Govans Presbyterian Church is a More Light Congregation, and believes all people are welcome at God’s table, as Christ teaches us. We provide an open and affirming worship experience for the LGBT community.
The programs and projects listed below are all supported by the members of Govans Presbyterian Church who give their time, talent and financial support. Learn more below.
Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO)
GEDCO Web site
GEDCO began with the realization that the elderly members of our congregation and other congregations in North Baltimore were in need of affordable housing and dignified care as they aged. It has grown to become a stand-alone non-profit corporation with the following mission:
"In partnership with faith communities, GEDCO provides affordable housing with supportive services and assists in meeting emergency needs of area residents."
GEDCO now has 47 member organizations that support the following projects:
Affordable Housing for Seniors
Stadium Place
Ednor Apartments
Venable Apartments II
Weinberg Court Apartments
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Senior Housing at the Gallagher Mansion
Epiphany House
Transitional housing for homeless men and women
Harford House
Micah House
Housing for the mentally ill
Ascension Homes (3 locations)
CARES Program
(Civic and Religious Emergency Services)
Food Pantry
Emergency Financial Assistance
CARES provides groceries and emergency financial assistance to those in need in the surrounding North Baltimore community. For information about making a donation, please go to the GEDCO website, www.gedco.org, and click on CARES.
SENIOR NETWORK OF NORTH BALTIMORE
Senior Network is a non-profit senior center located in a building attached to Govans Presbyterian Church at 5828 York Road, about two blocks south of Northern Parkway, below the Senator Theater. To enter our parking lot, use the York Belvedere Medical Center driveway at 5820 York Rd. Look for our sign in front of the center, above the ramp leading to our office.
more about the Senior Network
KAY PAPA NOU ORPHANAGE, HAITI
more about our mission in Haiti
PEACE STUDY CENTER, INC
Peace Study Center Web site
The Peace Study Center, Inc. was founded by Cindy Woodruff and Hannah Pickworth, school librarians in Baltimore. Inspired by a conference with the theme "Children's Books, Messengers of Peace”, Cindy was determined to return to Baltimore and connect children's books about peace with educators of young children. With encouragement from other participants, Cindy and Hannah began the journey to found a center for the study of peace and justice through children's literature.
What does it mean to teach peace and justice?
To us it means building a child's self-esteem and sense of their place in the world through print and audio-visual experiences. For the youngest students it means understanding the concepts of friendship, compassion and forgiveness. It means practicing kindness to animals and participating in outreach efforts to the poor and the homeless in our own communities. For the middle grades it includes working through conflicts, making choices to use nonviolence, expanding one's vocabulary to express emotions and identifying character traits and how to make them part of daily life. Using books to create meaningful discussions in and out of the classroom is our path to teaching peace and justice. Please join us on the journey!
More information and contact information for Cindy and Hannah are available on the Peace Study Center Web site.
HAU KOLA LEARNING CAMPS
Hau Kola Learning Camps Web site
The Hau Kola Learning Camp was born out of a tutoring project that started in 1998 as an afternoon component of the morning VBS project. It was apparent that working on learning activities with the Lakota children was a beneficial endeavor for both the learners and the tutors as relationships were easily formed in this small group or one on one setting. The VBS/tutoring program was stopped in 1999 and a new model was born in 2003 - the elementary learning camp model. This first camp was an activity based model but lacked structure and the need for a different model was identified. The Hau Kola Learning Camp station rotation model started in 2004 and was very successful. The campers were guided by counselors to 5 different learning stations which were lead by one or two additional staff members. This rotation model was used in 2005 and 2006 and continues to be the model for the elementary learning camp at the Makasan site.
Mission:
To follow the teachings of Jesus Christ by honoring and nurturing the lives of children, youth, and adults through educational partnerships with the ministries of the Native American churches which comprise the Dakota Presbytery
Vision:
Through Hau Kola programs all participants are transformed into the people God calls them to be. Through the Dakota/Baltimore Presbytery relationship all community members experience Christian unity and love
Goals and Objectives:
Create an environment of mutual learning in all Hou Kola programs
Build trusting and caring relationships
Strengthen Dakota Presbytery churches
Strengthen Dakota/Baltimore Presbytery relationship
Twelve churches in the Presbytery of Baltimore currently send youth to Hau Kola. For more information, please visit the Hau Kola Youth Camps Web site.
Govans Presbyterian Church supports the following organizations through our benevolence fund:
SOUL KITCHEN - a free community meal
Govans Presbyterian Church in partnership with Gimme Shelter Productions is starting a once monthly free community meal called Soul Kitchen. The meal is served on the fourth Sunday each month, 6:30-7:30 PM. We are looking for volunteers - contact us to help!
