North Providence clergy, NAACP urge community forum after attempted attack on Shiloh Gospel Temple

Leaders representing Shiloh Gospel Temple told the North Providence Town Council on March 1 that someone attempted to set fire to the church’s doors and windows during a Black History Month service and urged the town to join a planned community forum.

Gerard Catala, president of the NAACP Providence branch, thanked police and town officials for their response and asked the council to place the event on the meeting record. Catala said the congregation wants the town and state to “come together and stand together” and urged attendance at the special meeting the group plans to hold.

Minister Michael David Clark, representing the church, said the incident was “tragic” and could have been much worse, and described the proposed forum as an opportunity to “shed some great light” and build a statewide conversation. Terrell Stevens, the church administrator, said five separate small fires were lit at the property and described immediate repair and insurance concerns including potential required upgrades such as fire doors.

Pastor Eric Perry recounted seeing a man attempting to break in on camera while flying back to Rhode Island, said police responded within minutes, and expressed worry about inflammatory social‑media posts that followed the event. “The church didn’t burn down,” Perry said, stressing that the congregation survived and wants a constructive response.

Council members thanked the visitors and agreed to work with church leaders to schedule the community forum. No formal policy or ordinance was adopted at the meeting; Catala and church leaders said they also hope the town will support efforts to seek elevated charges — including consideration of a hate‑crime designation — as appropriate through law‑enforcement channels.

The council said it would follow up by phone and through the clerk’s office to coordinate the forum and any further official actions.