Staff

Interim Co-Pastors

The Rev. Alice Geils Nord and The Rev. Bernard William (Bernie) Nord began their ministry as interim co-pastors at St. Philip Presbyterian Church on August 16th, 2010. Alice and Bernie come to Houston from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia where they served as co-interim pastors. Prior to their work in Virginia they served different congregations in Sun City, Arizona. The Nords have both had interim pastor training. Bernie is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary while Alice graduated from McCormick Seminary. Bernie has been head-of-staff at churches in Evanston, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio. He was also employed as Vice President of Seminary Relations at McCormick Seminary for eight years. Alice is no stranger to New Covenant Presbytery having been elected as Moderator of our presbytery in 1994. Alice was Director of Youth Ministry at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church prior to her study to become a Minister of Word and Sacrament at McCormick Seminary. Alice has had extensive experience in Christian Education and has been involved with the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators for more than ten years.

Interim Associate Pastor

The Rev. Kristy Forbes Vits spent part of her growing-up years here at St. Philip as the daughter of former Pastor Bill Forbes and his wife, Patty. She came to St. Philip to serve as our Interim Associate Pastor in July of 2009. She is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has served churches in the St. Louis area. Kristy and her husband, Logan, are the parents of Nathan, age 5.

Director of Ministries for Children, Youth and Their Families

Active search under way for this position. The position, which will report to the Pastor/Head of Staff, will provide strategic and operational leadership and support for the children, youth, and their families, with particular focus on developing a dynamic youth ministry program for a city-wide, theologically progressive and well educated congregation. http://www.saintphilip.net/ministries/search-director-ministries-children-youth-and-their-families/announcing-position-availabl

Director of Music

Active search under way for this position. St. Philip Presbyterian Church is seeking a Director of Music to provide vision, overall leadership, and coordination for a comprehensive music ministry for the church.

Organist

St Philip organist Matthew Dirst is the first American to win major international prizes in both organ and harpsichord. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at the Moores School of Music, where he teaches courses in music history and performance practice, and as artistic director and founder of the period-instrument group Ars Lyrica Houston Prof. Dirst's degrees include a PhD in musicology from Stanford University and degrees in organ and sacred music from the University of Illinois and Southern Methodist University. A Fulbright scholar to France, he received the coveted prix de virtuosité in both organ and harpsichord. The author of numerous articles on the music of Bach and its reception, he is the author of Bach as Idea: Strategies in the Reception of the Keyboard Works, 1750-1850, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.

Director of Adult Bell Canto

Jane Malczewskyj is our adult hand bell choir director and is also a very accomplished pianist and organist. She directed the Central Presbyterian adult bell choir for many years.