HOW TO JOIN

Membership at St. Philip ...
Your own faith journey may have brought you today as a visitor. We want to share with you all of the ministries and activities that St. Philip has to offer. Feel free to stop by our Visitors' Ttable (right outside the sanctuary) for more information about our classes, programs, outreach and service opportunities. In addition, St. Philip offers Presbyterianism 101 classes both for inquirers and for members to learn more about what makes us distinctive as Presbyterians. For more information, e-mail us at welcome@saintphilip.net. You can also contact the office at 713-622-4807.

If you are called to join us, we would be honored to have you as a member. Your decision to join will be accepted with joy and celebration. Membership is received by an act of our church governing body, the Session. It is not a lengthy process, and it can be done easily after any Sunday service. Just let one of the pastors know!

You may unite with this church through several paths:

Joining by Transfer Of Church Letter

If you are currently a member of another Christian church, you will join St. Philip by Transfer of Church Letter. Your record of church membership will be formally requested in writing from your current church of membership. This is done out of courtesy so that your current church of membership may know that you are under the care of our congregation. Our church office will make sure all the necessary paperwork is received. Just meet with the Session on Sunday morning after worship, and the Session will vote to receive you.

Joining by Reaffirmation Of Faith

If you are not currently a member of a Christian church, or if you have been away from your previous church for a long time, you may join by Reaffirmation of Faith. In a meeting of the Session, you are asked four questions:

1. Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?
2. Do you trust in Him?
3. Do you intend to be His disciple, obeying His word and showing His love?
4. Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, giving of yourself in every way, and will you seek the fellowship of the church wherever you may be?

After giving an affirmative answer to each of these questions, the Session votes to receive you into full, active membership of St. Philip.

Joining by Profession of Faith

Perhaps you have never been baptized as a member of a Christian church. We at St. Philip are delighted to be part of this joyous occasion. You will be received as a member through a Profession of Faith. When you meet with the Session, you will be asked four questions:

1. Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?
2. Do you trust in Him?
3. Do you intend to be His disciple, obeying His word and showing His love?
4. Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, giving of yourself in every way, and will you seek the fellowship of the church wherever you may be?

After answering "YES!" to these questions, the Session votes to receive you into full, active membership of St. Philip. The date for your baptism is then set as soon as the following Sunday. It is a key belief in the Presbyterian Church that baptism is a community act. We cannot be Christians alone; we need each other's help to be faithful. This is why baptism in the Presbyterian Church (USA) takes place during a regular worship service of the congregation.

Joining as an Affiliate Member

Perhaps you are an active member a church in another city, but you want to be a part of Saint Philip in a formal capacity without officially moving your membership to St. Philip. This is especially helpful if you are here in Houston on a short-term basis (work, college, etc.) The Affiliate Membership is for you! As an Affiliate member, you will have all the privileges of active membership except the right to vote in congregational meetings and hold church office.

If you have ANY questions about membership, please call the church office and speak to one of the pastors.