An Open and Fully Diverse Community at Loch Raven and Woodbourne
Faith Presbyterian Church sits on the corner of Loch Raven Boulevard and Woodbourne Avenue in north Baltimore, two blocks south of Good Samaritan Hospital and a mile up the road from Morgan State University. The green bus line runs right past the front door, with a stop on the lawn. Members and neighbors describe themselves as gay and straight, cis and trans, Black, white, and Latino, neurotypical and neurodivergent, English and Spanish speakers, from the city and the surrounding counties, walking, biking, driving, and riding the bus. Whoever someone is, wherever they come from, whomever they love, whatever their pronouns, the church's welcome extends to them.
The congregation is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), part of the Presbytery of Baltimore, and gathers weekly for worship on Sundays at 10:45 AM in the sanctuary and on Zoom. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. The church is designated an Earth Care Congregation through the PC(USA), a Matthew 25 Church working to dismantle structural racism and eradicate systemic poverty, and a More Light Church affirming the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. Its motto is simple: "Seeking God, Standing together, and Serving our neighbors."
Seeking: How the Community Gathers to Learn
The rhythm of formation at Faith is built around the idea of seeking God, the world, and one another. The Forum meets at 9:15 on Sunday mornings in the Woodbourne Room and on Zoom, exploring local, national, and global issues in light of faith. Children gather during worship in a multi-age Sunday School class; after the children's moment, kids ages 5 to 11 head to the classroom just outside the sanctuary for a shared time of stories, games, and crafts. Youth in grades 5 through 12 meet on the third Sunday of each month during the school year from 5:30 to 7:00 PM to learn together and have fun.
Wednesday morning Bible Study gathers at 11:00 AM on Zoom, led by the pastor in a loose lectio divina style, reflecting on the scripture readings for the coming Sunday's worship. The monthly Book Club meets on the fourth Thursday in members' homes over wine and snacks to discuss a range of novels, mysteries, nonfiction, and classic works. The Music Ministry invites children, youth, and adults to make a joyful noise: the Chancel Choir, open to all, rehearses on Sundays at 10:15 AM in the sanctuary and 12:15 PM in the chapel. Children and youth share music in worship at the annual Christmas pageant, Easter celebration, and Youth Sunday. Through a partnership called Steel on Wheels, the church shares a set of multi-octave steel pans for music education programs throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
Standing: Creation Care, Justice, and the Faith Forest
Faith calls its work beyond the walls "standing" for peace and justice. As an Earth Care Congregation, the church promotes recycling, uses solar energy, plants trees and rain and butterfly gardens, and engages in environmental education, advocacy, and service. In 2022, a third of the north parking lot was removed and replanted as the Faith Forest, a stand of native trees, in partnership with Blue Water Baltimore and Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. The Faith Forest reduces stormwater runoff, cools the neighborhood, and provides open green space for neighbors. Around the property runs the Faith Story Walk, a children's book displayed page by page on a path that changes about every six weeks, an initiative that grew out of concern over pandemic learning loss. A Natural Playground is in process on the south side of the building, in partnership with Camp Small and with funding from the Baltimore Community Foundation, the city's B'More Beautiful office, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
The Social and Environmental Justice Council works to confront and dismantle systemic racism, build peace, and lift neighbors out of poverty. Faith is a member congregation of BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development), leading neighborhood organizing for safety and investment in Chinquapin Park. The church is a community partner to Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing, running regular cooking classes through which teens can become ServSafe certified while learning kitchen skills. Faith is also home to the Immigration Outreach Service Center, which provides a legal clinic, ESOL classes, and a tutoring program. The church partners with NECO/North East Community Organizations and Rails to Trails Conservancy, and is part of Faith Communities of Baltimore with Pride and The Interfaith Coalition for Black Lives. Faith hosts the monthly meetings of the Woodbourne Heights and Perring Loch neighborhood associations.
Serving: Mission Partners Near and Far
Faith's serving ministry takes the shape of long-term partnerships. Local mission partners include the GEDCO Cares Pantry, Harford House, and Friends of Chinquapin Run. Internationally, the church has a sister relationship with the Presbyterian Churches in Meneses and Iguara, El Centro Presbytery, Cuba, supporting travel and exchange.
