Beneficent is a Christian community. We gather together, first and foremost, because we seek to follow Jesus together and proclaim God's love for all people. We practice Christian traditions like communion and baptism, and seek to represent God's generous, transforming presence here in Providence. We are distinctly Christian, but if your beliefs or faith background are different, don't worry! You are still very welcome here. No matter what you believe or where you are on your own spiritual journey, you are welcome to join us as we seek God together. Beneficent is Congregational in structure and tradition, which means that the church is governed by its members and selects its own leaders. It also affirms the freedom of individuals in matters of faith. We do not have bishops or other external leaders who have formal authority over our congregation, though we do have denominational leaders who support local congregations administratively and help us coordinate with other churches as we work together on our common mission. Beneficent is a member church in the United Church of Christ denomination.