Amicable Is a Welcoming, Supportive Faith Community

“God is present,” announces the Rev. William A. Sterrett, as he begins each Sunday morning service.

“All the time, everywhere,” answers the congregation.

It is this statement of faith that gathers the community of at Tiverton Four Corners.

The church bulletin proclaims their mission: “Led by God and the Holy Spirit, they endeavor to follow Jesus Christ’s example by serving as a beacon of light, bringing the world into relationship with God. Welcoming all to join in their faith journey, they worship, work and learn together – building  community, nurturing hope, promoting wholeness and seeking justice by sharing God’s gifts of grace and love.

“I think what church is about is helping people become whole,” said Pastor Bill, who has led the congregation for the past 23 years. “The emphasis of my ministry is to put them on the path to wholeness. Our purpose as Christians should be to help everyone we come in contact with be all they can be.”

The son of a minister, Pastor Bill said that it took some time to discern his calling.

“I grew into it,” he said. “I always thought I would, but circumstances kept me at a distance.”

Born in Ohio, Pastor Bill was raised in the Evangelical Reform Church, which would later merge with United Church of Christ.

He attended high school in Kentucky and college in Illinois, graduating with a degree in psychology and American history. Earning a teaching certificate as well, he was employed for over a year in a school system in Louisville, KY, administering a federal program.

He spent the next year in Edinburgh, Scotland, studying theology taking non-degree courses.

“I liked the academic studies,” he said. “I was with a bunch of Presbyterians preparing for ministry in the Church of Scotland. It was a great experience.”

Then, two German friends invited him to visit them.

“They promised me a job and that they would teach me German,” he said. “I had a choice to go to Southern Germany or to fly home. I couldn’t do both.”

He enrolled at the University of Tuebingen and worked at odd jobs to support himself.

The experience would bear fruit.

“I figured out what I wanted to do,” he said.

Pastor Bill spent the next three years at Harvard Divinity School, earning a master’s degree. After graduating in 1983, he returned to Germany and married Barbara Beckmann.

“We had a long distance relationship for a while,” he said.

Today, Barbara is a licensed clinical social worker and the director of Child and Family Services in Fall River, MA. The couple has two daughters.

For three years, Pastor Bill served in churches in Germany.

Returning to the states, he accepted the position as pastor of Amicable Congregational Church in May 1988.  

“I am fairly liberal,” he said, noting that it could have been an issue for some of the more conservative church members.

“But now I’ve been here long enough, and people still want me to baptize their children,” he said smiling.

Young parents often come to Amicable, seeking help with their child’s spiritual formation.

“l encourage them to stay,” said Pastor Bill. “I want to help raise them to know God. Our Sunday school has really good teachers, and I believe strongly in the positive power of 40 minutes in Sunday school. I think 40 minutes spent in the classroom will influence them as well as five days in school.”

Every academic year has a theme. This year there are 21 photographs in the church hall that depict the ministry they represent.

“Through the various ministries, we come to see the face of God in our lives,” he said.

The music ministry is thriving under the direction of Vaughn Bryner.

“Our children in our youth choir don’t learn a song – they learn to sing,” Pastor Bill said.

In February, the youth group slept outdoors in a box to make them more aware of the travesty of homelessness.

“We slept out in the rain. It was miserable,” he said laughing. “But I like being with the youth.”

Their sacrifice raised funds for Crossroads of Rhode Island.

The older youth also are planning to do mission work in Stanten Island, working with the homeless and those with AIDS.

Pastor Bill said that his number one goal is to get people involved in the faith community.

“Worship services feed you,” he said. “The churches in town are doing really great stuff. There is a place where you can be fed and find God. This church is especially welcoming.”

The church bulletin says it best: “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.”

An Open and Affirming Church, Amicable Congregational United Church of Christ is located at 3736 Main Road. Sunday Worship and Church School are held at 10 a.m. During the season of Lent, Pastor Bill will preach about the treatment of women over the centuries, focusing on the importance of inclusive language and respect for one another. For more information, call the church office at (401) 624-4611, or visit www.amicable.org.