Pastors


Providence Presbyterian Church has two Pastors, Dave Watermulder and Chris Foster, who minister together as co-pastors.


dave and lisa
Dave and Lisa Watermulder with their daughter Abigail Grace

Rev. David (Dave) Watermulder, Co-Pastor, is a lifelong Presbyterian and graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary. Dave grew up in California, which gave him an enduring love for the San Francisco Giants and for good Mexican food. After earning a BA in History from George Washington University, he spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the West African nation of Cape Verde. During this time of working as an English teacher and youth worker, Dave began to feel the call to ministry, which ultimately led him to Providence Presbyterian Church in January of 2007.

Dave is married to Lisa and they have a beautiful daughter named Abigail Grace. He loves to read, travel, explore new cultures and languages, and play Ultimate Frisbee. When not around the church, you can find Dave at his favorite coffee shop, the Seven Stars Bakery.




chris and family with elephant
Chris and Andrew Foster with Janak and Ann

Rev. Christine (Chris) Johnson Foster, Co-Pastor. Born in Washington, DC and raised in Washington State, Chris attended Princeton University as an undergraduate majoring in Politics before returning to Washington State for a couple of years of work prior to starting seminary. She is a 1988 graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary and was ordained and served as Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care and Mission Outreach at First Presbyterian Church, West Chester , Pennsylvania (1989-97) before moving to Rhode Island . Since moving to Rhode Island she has been in ministry as Associate Minister, First Congregational Church, Fall River (1998-2001) and temporary supply to Barrington Presbyterian Church. She is married to Brown University Professor/Director of the Population Studies Center, Andrew Foster, with two teens, Ann and Janak, adopted as toddlers from India. When not in ministry part time with the church, you can find her out and about in the community, leading Girl Scouts or running with her kids' schedules.


Virginia Smanik
Virginia Smanik


Rev. Jinny Smanik, Parish Associate, has served a number Presbyterian churches over the past 30 years, as teacher, Elder, chair of a variety of committees, and as Director of Christian Education. Jinny was ordained in 2006 as the Designated Associate Pastor for Children and Families at Union Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, New York where she served for 2 years before moving to Connecticut. In her capacity as Christian Educator Jinny developed a variety of programs for children, youth and adults. She is an avid quilter, knitter, reader and learner, and is the mother of three adult children: The Rev. Kate Smanik, who serves as the Director of Spiritual Life at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, Meg Walker, an elementary school teacher in Killingly, Connecticut, and David, who works for Cantor Fitzgerald in Boston. Jinny currently lives in Brooklyn, Connecticut with her husband Bob, who works at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. Meg and Bob are both members of PPC.