More about Soul Kitchen
CENTRAL MARYLAND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
4 E University Pkwy
Baltimore MD 21218
410-467-6194
WOODBERRY CROSSING
Woodberry Crossing Web site
Mission:
To educate and nurture children, youth and adults using the natural environments of field stream and forest as a medium for building self-esteem, challenging people with new experiences and creating opportunities for cooperative learning.
Woodberry Crossing was started in 1997 as a non-profit organization. Woodberry Crossing gives urban children, youth and families the opportunity to broaden their vision and understanding of life through meeting and interacting with a variety of people, animals, and the natural world.
MOVEABLE FEAST
Moveable Feast Web site
Moveable Feast brings hope and caring to people living with HIV/AIDS and other life challenging conditions and their families, by planning, preparing and delivering nutritious, high quality meals and groceries to people who are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. Moveable Feast provides nutritional counseling, transportation and training to people in need in Maryland.
BALTIMORE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (BIHN)
Visit the Family Promise Web site
The Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network is a network of congregations that have partnered with one another in order to serve Baltimore’s homeless families by providing them with the basic human needs; shelter, safety, and sustenance with a spirit of warmth and hospitality. It is our mission to diminish the hurt of homelessness and provide the support necessary for the family units to become self sufficient with permanent housing and employment.
PRESBYTERIAN HOME OF MARYLAND
Presbyterian Home of Maryland Web site
SUPPORT OF DISABLED VETERANS
More information to come.
GOVAN OLD PARISH CHURCH
Govan Old Parish Church Web site
Govans Presbyterian Church here in Baltimore was established in 1844 as a Union Chapel. "Govans" (Govan, Govane) is the name of the community in which the church is located. The family that established old Govanstown in the late 1700's came from the Glasgow area of Scotland - where another congregation, with roots dating back to 575, bears the same family name: Govan Old Parish. We remain in contact with Govan Old Parish.
Govan Old Parish Church is an A-listed building of architectural and historic interest and the ‘home’ of an active and committed Church of Scotland congregation. The present building, designed by the distinguished Scottish architect Robert Rowand Anderson and completed in 1888, is the fourth parish church on a site where archaeological excavations have revealed Christian burials dating back to at least the 6th century and some believe pre-Christian worship took place. The outstanding collection of early medieval sculptures from the 9th to 11th centuries (the Govan sarcophagus, 5 ‘hogbacks’ and numerous crosses and grave-markers) and fine stained glass windows (by Charles Kempe and others) attract numerous visitors each year.
The Friends of Govan Old aim to
- Preserve the fabric of Govan Old
- Contribute to the development of the cultural heritage of Govan – and Glasgow generally
- Encourage visitors through the daily opening of the church
- Extend awareness of the history of Govan (parish and church) through supporting research and promoting publications
- Support Govan Old Parish Church as a living centre of worship, witness and Service
ST. ANDREWS REFUGEE MINISTRY IN CAIRO
St. Andrew’s United Church is a very small church in downtown Cairo, but it has a huge Refugee Ministry. Jean Isteero, a member here at Govans, started an English and General Education program at St. Andrew’s in 1986 and it has grown in all directions since then. Refugees feel safe to be on the St. Andrew’s compound where they can sit and talk with their friends and attend worship and educational activities. Today, there are about 700 adults registered in the English and computer classes and 195 children in the daily Children’s program. Children and teens receive a breakfast sandwich and study an American curriculum, which includes English, math, science, art, music and social studies.
St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo depends upon contributions from churches like ours to be able to continue its very valuable work.
SEASONAL MISSION PROJECTS
Thanksgiving Basket project:
Coordinate the preparation and delivery of Thanksgiving Baskets containing a complete Thanksgiving dinner.
Micah House Thanksgiving Dinner:
Coordinate the donation of 2 hams and deliver them to Micah House.
Christmas Angel Board:
Coordinate with Children and Family Services, the McKim Center Afterschool program, and other organizations who provide lists of families in need, by preparing a bulletin board filled with families that our parishioners can buy gifts for this Christmas. Organize and deliver the donated gifts to the organizations.
Epiphany House holiday entertainment:
Each week for the month of December, Govans will be providing entertainment for the residents of Epiphany House, one of several affordable residences for the elderly run by GEDCO. Scheduled so far is a Bingo night, a concert, a Christmas carol sing-a-long by the children’s choir and an ice cream party.
Communion offerings are designated to a different organization each month when a critical need is identified. Communion offerings are collected all month long, not just on Communion Sunday. Use your communion pledge envelope or write communion pledge on the envelopes provided in the pews.
