Govans Presbyterian Church has called Andries Coetzee, a native of South Africa who lived through that country’s transition to democracy and emerged with a deep commitment to racial justice, as its new pastor. Coetzee is the first openly gay pastor, head of staff, for the historic church in North Baltimore. Coetzee witnessed his country’s transition from apartheid to democracy as a teenager and young adult, giving him a unique perspective on the power of truth and reconciliation and fueling his…
Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” The new community fridge is now open! The Baltimore Community Fridge Network built and installed a structure, a fridge and freezer, plus a pantry for our community to help feed hungry people around the clock. The fridge and pantry are located near the front of the church, accessible…
In its year-end Best of Baltimore issue, the Baltimore Beat named the two pieces by Ky Vassor in our sanctuary as part of the “Best of Baltimore’s Arts Scene” in the category of “Art in a Non-Traditional Space.” Installed in February, 2025 the two eight-foot acrylic panels depict disenfranchised community members and call attention to the history of the church, which is built on land once worked by enslaved people. The artwork invites reflection on history, faith, and justice, acknowledging…
Govans Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce the award of a $160,000 grant from the State of Maryland through the Fiscal Year 2026 Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI). This funding will support the expansion of the Govans Community Farm located at 5828 York Road in Baltimore. The Govans Community Farm is an idea born from our work promoting Racial Justice. Recognizing the continued impact and legacy of past injustices, we see an opportunity to address this legacy through the cooperative…
When we rush through a doorway, we miss what God is doing in the crossing. This summer, Melissa Kirsch of The New York Times talked about slack water, the brief pause in the tidal cycle when the tide has finished coming in and has not yet begun to pull back out. The wind may still blow, and the surface may still ripple, yet beneath it all, the current rests. Even when life stirs around us, we can find that rest…
This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Sunday. We remember siblings who have gone before us and the full stories of their lives, their struggles alongside their courage. Pastor Dries meditates on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1–12, and “The Courage We Forget” and reminds you to give thanks for the saints in your own story, and discover how their courage might shape ours today.
“To Put the Protest Back in Protestantism” is inspired from church historian Diana Butler Bass’s provocative essay on the radical origins of the Reformation where she reminds us that Martin Luther and the early reformers were not necessarily polite; they were protesters who stood up against religious conventions in thrall to power, challenging systems of oppression and economic cruelty to embody God’s tangible bounty for all. Grounded in Matthew 22:34–46, our worship wrestles with the Great Commandment: to love God…