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 passion for racial justice.
He immigrated to the United States in 1998 and has served Presbyterian and United Church of Christ congregations in Houston, San Antonio, Bloomington, Minn., Wooster, Ohio, and Saratoga Springs, New York. He most recently served as interim pastor at Talmadge Hill Community Church in Darien, Conn. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
“It is a privilege and deeply humbling to be called to serve as pastor of Govans Presbyterian Church,” Coetzee said. “Govans offers the warmth of a multicultural, intergenerational Christian family. It is a community that fiercely defends human dignity and does the vital work where racial, food, and environmental justice meet.”
Coetzee, 55, was nominated by a committee of Govans Presbyterian members and accepted by a vote of the congregation on Sunday, Aug. 30. He takes his post on Sept. 28. His predecessor, the Rev. Tom Harris, left in 2024 to become pastor of a church in California.
Coetzee will be only the third Govans Presbyterian pastor, head of staff, in nearly 50 years.
Govans Presbyterian is a theologically progressive church located at 5828 York Road. It was established in 1844 as a union chapel and by 1846 had become a full church and a member of the Presbytery of Baltimore.
A More Light Church, it welcomes all people regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
To speak with Pastor Coetzee or set up an interview, call the church office at 410-435-9188 or email Andy Wilson, wilson@govanspres.org.