About Us

Clergy

The Reverend Jeffrey A. Jencks, Rector

Father Jeff came to Saint John's in 1987 and is the church's twelfth rector. He was received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop George Hunt in Providence, Rhode Island in April 1986. In 1988 he was called by the Community of Saint John's to develop strategies for the spiritual renewal of a century-old church. After three years of mission development, Father Jeff was called to be the Rector, and has served as Rector since that time. Father Jeff received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, Warwick, Rhode Island, and a Masters Divinity Degree in theology from Saint Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland. He previously served as Chaplain at Towson State University, Towson, Maryland and was Assistant pastor at Saint Mary's in Charlestown, and Saint James in West Warwick, Rhode Island. In April 2005, Father Jeff was installed by the Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode, as the Rector of both Saint John's and Saint Martin's Episcopal Church in Pawtucket following the yoking in shared ministry of these two parishes. The yoking agreement was dissolved while he was in Iraq with the “closing” of St Martins. He returned to St John’s as their rector after returning from his deployment to Iraq.

Father Jeff also serves as a military chaplain with the Rhode Island Army National Guard, and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Father Jeff enlisted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard on April 6, 1991 as a chaplain, First Lieutenant, in HQ, HQ Battery, 1st Battalion 103rd Field Artillery Brigade, Providence, Rhode Island. On May 7, 1996, he was transferred to HQ 118th Military Police Battalion, Warwick, Rhode Island. In February 2003, while serving with the 118th Military Police Battalion, he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for 15 months. His military studies include the Chaplain's Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Basic Chaplain Sustainment Training Course, abuse counseling, suicide prevention, crisis intervention and family counseling. Father Jeff was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in March 2005.

His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3rd Award), the National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon. His state awards include the Rhode Island Star Medal for his role as Program Manager, Operation GUARDian, the Rhode Island Commendation Medal, the Rhode Island Defense Service Medal, and the Rhode Island Service Medal with "X" device.

Father Jeff is married to Eileen, who retired from the National Guard in 2003. They reside in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and have a son, Micah

In July 2005 Father Jeff returned to active duty with the Rhode Island Army National Guard. Following several months of training, he deployed in October for his second tour of duty in Iraq and returned home in October 2006.