The Episcopal Church of The Good Shepherd

Parish Profile:

History of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is the oldest black Episcopal congregation in the State of Alabama. It was fostered in Trinity Episcopal Church by the Rector, Dr. A. J. Massey. There freed men and slaves worshiped for some time in Trinity’s gallery. On May 26, 1854, seven Negroes were confirmed at Trinity. These men and women were the nuclei for the new congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. It was not until 1908 the church was incorporated under State law and 1913-1914 when the church attained the status of Parish in the Diocese of Alabama.

In the beginning, services were held in a building called, “Love and Charity Hall.” In 1884, the congregation moved to a new location in the area of Warren and State Street. In 1963, the church relocated to 605 Donald St which is where the church currently resides. For a more detailed history go to: History Page.

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd: Now

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, a Parish of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, is nestled in a small community called Toulminville in the northwestern section of Mobile, Alabama. It is the oldest black Episcopal Church in Alabama, a history of which its members are justly proud. The community is made up of a unique mixture of worshipers, primarily African-Americans. The importance of education, both spiritual and secular, is a central theme which has been emphasized since the church’s inception in 1854.

We are a congregation of about 180 members, with Sunday worship attendance averaging around 65 parishioners. While Good Shepherd was founded with High Church rituals, we’ve become less formal in recent years. We still celebrate Rites I and II, and we use a supplemental hymnal called “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as well as the traditional hymnal.

Church services are held each Sunday at 10 a.m., and Bible study is held on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. Christian Education (Sunday School) classes are held from 9-9:45 a.m. on first and third Sundays. Vacation Bible School classes are held for one week during the summer.

The parishioners of Good Shepherd love each other and our church. We believe ourselves to be a warm and welcoming place open to all who wish the fellowship of other believers – regardless of color, income, family structure or sexual orientation.

As a church, our history speaks to our resilience and to a faith which is rooted in Scripture: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.



Ministries of the Church

There are several ministries in the Church of the Good Shepherd in which parishioners can be a part of to increase their Christian Discipleship. The groups range from young members to your more seasoned parishioners but involvement is encouraged for all to participate in some form or fashion. The ministries include:

Acolytes

Altar Guild

Cheerio Club

Men of the Church

EYC

Rectors Guild

Women of the Church

Outreach Committee



Church Finances

Good Shepherd is prepared to negotiate with a new priest on pay and other allowances based on the experience level of the priest ultimately selected for the position. Good Shepherd’s expectation is that the new priest, working with the vestry and the parishioners, would continuously grow the church in numbers which leads to greater opportunities for pay increases. Church spiritual and monetary growth will always be one of our foremost goals at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Our Facilities

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is situated on 4.08 beautiful acres of land, With room to dream and make our dreams come true. The church sanctuary is 6,355 square feet and is situated in the round making for a very unique worship experience. There is a rectory also on the property which is 1,920 square feet and is home to our office and meeting rooms. Site pictures are available facebook Church of the Good Shepherd and here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202954041492345.1073741908.1842857008&type=1&l=2a08833798

Portrait of a Port City

Located at the mouth of the Mobile Bay and the north central Gulf Coast, Mobile is Alabama’s only saltwater port, its 3rd most populous city, the seat for Mobile County, and the largest municipality between New Orleans, Louisiana and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Feisty, festive and cultured with a 300 year old history, Mobile has long been the cultural center of the Gulf Coast with lots of stories and long standing traditions. Home to America’s original Mardi Gras celebrations (which rolls every year throughout the area) , to a professional symphony orchestra, a professional opera and a professional ballet company, to several outstanding Universities, numerous public, private and parochial schools, a minor league baseball team, dozens of music, art and culinary festivals, the Senior and Go Daddy Bowls, magnificent beaches, lovely golf courses and some of the friendliest people on the planet, Mobile has much to offer… it is an experience that one can find nowhere else in these southern United States.

Our Next Rector



The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd seeks:

a dynamic preacher who can translate Scripture for modern ears and who can help us apply Christian principles to the challenges of our daily lives;
a pastor who has the compassion, the generosity of spirit and the spiritual commitment to visit the sick and shut-in, to offer spiritual counseling to those in need and to inspire additional outreach ministries;
a visionary who remains true to Episcopal traditions and heritage while also welcoming new approaches to ministry, music and fellowship;
a creative thinker who can develop and build spiritual programming for all age groups;
a strong leader who has the capacity to draw on the many personalities and talents in the parish and who can help us grow to our fullest potential and attract new members, which is essential to securing our future.
If you are interested in being the next Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, please contact Canon Massey Gentry at mgfairhope@yahoo.com.

Our Vision for the Future

· Member Identification and Commitment- With membership commitment and identification comes acceptance, effort, and a maintained membership with the congregation. Shared congregational identity and programs thriving and new opportunities for new groups to arise is the direction we wish to travel in.
· A full Sanctuary on Sundays, magnifying the joy we already know here at the Episcopal church of the Good Shepherd.
· A younger generation of folks including children, teens and young adults (single and married).
Communication satisfaction and its role in membership satisfaction It’s our goal to have a community of open communication where the Rector is a reliable and viable source for all members to express their concerns and relate to.

· More of us putting our own hands to current and new tasks of service and outreach; and to warm and welcoming events deliberately created to keep us all connected.
· More connections to surrounding churches of all denominations, to go farther together with our common initiatives; more connections, too, with our diocese and with the US church, in order to align our mission with larger goals and directives, and to be mindful of issues beyond our four walls. We would remain, as we are now, committed to The Episcopal Church and to our Presiding Bishop.
· A common spiritual life grown from the Gospels, through a Rector who makes the good news seem realizable.
A cohesiveness will occur in the church, through group togetherness in activities that creates a comfortable environment that enables the opportunity for growth. Religious services, religious education, up to date church facilities, special programs, activity ministers, good media quality and exposure, personal feedback from clergy, all while maintaining organizational perspective are all effective factors that will lead to satisfaction.