The church's own building is treated as a community resource. The sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, and conference rooms are available for rent, and Hyde Hall has hosted a rotating cold-weather shelter. Parking is accessed from Woodmont on the west side of the building; the larger north lot is closest to the sanctuary entrance on Sundays, and on weekdays the smaller south lot is recommended, with a bell at the double fellowship hall doors to access the building. Both entrances are accessible via ramps.
Worship on Sundays
The 10:45 AM service weaves together scripture, silence, and song; preaching, prayer, and time to connect. Music reflects both ancient traditions and newer expressions, led by the Chancel Choir with guest vocalists. Children are always welcome in worship: a PRAYground near the front of the sanctuary offers books, art, and quiet activities to keep little hands busy while ears listen, and a nursery with a caregiver is available just outside the front sanctuary door. The congregation celebrates communion on the first Sunday of each month, and all are welcome at the table. Worship is also livestreamed by Zoom; to receive login information, email seekfaith@faithpcbalt.org. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
The People Who Lead Faith
The pastor is the Rev. Cat Dodson Goodrich, who came to Faith in August 2020 after serving churches in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. A graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and Boston University School of Theology, Cat's commitment to service and justice grew from her time serving on the US-Mexico border during college and as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Guatemala. After seminary she spent three years as a community organizer for an affordable housing agency outside of Boston. She is a runner, a baker, an activist, partner to Dary, and mom to two daughters, Maddie and Gillian, and lives in Cedarcroft with four bikes, a dog named Cocoa, and three chickens.
Dr. Samuel Springer serves as Minister of Music and Organist, leading the Chancel Choir, coordinating special musicians, and serving as organist. A frequent recitalist and accompanist, he has been a faculty member at Morgan State University since 2001, where he maintains an organ and piano studio and teaches courses in theory, choral literature, sacred music, and world music. He holds degrees from Trinity College in London, a Master of Music from Yale University's School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. A native of Barbados, he has formed an organization to provide musical and educational aid to a school in Cuba.
The Rev. Christa Fuller Burns is Pastor Emerita. She earned her Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, served churches on Long Island and in Brooklyn before coming to Baltimore, and was Faith's pastor from 2001 until her retirement in 2018. The Rev. Kate Foster serves as Parish Associate. A graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia Theological Seminary, Kate served churches in Memphis, Tennessee, and Baltimore, and was Executive Director of The Center: Mission Outside the Box at the Presbytery of Baltimore for eleven years before becoming Senior Director of Trail Development and Equity for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Diane Borgatti is the Parish Administrator, overseeing the plant and property and managing the church office.
Faith's church life is ordered and led by elected elders on the Session, who set the mission and vision of the congregation, and by the Diaconate, whose members minister to homebound members and those in need, and guide local and global mission commitments. The Session's current classes include Natalie Wallace, Gail Poorbaugh, Andy Fuller, John Colmers, Zach Nemser, Kristin Herber, Scott McGill, Lauren Hill, Chris Pope, Robin Nemser, and David Rawle. The Diaconate includes Laurie Newton, Jackie Billings, Phyllis Compton, Purity Njagi, Nell Fultz, Nancy Gulsoy, Samantha Boyd, Liz Pope, and Yvonne Davis.
A Neighborhood Church in a Changing City
Faith envisions a world in which God's promises are made real here and now and all people live in peace, care for creation, are healed of brokenness, are treated equitably and fairly, and are invited in to become part of the Beloved Community. The current church building was first constructed in stages beginning in 1950-51, originally designed for a congregation of around 1,200 people. Today the building houses a smaller, more diverse community and is shared with the Immigration Outreach Service Center. The grounds, including the Faith Forest, Story Walk, and a planned Natural Playground, are open to the wider neighborhood as gathering and play space.
The church sees its building as a resource for the wider community. The sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, and conference rooms are available for rent, and Hyde Hall has hosted a rotating cold-weather shelter. To support the ongoing ministry of the church, contributions can be made online through the online giving site or by setting up an electronic bank transfer, with a downloadable form available. The annual stewardship campaign runs in November to encourage pledges for the following calendar year.