Rev. Dr. Calvin Rice, a native of Union, South Carolina, was educated in the Union County public school system where he graduated in the last segregated class from the historic Sims High School. Additionally, Rev. Rice is a New York State Certified Chaplain and serves as the Protestant Chaplain at the South Beach Psychiatric Center, Staten Island, New York.
On July 14, 2004, Rev. Rice was overwhelmingly elected to succeed NJBC Founder, Rev. James C. Kelly, and began his pastorate on January 2, 2005.Prior to this pastorate, Rev. Rice served the prestigious First Central Baptist Church (FCBC) of Staten Island for twenty years. Under his leadership the church membership grew from 35 to more than 2,500. While serving at FCBC he founded the Central Family Life Center, a 15,000 square foot multipurpose facility, the first of its kind on Staten Island.
Rev. Rice is a “uniquely” gifted preacher and teacher and a highly respected civil, political and religious leader in New York City where he is active in many community organizations. He is/or has held leadership positions on the following organizations and boards. Second Vice President of The Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater NY and Vicinity, The New York Urban League, The American Red Cross, The College of Staten Island Advisory Board, The American Baptist Churches of Metro NY, The Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Boy Scouts of America, Sisters of Charity Medical Center, Vice Moderator of Eastern Baptist Association, Vice President of New York State Progressive Baptist Convention, Chairman of Finance PNBC Eastern Region, A Member of Mayor Bloomberg’s NYC Economic Development Task Force and Staten Island Borough Presidents Anti-Bias Task Force.
In 1997 Rev. Rice received the distinct recognition of becoming the only living African American to have a NYC street in the Borough of Staten Island named in his honor, at the same time he was inducted into the Staten Island College “Hall of Fame”. Pastor Rice has received more than 75 plaques and certificates. He has also received proclamations from the Governor of New York, three NYC Mayors, one US Senator and two NYC Councilmen. In addition he is the only Staten Islander to receive recognition from The New York Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators for Community and Economic Development for his work, while leading the eminent FCBC, New York from 1985 until December 2004, He along with Father James Dorney were designated Staten Island chairpersons of President Bush’s Faith Based Initiative by Congressman Vito Fossella.
Rev. Rice has been featured in more than thirty Newspaper and magazine articles. He has appeared on ABC television and received their coveted “Living The Dream” award. He was also featured in the Oxford book of “Who’s Who” registry. He has preached throughout the north and southeastern states of America as well as in the Middle East.In September of 1999 Rev. Rice established the Genesis Bible Institute a school dedicated to the training of ministers and lay people for effective work in ministry. The school is an accredited satellite of Virginia Union Seminary of Richmond, VA via Eastern Baptist Association of Brooklyn, NY. In addition Rev. Rice has licensed, ordained and mentored 22 ministers, eight of whom are pastoring churches. He also helped to organize and establish two Liberian congregational churches. In addition he has published a booklet entitled “This Is My Story”, excerpts and highlights of a unique and successful ministry spanning twenty three years along with selected sermons.
Pastor Rice’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the College of Staten Island and a Master’s in Religion from the New York Theological Seminary. He completed his graduate studies at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health of NYC in conjunction with Hebrew Union Seminary. He has also attended The Catawba Bible College of Rock Hill, SC, and the National Theological Seminary of Baltimore, MD, and holds a certificate of study from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem Israel.