Presbyterians learn of Renee Nicole Good’s connections, work within denomination

Photo: Renee Nicole Good family.

The death of Renee Nicole Good on January 7, 2026, has sent a wave of mourning through the Presbyterian Church (USA), other Presbyterian denominations, and the wider Christian community. As we grapple with the tragedy of a life cut short by violence during an ICE enforcement action in Minneapolis, we find ourselves looking back at a life defined by faith, creativity, and a deep commitment to the Church.

For those of us in the PCUSA, Good was more than a headline; she was a sister in Christ whose journey of service began in our pews and reached across the Atlantic.

Good’s connection to the Church was both global and deeply personal, rooted in a family tradition of ministry. Growing up at Village Seven Presbyterian Church (currently a PCA congregation) in Colorado Springs, she was raised in a household where faith was a cornerstone. This familial tie to the Presbyterian tradition remains strong today, as her uncle continues to serve as a PCUSA minister in Nebraska—the uncle who married her in the PCUSA. This lineage of leadership within the Church helped shape her worldview and her eventual dedication to international outreach.

That heart for mission led her to Northern Ireland several times between 2002 and 2007. During the summer of 2006, she served with the First Presbyterian Church in Saintfield and worked with mission teams in Ballysally.

Those who served alongside her remember a young woman of profound compassion. Rev. James Hyndman, her minister in Saintfield at the time, recalls her as a quiet and creative soul who possessed a natural gift for connecting with children and young people. She didn't just visit; she sought to build bridges, offering an intercultural perspective to local youth while humbly learning from their experiences.

This spirit of witness and advocacy followed her back to the United States. In the wake of her death, the leadership of our denomination has spoken clearly about the loss of one of our own.

Rev. Jihyun Oh, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PCUSA, expressed the "heartbreak and outrage" felt across the Church. In a formal call for accountability, the Stated Clerk reminded us that Good was a "child of God" whose life possessed intrinsic value.

The Office of the General Assembly has demanded a transparent investigation, framing this tragedy as a moment for the Church to reaffirm its commitment to the sanctity of life and the protection of the vulnerable.

Across the country, the response from faith leaders has been a mixture of grief and a demand for justice. From vigils organized by Rev. Stephen Adkison on Shelter Island to interfaith gatherings outside the White House, the message has been consistent: Renee Nicole Good lived out the conviction that every person deserves kindness, regardless of their background.

Rev. Starsky Wilson, speaking at a recent prayer vigil, pointed to the tragic irony of her death, noting that she was a poet and a devoted mother whose car still held her child's toys when she was shot.

As we reflect on her life at Edgewater Presbyterian Church where protests are planned blocks away both this Saturday and Sunday, we are reminded that our faith calls us to be present in the world’s broken places, just as Good was throughout her life.

Her story is a testament to the power of the Presbyterian mission and a challenge to our conscience.

We mourn a fellow Presbyterian whose quiet smile and creative spirit touched lives from Colorado to Northern Ireland to Minnesota.

In her memory, we continue to pray for peace, for her grieving family, and for a world where such violence is no more.