About Good Shepherd UCC
Cary’s Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is a young, vibrant, progressive family of faith that is fully engaged in the transformative message of Jesus Christ and the many ways we can reflect it in the relationships we have and the activities we undertake. We’re proud ambassadors of the United Church of Christ and embrace the Christian calling to be servants to those around us.
Good Shepherd UCC is an Open & Affirming Church in every respect. We enthusiastically welcome all people who are interested in being a part of our collective faith journey. Our worship services are a blend of contemporary and traditional with people of all ages playing active roles. Our children are an essential and treasured part of our community. We offer age-specific Sunday School classes, a Children’s Message in worship and a Safe Church Program to ensure the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical well-being of our kids.
GSUCC also has a history of social justice and community activities. From Good Shepherd’s key role in founding Cary’s MLK Dreamfest program, to our present-day engagement in initiatives involving affordable housing, the environment, LGBTQ community protections, immigration, and race relations, Good Shepherd works hard to reflect Christ-like values through our actions. The church also enjoys long-standing relationships with some of Cary’s leading non-profits that provide resources and assistance for the community’s homeless, poor and disadvantaged citizens.
Good Shepherd UCC was founded in 1987 – a “church plant” of the United Church of Christ. At the outset, GSUCC’s founding pastor, Rev. Ed Rawls, and a handful of UCC members who were recruited from other nearby churches, built the church from scratch … worshiping in local schools and public buildings throughout Cary, accepting donations of materials from churches, encouraging others to give Good Shepherd UCC a try.
By the mid 1990s, capital fund drives were underway, land had been acquired and Good Shepherd moved into our new church home on NW Maynard Road. In 2002, GSUCC had the opportunity to purchase a 1200 square foot property on High House Road adjacent to the church grounds, and this building was added to the campus. Today the “High House” serves as the location for church offices and other activities. From 2000 to 2013, Good Shepherd UCC enjoyed a sustained period of stability under the leadership of Rev. June Fulton, Rev. Pat Russell and Interim Pastor, Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden.
As a church without several decades of history to draw from, Good Shepherd’s personality and priorities have grown organically and have evolved over our first three decades. Part of the Good Shepherd UCC DNA involves an active mindset. Virtually every member of the congregation is a member of one or more ministries at the church. At the outset, if members didn’t do the work of the church, it didn’t get done. Now, this characteristic is a defining part of the GSUCC experience.
In 2009, as a way of managing the church’s focus and resources, the congregation initiated our innovative 6 C’s concept. Every initiative undertaken by the church must apply to at least one of the 6 C’s. Each year, church leadership undertakes a review and revision of activities, in order to make sure church activities are in alignment with the congregation’s priorities and resources. Good Shepherd UCC is a great church home, especially for people who like to participate in some way.
Under the leadership of our current pastor, Rev. Carla Gregg-Kearns and our growing staff, Good Shepherd UCC has recently enjoyed a period of steady growth. The addition of new families and individuals to our faith family, has allowed GSUCC to live our faith in even more ways, with the introduction of more worship opportunities, social programs and community activities.