OUR STORY

1871

Concern for the spiritual formation of the mill workers in North Baltimore caused the Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren to commit themselves to a Woodbury Mission with the appointment of a missionary.  What became Otterbein Memorial United Methodist Church began with just ten members in a school house across the street from Woodbury Methodist Episcopal Church.

1877

Woodbury Methodist Episcopal Church sent a mission to the Roland Avenue area and started the Roland Avenue Church, with the help of the Hooper family.  

July 1, 1999

Former members and friends of three United Methodist Churches: Woodbury (1843), Otterbein Memorial (1871), and Roland Avenue Evergreen (1887), merged into one church bearing a new name. Since Otterbein Memorial’s building was chosen for the merged congregation, its name was changed to Good Shepherd UMC signifying the merge of three churches into one new church. Our first worship service as Good Shepherd UMC was on July 4, 1999.

August 1, 2008

A lightning strike to Mount Vernon UMC’s steeple caused a severe fire.  The congregation used Good Shepherd’s facilities for worship during their time of loss.

July 1, 2009

In March 2009, Mount Vernon UMC’s congregation voted to merge with Good Shepherd UMC, which became effective on July 1, 2009.  

Present

Since our mergers in 1999 and 2009, Good Shepherd UMC has continued to help meet the needs of the community by supporting the local area Food Pantry, the Hampden Family Center, Hampden Elementary/Middle School #55, and other outreach programs, non-profits, and churches in Baltimore. Our names may have changed, but our ministry continues to serve the community across three centuries by working with one another to help others.