Our History
We were the first congregation in the Presbyterian Church (USA) to be formed by and for incarcerated persons, formerly incarcerated persons and their families. The founding pastor, Reverend Dr. Constance M. Baugh, brought into reality a vision that came out of her ministry to women imprisoned on Rikers Island. While other churches may be involved in reaching out to those in prison by visiting prisons and working on criminal justice issues, The Church of Gethsemane may still be the only successful intentional congregation of men and women in prison, formerly incarcerated men and women, their families, and those in solidarity with them. We are a self-identified, self-governed, and self-realized congregation.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) has a history of working for social justice. The founders of the Church of Gethsemane sought to address the exclusion of the poor from our denomination, and, in particular, those who have experienced incarceration and their families. We began as a New Church Development Project in 1986 and were formally incorporated as a church in 1989. Presently we have approximately 90 members, including men and women who have joined our congregation while still incarcerated.
The Church of Gethsemane takes its name from the olive grove where Jesus went to be strengthened in his time of despair. We who worship together at Gethsemane are creating a place of strengthening. We believe that, together, we can do as Jesus did: we can transform our cup of suffering into a cup of strengthening for one another and for our world.