1971 Rev. David R. Kirkpatrick
1971-1979 Rev. Raymond J. Bates
1980-1986 Rev. Dr. Harold VanBroekhoven
1986-1987 Rev. Donald Anderson
1987-1988 Commander Ben Hornsby*
1988-1990 Rev. Donald Anderson
1991-1994 Rev. David Picciano
1994-1995 Rev. Patricia Liberty
1995-2016 Rev. Dr. Joyce Duerr
2011-2017 Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley
2017- Rev. Michael Mercier
Named Honorary Pastor at Retirement
Named Pastor Emeritus(Emerita) at Retirement
Interim Pastor
*Chaplains Corps, USN
Letters from our previous two pastors
===Interim Pastor Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley
June 16, 2017
To my Brothers and Sisters at Tabernacle Baptist,
As I prepare for my last Sunday with you as your interim pastor, I want to express my gratitude for the many ways you have welcomed both Dave and me into your community over these past seven months. We can personally attest to the warmth and love you offer all who come through your doors. It has been our joy to worship with you and my privilege to bring God’s Word each week, experience your fellowship and minister with you. I have every confidence in the Spirit that God is preparing a permanent pastor for Tabernacle and commit to continue praying until you discover each other.
In the meantime, it has been an inspiration to me to see you envisioning so many new ideas for ministry. I know those dreams will become reality as your desire to reach out more and more into your community with the love and grace of Jesus Christ grows, empowered by the Holy Spirit. When your new pastor accepts God’s call, your enthusiasm for sharing the Good News in new ways will be a strong foundation for your partnership in the Gospel. My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s was to his church:
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers. -1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 MSG
Blessings and Love, in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley
To my Brothers and Sisters at Tabernacle Baptist,
As I prepare for my last Sunday with you as your interim pastor, I want to express my gratitude for the many ways you have welcomed both Dave and me into your community over these past seven months. We can personally attest to the warmth and love you offer all who come through your doors. It has been our joy to worship with you and my privilege to bring God’s Word each week, experience your fellowship and minister with you. I have every confidence in the Spirit that God is preparing a permanent pastor for Tabernacle and commit to continue praying until you discover each other.
In the meantime, it has been an inspiration to me to see you envisioning so many new ideas for ministry. I know those dreams will become reality as your desire to reach out more and more into your community with the love and grace of Jesus Christ grows, empowered by the Holy Spirit. When your new pastor accepts God’s call, your enthusiasm for sharing the Good News in new ways will be a strong foundation for your partnership in the Gospel. My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s was to his church:
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers. -1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 MSG
Blessings and Love, in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley
===Pastor Rev Dr. Joyce B. Duerr

Pastor Joyce
The Rev. Dr. Duerr completed her doctoral studies at Boston University School of Education and her seminary training at Andover Newton Theological School.
After teaching elementary School and being a school principal (once U.S. Dept. of Education Principal of the Year), "Pastor Joyce"
served as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hope from 1995 to 2016. She took several groups to LaRomana on mission trips, and served on the WARM Board of Directors in Westerly. Pastor Joyce also served as president of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and on the Governing Board of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches.
After teaching elementary School and being a school principal (once U.S. Dept. of Education Principal of the Year), "Pastor Joyce"
served as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hope from 1995 to 2016. She took several groups to LaRomana on mission trips, and served on the WARM Board of Directors in Westerly. Pastor Joyce also served as president of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and on the Governing Board of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches.