Rabbi Rosenberg honored by R.I. State Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, Rabbi James Rosenberg and Sandy Rosenberg. /Marty Cooper

CRANSTON – Rabbi James Rosenberg was honored with the Hebert W. Bolles Life Achievement Award, given by the R.I. State Council of Churches at the fifth annual Heroes of Faith breakfast Oct. 30.

Rosenberg, a columnist for The Voice and rabbi emeritus of Temple Habonim in Barrington, received the award for his deep involvement in state and local interfaith activities.

He received the award along with five other Heroes of Faith and 18 Partners in Faith at a breakfast at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. About 300 leaders of religious and volunteer groups were present at the event.

In his remarks, Rosenberg said that he’d reflected on what it means to receive such an honor and, “I have come to the conclusion that the R.I. State Council of Churches has most graciously acknowledged the fact that, as of now, I am an old man.”

“Let’s face it,” he said. “Young men and women, though far more accomplished than I will ever be, cannot be recognized for life achievement by virtue of the fact that they have not yet lived long enough.”

Rosenberg went on to discuss what he considers to be his full life, having just celebrated his 70th birthday. He and his wife Sandy have been married for 47 years; they have two children and five grandchildren.

He discussed his maturing understanding of interfaith matters with his characteristic good humor. “As rabbi of Temple Habonim in Barrington for 33 years, I made interfaith work a top priority on both a local and statewide level,” he told the crowd. He said he would like to think that he has been learning and growing in his understanding of interfaith matters from the beginning.

Those gathered at the early morning celebration chuckled and clapped at Rosenberg’s light-hearted remarks.

And they listened intently to remarks by other award winners, including the other recipient of the same award, given to individuals who have continually and consistently served the community from a perspective of hope and faith. Sister Mary Motte FMM, of West Greenwich, a member of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, an international Roman Catholic missionary community doing work in France, China, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Korea. She also does research on emerging trends in missions and served with the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. But she was particularly recognized for her service on the Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission, which Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, executive minister of the R.I. State Council of Churches, called “a group not for the theological faint of heart.”

The Faith Leader of the Year award went to Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Williams, pastor of the 500 member King’s Cathedral in the Olneyville section of Providence. Williams is an innovator in local and international programs, including The Well-Life Project that funds freshwater wells in Kitwe Zambia. He serves on many state, city and civic boards. Anderson spoke about his “inspirational vision.” Like many award winners, he had a vocal group of supporters at the event.

Rev. Mary Margaret Earl, a Unitarian Universalist minister affiliated with the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Providence, received the Interfaith Award. She is the associate director of McAuley Ministries, a nonprofit providing basic human needs to the hungry, homeless and poor in South Providence. She is also president of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Anderson called her “a bridge that brings people together.”

“You have a special gift that makes folks from a variety of traditions feel comfortable working together,” he said.

In her remarks, Earl cited the courage and kindness of those she interacts with each day. “I think anyone who rises in the morning from the street or the shelter bed and keeps trying demonstrates an amazing courage,” she said. “They are heroes. The heroes we stand beside to accompany on a journey far harder than we will know.”

The George Dickson Kenney Stewardship Award was given to the Episcopal Charities Fund of Rhode Island, a funding agency for social service programs. Founded in 1952, it is a link between healers and those in need of healing and has encouraged ecumenical partnerships. In 2013, grants were distributed to 70 agencies throughout the state.

The Community and Faith Service Award, presented to an individual who represents a social service, educational or humanitarian group that works with the faith community to achieve shared goals, was given to Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, a Cranston resident and two-term lieutenant governor for her leadership. Anderson particularly cited her leadership in the area of healthcare reform as chair of the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission, the state body tasked with the implementation of the federal healthcare reform law. He also mentioned her work with the Food Stamp Challenge.

The Partners in Faith award winners came from a wide swath of agencies and groups throughout Rhode Island. All were presented on stage by their sponsors.

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.