Faith in Action. Love Made Visible.
We believe faith is more than what happens on Sunday. Guided by our mission to bring people to Christ and help them become Christ-like, we serve our neighbors through outreach, compassionate ministry, and meaningful partnerships that strengthen communities throughout Houston.
Living the Gospel Through Service
We believe faith calls us to serve beyond the walls of the church. Through outreach, ministry, and meaningful partnerships, St. James’ puts Christ’s love into action by caring for our neighbors, responding to community needs, and strengthening communities throughout Houston.
Health Fair
Each year, St. James' partners with Prairie View A&M University's School of Nursing to host a community Health Fair on our campus. In 2024, the fair welcomed over 300 visitors from Houston and the surrounding area, offering free health screenings, breast cancer information, voter registration, a petting zoo for kids, and back-to-school immunizations — including more than 175 vaccinations administered by Texas Children's Hospital.
- Free health screenings and wellness checks.
- Preventive care and chronic disease education.
- Connections to local healthcare providers and social services.
- Mental health awareness resources.
- Community health education.
This ministry reflects our belief that quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone and that caring for people is an essential expression of our faith.
Community Advocacy Through TMO
As a proud member of the Metropolitan Organization (TMO), St. James' Episcopal Church works alongside congregations, schools, and civic organizations across Houston to address challenges affecting local families and neighborhoods.
Through TMO, we support:
Voter registration and the General Election Voters Guide
- Healthcare access and area flood prevention
- Workforce development and education
- Immigration and police reform
- Improvements to the Columbia Tap Trail (a joint project with St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pilgrim, and New Hope congregations)
Our partnership with TMO reflects our commitment to addressing both immediate needs and the systems that shape them.
Advocacy & Community Engagement
Our faith calls us to care for our neighbors and work alongside others to strengthen our communities. Through service, education, health initiatives, advocacy, and meaningful partnerships, St. James’ seeks to put faith into action throughout Houston.
Our Work Includes
Community Advocacy
Working with community partners to address local needs and advocate for safer, stronger communities.
Education & Youth
Supporting opportunities that nurture children and youth, encourage learning, and invest in future generations.
Jubilee Ministry
Every Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., our Jubilee Ministry offers a prayer service and a full, balanced hot meal to our homeless and food-insecure neighbors in the Third Ward, held in the Parish Hall. A rotating team of parish volunteers — joined by community partners including Solomon's Lodge, Stars of Ruth, and the Houston Chapter of Charms, Inc. — prepares, serves, and cleans up each week. We currently average about 15 guests each Sunday and are growing our volunteer teams for 2025.
Health & Wellness
Connecting individuals and families with health screenings, resources, information, and community support.
Community Partnerships
Building relationships with organizations and neighbors to respond to community needs and create meaningful change.
Service & Outreach
Sharing Christ's love through compassionate ministry, direct service, and programs that support our neighbors.
St. James'/Althea Gibson Scholarship
Now in its twelfth year, the St. James'/Althea Gibson Scholarship has awarded roughly $25,000 to graduating high school seniors from our parish, helping them begin their college careers. The fund honors longtime member Althea Hamilton Gibson and is open to active St. James' members who graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Operation Christmas Child
Each Christmas, the congregation packs and ships shoebox gifts through Operation Christmas Child, filled with toys, school supplies, and a personal note from a St. James' child. In 2025, we packed and blessed 315 boxes, which were tracked as far as Paraguay.
Additional Church Leadership
Chairs of the Core Values Commissions
Cynthia Wyllie, Chair, Pastoral Care Commission
Pastoral Care Commission – The Goal of the Commission on Pastoral Care is to assist the Rector in meeting the Pastoral care needs of our community. We minister to parishioners through prayers, phone calls and visits to those who were hospitalized, sick at home or in assisted living facilities. Care is offered to those whose loved ones have died by providing rides, food, or responding to other needs. As such, the Commission consists of Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Pastoral Phone Ministry, and the Card Ministry.
Anne King, Fellowship and Diversity Commission
Fellowship and Diversity Commission - The Fellowship and Diversity Commission organizes the social activities for the congregation to foster fellowship and lifelong friendships among our St. James Community.
W.Jeanine Wilkins, Ed.D, Christian Education Commission
Christian Education Commission - Our mission at St. James’ is driven by the core values that we embrace. In the area of Christian Education, we seek to study God’s teachings and strive to apply them to our daily lives. We strive to support this Core Value with a variety of offerings intended to meet the needs of parishioners of all ages.
Gloria Rose, Ph.D., Outreach Commission
Outreach Commission - The purpose is to create a deeper Christian missional connection within the community by bringing awareness of God’s Kingdom to the surrounding community. We are committed to see the needs of others.
Other Parish Leaders
Arnolia McDowell, Directress, Altar Guild
Loyce McAfee, President, Daughters of the King
Nyesha Green, President, Episcopal Church Women
Michele Parker-Schauer, Children & Youth Sunday School Supervisor
Karen Jenkins & Janell Lindsey, Stewardship Chairs
Gloria Rose, LEM & Lector Coordinator
Lisa Edwards, Chair, St. James’ Althea Gibson Scholarship Committee
Joe Bedford & Sharia Wade, Jubilee Ministry Coordinators
Sean Cooper, President, Young Adults Ministry (ANCHOR)
Our commitment to advocacy and engagement is rooted in our faith and our call to love, serve, and care for others.
Learn more about the organizations we partner with.
Why Outreach Matters
Outreach is one way we live out our faith. Through service, ministry, and community partnerships, St. James’ seeks to share Christ’s love, respond to the needs of our neighbors, and make a meaningful difference in communities throughout Houston.
Through outreach, we:
- Put our faith into action through service
- Care for and support our neighbors
- Build meaningful relationships and community partnerships
- Respond to needs through compassionate ministry
- Share Christ’s love beyond the walls of the church
