Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18) and He governs His church through officers whom He appoints (Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11) and who are endowed by His Spirit with the gifts and graces needed to accomplish their work. There are two kinds of church officers: elders and deacons (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13).
Pastors
Description of the role of Elders
Each elder must meet the qualifications for the office which are set forth in (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5: 1-4). Elders are called “overseers” in Scripture because they are charged with the oversight of the assembly (Acts 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1) “pastors” because they shepherd the flock of God (Acts 20:28) and “rulers” because they govern and care for the house of God (1 Tim. 3:5; Heb. 13:17). The eldership is therefore responsible for preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20, 21, 27; Titus 1:9) watching over the welfare of the soul of every member of the church (Eph. 4:11 -13; Col. 1:28; 1 Thes. 2:11; Heb. 13:17) and the directing of the church in all its tasks (1 Tim. 3:4, 5).
Rob Ventura
(MDiv, Reformed Baptist Seminary) has been a pastor at Grace Community Baptist Church since 2007. He loves serving the local church and is also thankful for opportunities to preach both domestically and internationally. Pastor Ventura is the author of Expository Outlines and Observations on Romans and Equipped to Evangelize, and the coauthor of A Portrait of Paul, Spiritual Warfare, and God Is Our Refuge and Strength. He also served as the general editor of A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 and has contributed articles to journals, periodicals, and The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible.
Jack Buckley
Jack Buckley has been a pastor at Grace Community Baptist Church since 2003. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Rhode Island. Graciously saved as a boy, he has been an active churchman in two biblical Rhode Island churches for over five decades and has publicly taught the Bible in those contexts for more than four decades. He has also collaborated extensively with Pastor Ventura in various publishing endeavors while working bi-vocationally for leading technology companies in the areas of product development and program management.
Victor Claudio
Victor Claudio holds an (M.Div. from Reformed Baptist Seminary) and has been a member of Grace Community Baptist Church since 2012. In 2025, he was ordained to the office of elder. Victor has been joyfully married for 20 years and is blessed with two children. He is deeply committed to serving his local church and has also had the privilege of preaching in other congregations throughout New England and various other places.
Deacons
Description of the role of deacons
Each deacon must meet the qualifications for the office which are set forth in Acts 6:3 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Christ, the Head of the church, has instituted the office of deacon as an aid to the people of God in general, and to the elders of the church in particular (Acts 6:1-6). Deacons are responsible for administering the ordinary business, secular affairs, and benevolence needs of the church so that the elders may devote themselves without distraction to the biblical priorities of their office (Acts 6:2-4). Deacons must fulfill the duties of their office in cooperation with and under the oversight of the elders (Acts 6:3; 20:17, 28).
Bob Tetrault
Bob and his wife, Bonne, live in northeast Connecticut and have four adult children and ten grandchildren. Bob has taught Sunday school to our young men for more than 20 years, was involved in our nursing home ministry before COVID, and participates in our evangelistic efforts. He has also worked in a management role for a construction material supply company for nearly two decades.
Nate Blaser
Nate and his wife, Lisa, live in southern Rhode Island with their son. They also have two adult daughters who reside in South Carolina and Connecticut. Nate has served as a deacon at GCBC for 15 years in various roles and works as a public middle school teacher.