Worship at Govans
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. In-person and online.
Location Details
5828 York Rd. Baltimore, MD 21212
News and Announcements
Govans Presbyterian Names Racial Justice Advocate as Pastor
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…
Govans Presbyterian Launches Expanded Food Ministry
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…
Baltimore Beat Honors Govans’ Newest Sanctuary Artwork
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 Community Farm Receives $160,000 State Grant
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…
New Sermons
“To Put the Protest Back in Protestantism”
“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…
Honest Doubt, Real Faith
When questions arise, faith does not have to disappear. Faith doesn’t require us to have every answer. Join Minister Lea Gilmore for “Honest Doubt, Real Faith.” This message explores how God meets us in our uncertainty and invites us to bring God our honest struggles, just as the father prayed in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”
Not the Way Things Have to Be
Many of us grew up with the sentiment, “Well, that’s just the way things are.” Without realizing it, that phrase trained our unconscious minds to numb out, accept cruelty and injustice as normal, and stay silent. It forced us into hiding and fractured our sense of self. In the end, it resigned our society to the fatalistic lie that nothing can ever truly change. Through the parable in Matthew 22:1-14, Rev. Dries Coetzee invites us to pause, breathe together, and…
