St. Martin's Episcopal Church — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Rev. Dane Boston (Rector since 2025; previously Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia SC); Rev. Russell Levenson Jr. served 2007-2024

Founded 1952

Denomination The Episcopal Church (TEC)

Service Times Sunday Eucharist — multiple service times

Men's Ministry No

Kids Ministry Yes

Website www.stmartinsepiscopal.org/

Pastor Credentials Episcopal Church ordination; Boston announced as new rector March 2025

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)

Episcopal Book of Common Prayer + Nicene Creed orthodox; St. Martin's under Levenson and now Boston has reputation as more theologically traditional within TEC.

Caution

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

TEC has formally departed from biblical authority on sexual ethics (General Convention 2003 onward); same-sex blessings + marriages denominationally affirmed.

WARNING!

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

Episcopal men's groups present but not surveyed in this pass.

Caution

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

BCP orthodox; not the disqualifier.

Caution

Gender / Biblical Design

Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?

TEC ordains women as priests since 1976 and bishops since 1989; St. Martin's has female clergy on staff.

TEC ordains women priests since 1976, bishops since 1989; St. Martin's has female clergy on staff.

WARNING!

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Rector + vestry under episcopal hierarchy (Bishop of Texas, TEC).

WARNING!

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

BCP-bound; tradition of substantive Anglican preaching.

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Large outreach budget; not a primary Great Commission emphasis.

Caution

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

TEC denominationally aligned with progressive cultural positions; St. Martin's positioned itself under Levenson as "lead with love" mediating posture rather than departing to ACNA.

WARNING!

Accountability Structure

Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?

TEC — full LGBTQ+ ordination, same-sex marriages, female bishops; the conservative North American Anglican alternative is ACNA which left in 2009.

WARNING!

Assessment

St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston is the largest Episcopal congregation in the United States by membership and attendance. The Bush family — George H.W. and Barbara Bush — joined St. Martin's after moving from Midland in 1959, raised their five children there (including future president George W. Bush), and returned in 1993 upon leaving the White House. President George H.W. Bush's 2018 funeral was held at St. Martin's. Rev. Russell Levenson Jr. served as rector 2007-2024, and Rev. Dane Boston (formerly Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia SC) was installed in 2025. Institutionally TEC has fully departed from biblical authority on sexual ethics since 2003, ordains women as bishops since 1989, and performs same-sex marriages. St. Martin's under Levenson positioned itself as the more traditional mediating wing of TEC, but remained in TEC rather than departing to ACNA. Per MOOP rubric this is RED at the denominational level; included for situational awareness about the Bush family church.

#tec#episcopal#mainline#affirming-denomination#bush-family-church#historic#houston#texas#largest-tec-parish

MOOP Engagement Tracker

How this church was personally verified by the MOOP directory team:

✓ Researched church website

Sources & Evidence

Enrichment Notes

Live-fetched https://www.stmartinsepiscopal.org/ + Episcopal News Service + Wikipedia + Living Church coverage on 2026-05-16 — confirmed Rev. Dane Boston as rector since 2025 (succeeded Rev. Russell Levenson Jr. 2007-2024) + TEC + Diocese of Texas + Houston (717 Sage Road) + George H.W. Bush family church since 1959, 2018 funeral held here. George W. Bush + Laura Bush moved church relationship to Highland Park UMC Dallas during 1989-1995 but Bush 41 line is St. Martin's. [2026-05-19] MOOP rubric: TEC — affirming since 2003. Already rated red.

These are the URLs consulted to arrive at this church's scoring. Score-note claims are synthesized from homepage content, denominational directories, and public statements of faith at the time of review. Church websites change frequently; we're progressively adding Internet Archive snapshots to prevent link rot.

[1] Live source stmartinsepiscopal.org
[2] Live source episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/04/08/st-martins-in-texas-t…
[3] Live source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin's_Episcopal_Church_(Hous…
[4] Live source livingchurch.org/covenant/the-marvel-of-st-martins-houston/

Transparency note: MOOP ratings are researcher judgments about publicly available theological and ecclesial evidence. They are not infallible. If a church's public posture has changed since our review, or if we've mis-read evidence, tell us — we publish corrections.