Is Bethel Church affiliated with a denomination?

While many evangelical churches are affiliated with a conservative denomination, Bethel Church was formed as an independent church in 1962 and has remained so.

Hasn't Bethel Church been a Presbyterian Church?

Recently we began identifying ourselves as merely “Bethel Church”, a simpler, and ultimately, more accurate name for our church body, i.e., more representative of who we really are.  While not changing the legal name, “Bethel Church” is a functional adaptation consistent with how we identify ourselves in casual conversation (“I go to Bethel Church”) and it is also more representative and less confusing regarding our doctrinal stances.

Why not Presbyterian?

Bethel Church has always been an independent congregation, and thus not a part of any higher church court (Presbytery). However, we have always been committed to elder leadership (“presbyters”) in our practice of church government. Therefore, we distinguished our church from a Baptist church with the pastor often being the sole elder, or the Episcopal form in which there is a Bishop who is over several churches. As such, Bethel Church was somewhat Presbyterian in much of its doctrinal identity; like the standard Presbyterian and historically biblical confessions, we acknowledge the supreme authority of the Bible, God's Word, the importance of justification by grace through faith alone, and the historic emphasis on the sovereignty of God accompanied by the responsibility of man. However, we believe the Bible affirms the practice of Believers’ Baptism as opposed to Infant Baptism (see below). We believe that the church and Israel, while both experiencing salvation by grace through faith, are distinct throughout history and in God’s plan. And thus we believe in a pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ to reestablish His earthly Kingdom, Israel (see our Statement of Faith). In these specific ways we differ from important Presbyterian distinctives.

How does Bethel Church practice baptism?

We believe that the New Testament teaches that all believers are to be baptized and that as a church we have the responsibility to practice the ordinance of baptism. Our elders have been persuaded that baptism should be practiced as it was in the early church, which is by immersion and reserved for those old enough confess Jesus Christ as their own savior from sin. Accordingly, Bethel Church does not practice infant baptism, but does dedicate infants to the Lord through a prayer in our worship service. Covenant or Reformed doctrine has generally viewed infant baptism as identification of a child with the family of faith, but not as effecting salvation, which comes through faith alone in Jesus Christ. At Bethel Church, we feel that a prayer of dedication accomplishes that identification of the child with the church family, and that baptism is more Biblical and significant for the participant when it is practiced by as a testimony to their own faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not a requirement of membership in our church, although we encourage all believers to identify themselves with Christ through baptism and will, upon request, perform baptisms for those who were baptized as infants in another church and wish to be re-baptized.

How do I become a member?

Church membership formalizes the commitment between individuals and a local church body. Before making such a commitment to Bethel Church, you must have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and be able to give evidence by life and testimony of such a decision. We also desire that all who enter into the covenant of fellowship at Bethel Church understand what we believe and how our church functions before making their decision to join and so, periodically, we hold a "Discover Bethel" class for newcomers.

If you are interested in becoming a member, contact the church office by phone, 713.782.8948 or email us at info@bethelofhouston.com, and we can sign you up for the next Membership Class. If you decide at the end of the class to become a member, an Elder or Pastor will meet with you to discuss your faith in Christ and your involvement in the church.