Phillips Memorial Baptist Church
Phillips Crew
Rev. Dr. Donald R. Rasmussen
Pastor Emeritus
Born October 11, 1939 in New York City, Don then lived upstate New York while in high school and college.After seminary, his first ministry was at Jackson Street Baptist Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained and served for four years as Minister of Education. In 1968, he and his family moved to Rhode Island where he served as Assistant, then Associate, then Senior Pastor of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church. On January 1, 1997 he began service as Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. He retired from that position on January 1, 2007. In retirement he works with Natural Church Development©, tutors English as a second language, and enjoys RV travel with his five grandchildren.Both he and his wife Ginny have served on the General Board of the American Baptist Churches USA and have 14 years of combined experience as members of that board. Don served as chair of the Credentials and Caucus Committee and on the Board of National Ministries on the Finance Committee and on the Social and Ethical Responsibility in Investments Committee which he chaired. He also served three years on the board of the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board. As executive minister, Don served on the Regional Executive Ministers Council as secretary/treasurer and on the General Executive Council of the denomination.During his time leading Rhode Island Baptists, Don instituted an Elder Care Ministry program with a full time director; moved the constituency to accept electronic information distribution, reorganized and merged the denomination and camp staffs; built a new office facility, developed an overnight retreat center for pastors; began a “missionary in residence” program and increased volunteer help seven fold. He believes that his greatest accomplishment in ministry is the eleven members of Phillips Memorial that entered professional ministry during his tenure as pastor.Education:
Bachelor of Arts from Houghton College (1961)Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (1964)Master of Science in counselor education from University of Scranton (1967) Doctor of Ministry with honors from Andover Newton Theological School. (1974)Phillips Memorial Baptist Church
565 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, Rhode Island 02910
401-467-3300
fax: 401-467-3302
