Our Mission

events

Sundays - 11:00 a.m.

You are welcome at good shepherd!

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (USA) is a congregation located in the heart of Joppatowne. We are the kind of church where people find a home. Our church welcomes all. While most churches say that, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (USA) means it and lives it.

Whoever you are, we believe that you are a gift of God and that you were meant to be a part of our community of faith.

We invite you to be on the journey with us! Worship with us, and grow with us.

Look around this website, come visit us, and you will discover that we are the kind of church you have been looking for.


Our History

June 1963

In June, 1963, the Presbytery of Baltimore and the National Mission of the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., purchased the church site and the manse in the newly formed community of Joppatowne. 


The Rev. John H. Houdeshel was appointed National Missionary and Organizing Pastor. In October, 1963 the first worship service was conducted in the 'Joppatowne Theater' (a fancy name for the building near the model homes where they showed the promotional films for the salesmen). 


In December, 1964, the first worship service was held in the newly completed Community Building located on the four-acre plot at the corner of Joppa Farm Road and Towne Center Drive. 


In January, 1965, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church was officially organized by the Presbytery of Baltimore with 107 charter members. The new congregation called Rev. Houdeshel to be its minister. 


The current sanctuary was dedicated in 1980. In 2015 the congregation committed to a plan for building the next phase of the plan which would house the Children's Center and enhance the whole ministry of the church. In 2020, Good Shepherd proceeded with the remodel of the Children's Center and Sanctuary adding a new classroom and expanded the Children's Ministry to include infant care. 

Our Pastors Over the Years

In 1972, the congregation called the Rev. Philip Sommer to be the pastor. The Rev. Dana Knapp became the pastor in 1983 and served until 1996. The Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena was pastor from 1999-2018.  Rev. Jeanne Gay served as our interim pastor until 2019. In 2019, Rev. Keith Roberts joined us as pastor, and served until 2020. In 2021, Rev. Kerry Slinkard became our new interim pastor and served until 2024. Currently Rev. Jack Carlson is serving as temporary supply pastor while Good Shepherd calls a new pastor.